Dame Judi Dench has been open about her health in the past, commenting on her age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which she was diagnosed with in 2012.
Despite losing her vision, the actress has not let her health dictate her career opportunities, choosing to maintain a busy work schedule into her 90s. Now, the 91-year-old has revealed why she wants to ban words such as "retire" and "old" as she made a sobering comment about how she would want to die.
When asked about ageing, she told The Times: "You have to contend with people asking, 'When are you going to retire?' or, 'Isn’t it about time you put your feet up?' No, it bloody well isn’t. 'Retire', 'vintage', 'old' – let's banish those words.
"I want to be like Newton Blick, who died in his dressing room after a performance. I want to be one of those women who throw themselves out of planes when they're 100."
While some would relish being labelled a "national treasure", Judi, who is best known for her roles in James Bond and Shakespeare In Love, insisted she "loathes it."
She defiantly added: "Makes me sound like a dusty old relic that’s been stuffed away in the back of the cupboard, along with some dinosaur fossils and a broken Roman shield."
© GettyAMD is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, and Dame Judi's mother also suffers from the condition, with the actress joking they both "pretend" they haven't got it.
Judi Dench's positive approach to dealing with her sight problems
Back in 2025, Judi admitted she was close to losing her sight completely in an interview with HELLO!. "I don’t know how far I am from not being able to see at all, but it's not far away. That's very irritating," she said.
© GettyHowever, she learnt how to hide her sight loss during her career. "If you're an actress, you can act that you can see. I've had to act all my life, so I can act that I can see.
"You end up cutting a lot of people dead, then you go up to complete strangers, give them the most enormous hug and say: 'I'm so sorry I haven't seen you for so long.'"
With characteristic humour, she added: "My hearing is going, too. Goodness knows what I nod and say 'yes' to. It's quite exciting, actually."
She continued that she has an overwhelmingly positive attitude, despite confessing in the past that her sight prevents her from everyday tasks such as driving, reading the paper or doing a crossword.
Symptoms of AMD
© GettyLeading optometrist Dr Nish previously told HELLO! that AMD can happen "as early as age 55," but Dame Judi Dench wasn't diagnosed until she was 77 years old.
"In the later stage of AMD, symptoms may include blurry or fuzzy vision, the appearance of straight lines/objects being wavy, and/or grey, dark or empty areas in the centre of one's vision," she said, before adding that some supplements and lifestyle changes can help slow the progression.
"Studies show that taking nutritional supplements such as Vitamin C & E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Zinc & Copper may help," said Dr Nish. "Also, lifestyle changes such as dieting, exercising, avoiding smoking and protecting eyes from UV rays may help as well."
