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The iconic actress Judi Dench has opened up about the impact of aging on her vision and memory, stating she often struggles to recall immediate plans – yet can easily recall long sections of Shakespearean text.

"I have no memory of what I'm doing tomorrow, I swear to you," she stated to a magazine.

Her team verified that such reminders are sometimes required. Dench added that her degenerative eye condition now means faces to appear "blurred" even up close.

A Condition That 'Crushes'

"It's devastating," she remarked, adding that it means she can no longer watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she continued, "but I can at least hear the questions."

Dench, who turns 91 on Tuesday, is fronting a new documentary exploring her deep connection with Shakespeare's works. Audiences will also see her in conversation with Kenneth Branagh in another programme airing over the festive period.

Regarding Friends and Acquittals

Dench also mentioned staying in contact with fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was found not guilty of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin has been exonerated," she stated, "and we are in contact, we text."

In recent months, Dench disclosed she now requires full-time assistance in public for fear of falling over due to her vision problems. She first revealed the eye condition in 2012, a degenerative issue that is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK.

Coping with New Realities

She has credited the condition with her effective stepping back from film work. "I can't see on a film set any more," she said in 2023, and continued: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it."

"It's challenging if I have any length of a part. I have not discovered a way. Because I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."

Her last film appearance was a small role in the 2022 Christmas movie Spirited; earlier that year she had a larger role in Allelujah. The same year also earned her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.

Remaining in the Public Eye

She continues to appear often at events, nevertheless, including at fundraisers including a recent one last month with Ian McKellen. This past spring, she participated in a live sculpture for charity. Dench said she could not see the finished sculpture, but would touch it "if they let me."