“Can't even see anything”
Judi Dench hints at retirement
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Over the course of her career, Judi Dench has appeared in dozens of iconic films. But it is unlikely that the British actress will ever appear in front of the camera again. The 89-year-old has been suffering from an incurable and progressive disease for more than ten years.
Last summer, despite her eye problems, Judi Dench stressed that she was not thinking about ending her acting career. That seems to have changed now. According to “The Mirror”, Dench was asked at the Chelsea Flower Show whether she would return in front of the camera. “No, no, I can't even see anything,” the Oscar winner replied. When asked by the British newspaper, her management did not want to comment further. “Judi has nothing more to add than what she told the journalist,” they said.
Judi Dench's last film, “Spirited,” was released in 2022. However, she only had a mini-appearance in the comedy based on Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” with Will Ferrell. Her last major appearance was in 2021 in “Belfast.” She received her eighth Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Kenneth Branagh's autobiographical film. According to the online film database IMDb, she does not have a new project in the pipeline.
Progressive macular degeneration
Judi Dench had already announced in 2012 that she was suffering from progressive macular degeneration. This age-related, incurable disease of the retina causes the loss of vision in the area of sharpest vision.
“I can't see anything on a film set anymore,” Judi Dench told “The Mirror” in 2023. She can no longer read scripts either. “But you have to deal with it,” said the now 89-year-old. “Keep going” is her motto. That now seems to have changed.
