Aww, this story is a little sad – the amazing Dame Judi Dench has revealed that she is losing her eyesight, after having being diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. The condition, which could lead to complete blindness, can be treated although recovery is unlikely - but the very strong Mrs D, who is a mighty 77 years old, says she’s determined not to be beaten by it.
In an interview with The Mirror, the James Bond actress explained, “I can’t read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes. And so somebody comes in and reads them to me, like telling me a story. It’s usually my daughter or my agent or a friend and actually I like that, because I sit there and imagine the story in my mind."
Oh bless her! Anyone else want to give Dame Judi a massive hug?
“I’ve got what my ma had, macular degeneration, which you get when you get old,” she went on. "The most distressing thing is in a restaurant in the evening I can’t see the person I’m having dinner with.
But despite her failing eyesight, this amazing actress – best known in her role as MI5 boss M in recent Bond films, says she just ‘gets on with things’ because she is pretty hardcore and knows she has to.
“You get used to it,” she commented. “As long as there is a possibility of working I’m not going to retire because if I retire nothing will work any more and it’s hard enough as it is.
“I’m very conscious that I’m in the minority in that I love what I do. How big is the number of people who are running to work to do a job that they like? And how lucky to be employed at it – how incredibly lucky.”
What a brilliant (and rather brave) lady. Dame Judi, we salute you!