Sad Update on 007's 'Director M': "I Can No Longer See"

Judi Dench Reveals Loss of Eyesight Due to Macular Degeneration
"I Can't Recognize Anyone Now"

Judi Dench, the British actress well known in Korea for her role as 'Director M' in the 007 film series, has revealed that she has lost her eyesight.

Judi Dench, who played the role of 'Director M' in the 007 film series. Sony Pictures

In a recent interview with the British broadcaster ITV, Dench stated, "You can't see me on screen anymore. That's because I can no longer see."

Speaking to Ian McKellen, who appeared in the interview with her, she said, "I know you well with your 'Macbeth' scarf," but added, "I can see your outline, but now I can't recognize anyone." The two previously appeared together in the 1979 film "Macbeth." Dench added, "I can't watch television or read anymore."

Dench has publicly disclosed that she has been battling macular degeneration since 2012. Macular degeneration is a degenerative eye disease in which abnormalities in the macula, the central part of the retina, cause distortion or loss of central vision. The age-related macular degeneration that Dench suffers from develops due to aging, and as of now, there is no known cure.

Since 2023, Dench has spoken about the difficulties caused by her vision loss and has hinted at retirement. In an interview with a local media outlet at the time, she said, "I can't see anything on movie sets anymore, and I can't read scripts. It's difficult when the lines are long," adding, "I still haven't found a way to overcome it."

Meanwhile, Judi Dench, born in 1934 and now 90 years old, is one of Britain's most celebrated actresses, having been honored with the title of Dame by the British royal family. She made her debut in the play "Hamlet" in 1957, and from 1995 to 2012, she received worldwide acclaim for her performance as 'Director M' in the 007 film series. In addition, she has appeared in numerous works such as "Shakespeare in Love" (1998), "Pride and Prejudice" (2005), "Jane Eyre" (2009), "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (2011), "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" (2016), "Murder on the Orient Express" (2017), and "Cats" (2019).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.