She is Britain’s greatest living actress of stage and screen, but Dame Judi Dench can no longer watch a performance by anyone else.
‘I can’t see any more,’ despairs the double Oscar winner, 90, who suffers from macular degeneration.
‘When I go to the theatre, I can’t see. Hopeless.’ Dame Judi was speaking at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, of which she is patron.
She was, however, able to keep up with the antics of her friend and fellow thespian dame, Celia Imrie, on The Celebrity Traitors.
‘Somebody told me what was happening,’ Dame Judi says. ‘I want to hear the dirt that went on.’
Away from stage and screen, the celebrated actress has called upon the Government to give people with dementia an earlier diagnosis on the NHS.
She is Britain’s greatest living actress of stage and screen, but Dame Judi Dench can no longer watch a performance by anyone else
She is, however, able to keep up with The Celebrity Traitors, thanks to a friend telling her what’s happening
Dame Judi was backing a new campaign and petition by Alzheimer’s Research UK for people with the condition to be told much quicker if they have it.
Almost a million people in the UK are living with dementia, but about one in three do not have a diagnosis.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, people in some parts of England can wait up to a year for a diagnosis after being referred, while those in the most deprived areas face longer delays.
Dame Judi said: ‘Dementia doesn’t just take away memories – it can take away identity, connection, and the future you thought you had.
‘Watching loved ones slip away, and not knowing why, is an experience no one should have to go through without answers.
Many people across the UK are still waiting far too long for a dementia diagnosis – or never receive one at all.
‘That means they miss out on vital support, on the chance to plan ahead, opportunities to get involved in research, and on precious time.
‘A diagnosis may not fix everything, but it gives people understanding, clarity, and some control at a time when everything feels uncertain. It allows families to make the most of the moments they have left.
Dame Judi’s close friend Celia Imrie is among the celebrity contestants on this year’s show
Away from stage and screen, the celebrated actress has called upon the Government to give people with dementia an earlier diagnosis on the NHS
‘That’s why I’ve signed Alzheimer’s Research UK’s petition – and why I’m asking the public to do the same.
‘Together, we can call on government to fix the crumbling diagnosis system and make sure no one faces dementia unseen.’
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘Everyone who has dementia should have the right to know the disease or diseases causing it, and to be diagnosed early enough to get treatments that help with its symptoms.
‘But hundreds of thousands of people are waiting too long for a diagnosis, causing uncertainty, and adding distress to an already challenging situation.
‘We’re incredibly grateful to Dame Judi for helping shine a light on what people with dementia need – and to everyone who has already signed our petition and stands with us.
‘More people are seeking answers, so it’s vital that the NHS and government act now to fix the system – because no one should face dementia alone or unseen.’
