Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench says her eye condition has left her unable to perform on stage or read, after she was diagnosed a decade ago with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012.
She said the condition has affected her vision and made it incredibly difficult to even recognize faces.
“I can’t be on stage. I can’t do a play anymore. I can’t do a film anymore. I can’t read anymore,” Dame said.
She added that her eyesight has also affected her ability to enjoy films and television and the struggles she encounters while trying to switch on screens and sometimes while meeting the wrong people before releasing her mistake.
“Sometimes I approach the wrong people and give them an almost hug before realizing it’s a mistake,” she said.
Dame Judi won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love in 1999 and became internationally recognized for her portrayal of “M,” James Bond’s boss.
