At 91 years old, legendary actress Dame Judi Dench has dismissed retirement rumors and revealed that she would love to die in a theater dressing room after a performance. The Oscar-winning performer spoke candidly about aging, her career highlights, and her ongoing work in the entertainment industry despite living with macular degeneration.
Judi Dench Rejects National Treasure Label and Retirement Talk
When asked by The Times whether she enjoyed being called a national treasure, Dench snapped back with a clear rejection. Page Six reported that the 91-year-old actress exclaimed that she loathes the phrase because it makes her sound like a dusty old relic stuffed away in the back of a cupboard alongside dinosaur fossils and a broken Roman shield. Geo.tv noted that Dench wants to banish words like retire, vintage, and old from common vocabulary. The actress stated that the only benefit of aging is getting a dressing room nearer to the stage, adding that she has no time for people asking when she plans to put her feet up.
Judi Dench Relies on Acting Skills to Cope with Vision Loss
Dench has continued working despite being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a degenerative eye condition shared with her mother that causes permanent central vision loss, as detailed by Geo.tv. To cope with the vision impairment, the Belfast star explained to Page Six that she relies on other people and often pretends she can see properly. She admitted that she is quite good at acting as if her sight is intact, though it sometimes leads people to think she is cutting them dead when she fails to recognize them or smile. Dench maintains a strong preference for stage acting over film appearances, drawing inspiration from actor Newton Blick, who died in his dressing room after a performance.
Playing M in Eight James Bond Films
Among her screen credits, Dench enjoyed portraying the intelligence chief M across eight James Bond films over a 20-year span. She told Page Six that she loved the role because it allowed her to put men in their place and tell them where to get off, recalling her first meeting with Pierce Brosnan where she called him a sexist, misogynist dinosaur. Dench also addressed reports that she wept upon learning she would be replaced in the franchise, firmly denying the claims. She questioned why anyone would cry after 20 glorious years and eight films—noting that her run surpassed Roger Moore as the longest-running 007 actor to date—though she playfully grumbled about having to suffer the indignity of being sacked by Ralph Fiennes before her character was shot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judi Dench
What is Judi Dench’s upcoming project?
Page Six reported that Dench has a new memoir titled “Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?” scheduled for release in November.
How many James Bond films did Judi Dench star in?
Dench played the character M in eight James Bond films over a period of 20 years, as noted by Page Six.
When was Judi Dench diagnosed with macular degeneration?
Geo.tv reported that Dench was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a condition causing permanent central vision loss.
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