Dame Judi Dench has opened up about the difficulties she faces as a result of her ongoing health struggles.
Back in 2012, the beloved British actress first revealed she was gradually losing her eyesight.
The 90-year-old Oscar-winner confirmed she had been diagnosed with macular degeneration, an age-related eye disease that can blur an individual’s central vision.
Now updating fans on how she’s managing her condition, Dench explained she often worries about attending events.
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Detailing how her life has changed in recent years, the actress revealed she now needs more assistance and support due to her deteriorating eyesight.
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"Somebody will always be with me," she explained on Trinny Woodall’s Fearless podcast. "I have to now because I can’t see and I will walk into something or fall over.
"I’m always nervous before going to something. I have no idea why… I’m not good at being on my own at all, nor would I be now."
However, Dench added it's a relief she no longer has to keep her condition a secret and pretend she is able to see.
"Fortunately, I don’t have to now because I pretend to have no eyesight," she remarked.
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While Dench’s condition has made many elements of her life more challenging, the actor insists she wants to continue working "as much as [she] can".
She previously spoke out about the difficulties she faces on a film set with her limited sight.
"I mean I can’t see on a film set anymore. And I can’t see to read. So I can’t see much," she told The Daily Mirror's Notebook magazine in a 2023 interview.
"But, you know, you just deal with it. Get on."
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