Judi Dench says macular degeneration means she can no longer act
Dame Judi Dench, 91, says age-related macular degeneration has left her unable to read, recognise faces or perform on stage and in film.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Dame Judi Dench has said that age-related macular degeneration has left her unable to act on stage or in film, and unable to read.
The 91-year-old Oscar-winning actress was diagnosed with the condition, often called AMD, in 2012. She discussed its impact in an interview with Emma Barnett on Radio 4's Today programme and while speaking about her new memoir.
Dench said her sight is now so poor that she cannot see faces. She described approaching the wrong people and saying hello, only to be told they had not realised who she was. She said she has to put up with the condition and that her mother had it too.
She said she could no longer do a play or a film, or read, and that she had to adjust to all that. When asked about ageing, she replied 'Rubbish' and said there was 'nothing to save for it at all'.
The actress, known for her role as M in eight James Bond films, was speaking about a new memoir written with her friend, theatre director Brendan O'Hea. It was noted that one unexpected positive of her sight loss was finding new hobbies. She can no longer paint watercolours, but has taken up tearing paper and challenging others to make shapes such as a sheep or a unicorn.
Dench also joked about still enjoying a flutter on horses, and declined to give a view on who should be the next James Bond. The disclosures make clear that the condition has changed her working life and daily routines, while she continues to find ways to stay engaged.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| Dame Judi Dench said an eye condition has left her unable to work, read, or appear in films or on stage. | Reported by BBC One | |
| Dame Judi Dench said she cannot see faces clearly and sometimes approaches or greets the wrong people. | Reported by Channel 5 | |
| Dame Judi Dench was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012. | ||
| Only on one channel | ||
| Dame Judi Dench said in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Emma Barnett that the condition had significantly changed how she lives. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
In its lunchtime bulletin, 5 gave the story a short, straight news item. It sticks to the core facts: she says she cannot work, was diagnosed with AMD in 2012, and can no longer read or perform in films or on stage. It does not use interview clips or cover her memoir, ageing comments or hobbies.
- “The actress Dame Judi Dench says she's no longer able to work because of her eye condition.”
- “The 91 year old was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration or AMD in 2012 which has made it difficult for her to recognize people's faces.”
- “The James Bond star says she can't read anymore and is unable to do films or be on stage.”
Across its bulletins, BBC ONE West made the story a prominent interview-led item, using clips with Emma Barnett and a Colin Paterson package. The coverage focuses on Dench's own account of sight loss, her remarks on ageing, and lighter details from her memoir, including paper tearing and betting on horses. It also notes her long association with the James Bond films while she declines to name a favourite for the next Bond.
- “I can't do a play anymore I can't do a film anymore I can't read anymore”
- “No, I can't see your face at all.”
- “You're not defeated by it”
Broadcast Timeline
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