Let’s talk about one of Hollywood’s most beloved legends, Judi Dench. The iconic actress recently opened up about her ongoing struggle with vision loss and how it's impacting her life both on and off the screen. At 88, Dench isn't letting this challenge slow her down—not by a long shot.

Life on Set: Navigating Hollywood With Vision Loss

In a candid moment, Dench revealed just how difficult it's become to work on film sets. "I mean, I can’t see on a film set anymore," she admitted. "And I can’t see to read scripts. So, I can’t see much." Despite these challenges, the Academy Award-winning actress is determined to keep doing what she loves. "But you know, you just deal with it. You get on," she reflected. "It’s tough, especially when I have long parts. I haven’t yet figured out the best way to manage, but I have a photographic memory, so that helps."

For years, Dench has relied on her incredible memory to learn lines, but now she's exploring new methods. "I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page," she explained. "I used to find it so easy to memorize scripts. I could recite the entire Twelfth Night by Shakespeare right now if I had to."

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A Degenerative Condition That Changed Everything

Judi Dench first learned about her degenerative eye condition back in 2012, and since then, things have only gotten tougher. "It was a terrible shock to the system," she recalled in a previous interview. "It’s ghastly. It’s hard to be so dependent on others." Yet, Dench refuses to let this stop her. Her recent performances in films like Spirited and Allelujah prove that she’s still at the top of her game.

She even made an appearance on The Graham Norton Show earlier this year, where she shared more details about how her vision impairment affects her career. "It’s become impossible to rely on my eyes alone," she said. "Thankfully, I have friends who help me memorize lines through repetition. And I hope people won’t notice if my lines aren’t perfect!"

Judi Dench smiles while wearing a black suit — Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Finding New Ways to Thrive in Hollywood

Over the years, Dench has adapted her methods to keep working in the industry she loves. She's even become an advocate for sight loss charities and research. "You figure out how to overcome the difficulties," she said. "I’ve had to come up with new ways to learn lines, thanks to my great friends who repeat them to me over and over. So, I learn through repetition, and I hope people won’t notice if the lines aren’t perfect!"

And she's not alone in this journey. Supportive co-stars like Kenneth Branagh have been there for her. "I was doing The Winter’s Tale with Kenneth a few years ago, playing Paulina," she recalled. "After we had been running for three weeks, he told me that if I moved my final speech eight feet to the right, I’d be speaking directly to him instead of the prompter."

Optimism and a Carpe Diem Attitude

Judi Dench remains as optimistic as ever about her future in Hollywood. The English star has a tattoo on her wrist that serves as a daily reminder to seize the day. "I have an irrational fear of boredom," she confessed. "That’s why I got this tattoo that says 'carpe diem.' That’s how we should all live our lives."

With her unwavering determination and incredible resilience, there's no doubt that Judi Dench will continue to inspire audiences around the world.