🔗 Share this article The Esteemed Actress Reveals Memory Struggles Yet Holds Onto The Bard's Lines. The iconic performer Judi Dench has opened up about the impact of aging on her eyesight and memory, revealing she frequently finds it hard to recall upcoming appointments – but can easily recall long sections of Shakespearean text. "I have no memory of what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she told the Radio Times. Her team confirmed that this kind of help are sometimes required. Dench added that her age-related macular degeneration currently causes faces to appear "blurred" even when up close. A 'Crusher' of a Condition "It's devastating," Dench noted, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I long to see Clive Myrie presenting Mastermind," she said, "however I can at least hear the questions." Dench, who turns 91 this week, is leading a new documentary about her deep connection with Shakespeare's works. Audiences will also see her in conversation with Kenneth Branagh in a separate show set for broadcast over the festive period. Regarding Friends and Acquittals Dench also mentioned staying in contact with fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," Dench affirmed, "and I hear from Kevin, we text." Earlier this year, Dench disclosed she now requires constant help in public to avoid tripping due to her failing eyesight. She was first diagnosed with the eye condition in 2012, a progressive disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in the UK. Adapting to Change Dench has attributed the condition with her effective stepping back from film work. "I can no longer see properly on set," she explained, and continued: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it." "It's challenging if I have a substantial role. I have not discovered a way. Because I have so many friends who will help me learn the script." Dench's most recent screen credit was a brief part in the 2022 Christmas movie Spirited; earlier that year she had a more substantial part in Allelujah. The same year also brought her her eighth Academy Award nod for Belfast. A Continued Public Presence Dench still appears frequently in public, however, such as at charity events including a recent one last month alongside Ian McKellen. In May, she was sculpted live for charity. She noted she could not see the final artwork, but would touch it "if they let me."