Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench spoke openly about her illness and bravely detailed the challenges it entails.
Despite the significant impact this condition can have on a person's quality of life, Dench's attitude shows that it is possible to adapt and find ways to pursue one's dreams despite obstacles. Her resilience and determination to keep working is an inspiration to all of us.
The 88-year-old actress was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2012, a disease that affects central vision. Despite undergoing treatment to slow her progression, during an appearance on a TV show, Judi shared that she is currently looking for a device that can read scripts to her and tell her where the lines are on the page to help her use her photographic memory. She also has to get very close to people to recognize them.
Judi expressed her displeasure at having to resort to outside help to memorize her lines due to this illness. She said that before it was easy for her to learn her lines and remember them, and that now she can perform the entire play Twelfth Night by heart.
During an interview, the actress spoke about her condition and expressed that she does not want to retire, but that she is currently not doing much due to her deteriorating vision. She said: “The thing is bad.”
Macular degeneration is a common disease that usually affects people between 50 and 60 years old. Although it does not lead to total blindness, it can make everyday tasks such as reading and recognizing faces difficult. The exact cause is still unknown, but it has been linked to factors such as hypertension, obesity, and having a family history of the disease. The actress revealed that her mother suffered a similar vision loss.
