Dame Judi Dench has disclosed that she can no longer venture out alone due to her declining eyesight. The 90-year-old actress is affected by macular degeneration, a condition that results in a gradual loss of vision. In a recent interview on Trinny Woodall’s Fearless podcast, Dame Judi shared that “somebody will always be with me” when she goes out. “I have to [have someone] now because I can’t see,” she explained. “And I will walk into something or fall over.”

Reflecting on her past feelings about attending events solo, she admitted, “I was no good at that at all.” Fortunately, she added with a laugh, “I don’t have to be [alone] now because I pretend now to have no eyesight.” In July 2023, she expressed her determination to continue working “as much as I can” despite her health challenges. “I mean, I can’t see on a film set anymore,” she told The Mirror’s Notebook magazine. “And I can’t see to read. So I can’t see much. But, you know, you just deal with it. Get on.”

Dame Judi’s illustrious acting career began in the 1950s with her stage debut in a production of Hamlet at London’s Old Vic theatre. Over the decades, she has excelled in television and film, winning an Oscar for her performance in the 1998 film Shakespeare In Love and recently portraying the head of MI6, M, alongside Daniel Craig’s James Bond.

Renowned as one of the UK’s finest stage actresses, she has garnered numerous Olivier awards for her leading roles in plays such as The Winter’s Tale and Macbeth. Her latest screen appearance was in 2022, where she had a small role in the Christmas film Spirited. Dame Judi has continued to make public appearances, including speaking at the Cheltenham Literary Festival last October.