Judi Dench, 90, gives heartbreaking health update and reason why she’s not on screen anymore

Dame Judi Dench has revealed the reason she has largely stepped back from films and television in recent years.

Dench began her acting career in 1957 in Liverpool, playing Ophelia in a production of Hamlet with the Old Vic Company at just 22 years old.

Over her decades-long career, Dench has appeared in roughly 60 films, including her iconic role as “M” in the James Bond series alongside Daniel Craig. She has also won an Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love and multiple BAFTAs for performances in Iris, Mrs Brown, and A Handful of Dust.

The 90-year-old actress has slowed down professionally due to a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition that worsens over time and affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. AMD is a leading cause of permanent vision loss for people over 50 and impacts about one in ten Americans.

Dench was diagnosed with AMD in 2012, a condition that runs in her family. Her mother also experienced vision loss. The actress has said that her worsening eyesight now requires her to have someone accompany her whenever she leaves the house.

In a recent Fearless podcast, she admitted she is “nervous” when going out and often has to pretend she can see, as her vision makes navigating spaces difficult.

In an interview with ITV News, Dench explained that AMD prevents her from recognizing people, reading, or watching television. She described being able to see only vague outlines, such as Ian McKellen’s scarf, but otherwise has very limited vision.