British actress Judi Dench, who once won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2021, resulting in steadily worsening vision. She became widely known for her role as 'M' in the '007' film series. Previously, she said in interviews that she would not easily retire, but recently she revealed that her eye disease has continued to worsen: she used to be unable to see things on set, but now she can no longer watch TV or read scripts, nor can she go out alone, which has severely affected her acting career.
Judi herself admitted: "I can’t recognize anyone right now ... I can’t see TV, nor can I see books." As her eyesight continues to worsen, she now has to rely on others to get around, making it impossible for her to play roles with long lines. She expressed her helplessness, saying all she can do is accept it and carry on with life.
Although Judi is still able to perform by relying on her memory, she needs to find a device that can not only teach her her lines but also tell her where the lines appear on the page. In order to continue her acting career, she keeps looking for new ways to learn and remember her lines. Speaking of her current situation, she said: "Now I have some very good friends who repeat the lines to me over and over again," which is how she continues to perform.
Source: Liberty Times Entertainment