Overview
- The 91-year-old told BBC Radio 4 that progressive age-related macular degeneration has made it impossible for her to read scripts or perform, a statement widely reported on Friday.
- Dench was first diagnosed with AMD in 2012 and the disease mainly damages central vision while often leaving peripheral sight intact, which means she is not necessarily totally blind.
- Her symptoms now include difficulty recognising faces and reduced colour perception, which she illustrated by saying she could not see the bluebells others praised last summer.
- Friends and collaborators have helped her adapt by memorising lines for her, and she has shifted from painting to tactile crafts such as paper cutouts to keep expressing her creativity.
- The announcement marks a public end to an active stage and screen career that spanned decades and leaves her legacy intact while highlighting how AMD changes daily life for those affected.