Dame Judi Dench has issued a devastating update regarding her health, and fans of the legendary film star are heartbroken.
The Oscar-winning actress, 90, has had a long and illustrious career, having picked up the prestigious gold statue in 1999 for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love.
She’s also known for playing M in multiple James Bond films, as well as starring in movies such as Philomena and Murder on the Orient Express.
Dench has not been on the big screen since 2022’s Allelujah.
Fans are sharing messages of support following Dench’s health update.
One person said: “Such a tragic thing to happen to such a wonderful, entertaining and beautiful person. Stay strong Judi.”
Another added: “Such a brilliant person, inside and out. Thank you for sharing your gifts with so many!
“Peace and joy to you, always.”
“You have always been one of my most favourite actresses and I’m so sorry for you, but you still have your memories and the love of your fans and family, and I hope they give you comfort,” penned a third. “Bless you.”
The renowned actress revealed to The Mirror in 2023 that she was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012.
AMD is an eye condition that can blur your central vision, and is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults.
It doesn’t cause total blindness, however, losing your central vision can make it more difficult to see faces, drive, or do close-up tasks.
Due to her diagnosis, the actress was forced to give up her driving licence several years ago.
Back in January 2025, Dench opened up about her struggles during an emotional appearance on Trinny Woodall’s Fearless podcast, where she admitted she now needs assistance every time she steps outside her front door.
She explained: “I have to [have someone] now because I can’t see. And I will walk into something or fall over. I’m always nervous before going to something.”
At a 2021 event for the London-based Vision Foundation, Dench admitted that the condition means she struggles to read scripts.
“You find a way of just getting about and getting over the things that you find very difficult,” she said.
“I’ve had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again.
“So I have to learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won’t notice too much if all the lines are completely hopeless!”
On the Graham Norton Show, Dench also revealed that she relies on her photographic memory to remember lines.
“I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page,” she shared.
“I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them. I could do the whole of Twelfth Night right now.”
Earlier this year, the actress announced that she had no further work planned while she struggles with her worsening sight.
When a journalist recently asked Dench whether she had plans for more acting work, she responded: “No, no, I can’t even see!”
When promoting a new Shakespeare teaching resource alongside her friend and colleague of 50 years, Sir Ian McKellen, Dench acknowledged that she has effectively lost her eyesight altogether.
“No, because I can’t see anymore,” she told ITV News.
McKellen pitched in: “We can see you,” to which she replied: “Yes and I can see your outline and I know you so well with your Macbeth scarf. But I can’t recognise anyone.
“People think ‘oh get her, she’s got very grand’ but it’s because I can’t see. I can’t see the television, can’t see to read.”
McKellen then asked: “Do you go up to total strangers and just say to them ‘lovely to see you again.’”
Laughing, Dench replied: “Yes sometimes!”
