Judi Dench details her frustration at being unable to learn lines with her macular degeneration

Judi Dench has discussed her battle with advanced macular degeneration, revealing  it’s now ‘impossible’ to learn lines unaided. 

The 88-year-old actress was first diagnosed with AMD in 2012 – a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision – and was hoping to slow its progress with treatment. 

However, appearing on The Graham Norton Show, she explained that it’s now ‘impossible’ for her to read a script and that she’s on the hunt for a machine that would not only read out lines for her but also explain where they are on the page so that she can utilise her photographic memory.  

Dame Judi appeared on the red sofa with Hugh Jackman, Michael B. Jordan, Eugene Levy, Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Pink.

During the episode, which will air on Friday, the Oscar-winning actress explained her frustration at needing outside help to learn her lines. 

Candid: Judi Dench has discussed her battle with advanced macular degeneration, revealing it’s now ‘impossible’ to learn lines unaided

She explained: ‘It has become impossible and because I have a photographic memory, I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page. 

‘I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them. I could do the whole of Twelfth Night right now.’

Judi previously discussed her ailments on BBC Two’s Louis Theroux Interviews, confessing: ‘I don’t want to retire. I’m not doing much at the moment because I can’t see. It’s bad.’ 

AMD is a common condition that usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s.

It does not cause total blindness but it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.

The exact cause is unknown but it has been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.

Elsewhere in the chat, Dame Judi –  who was promoting her new film Allelujah – reminisced about starring as Sally Bowles in the West End premiere of Cabaret in the Sixties. 

She recalled: ‘My dressing room was below ground with a bit of a window. I could hear people walking by and one woman said, “Judi Dench in a musical? No one will go to see that one, no one!”‘

Invention: Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, she explained that it’s now ‘impossible’ for her to read a script and that she’s on the hunt for a machine that can help her 

Star-studded sofa: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Dame Judi, Hugh Jackman, Michael B Jordan, Eugene Levy and Pink join Graham Norton on Friday night’s episode of the hit chat show 

Elsewhere on The Graham Norton Show, Hugh Jackman explained how being a father to son Oscar, 22, and daughter Ava, 17, impacted his new role in drama, The Son.  

He explained: ‘It changed me as a parent. One beautiful line in the script is “Love isn’t always enough,” which is one of the most difficult things for a parent to hear. 

‘I realised it is okay to say to my own children, “I don’t know” and to be open and vulnerable. I used to think they wanted surety and strength from me, but I now share with them things I wouldn’t have before. 

‘Hopefully I’m not boring dad doing it and that they appreciate it.’

Talking movingly about the death of his own father during the production of the film, Hugh said: ‘It was a very emotional time, and I am so grateful to every member of the cast and crew. 

‘When you are going through something like that, and you are doing a film that is so intense you just can’t do it alone and you have to lean on people.’

Daddy cool: Elsewhere on The Graham Norton Show, Hugh Jackman explained how being a father to son Oscar, 22, and daughter Ava, 17, impacted his new role in drama, The Son

New move: Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan discussed being a shareholder in AFC Bournemouth, calling the experience ‘crazy and amazing’

Change of heart: Talk then turned to Eugene Levy’s career, with the star revealing he initially turned down the role of Jim’s (Jason Biggs’) dad in American Pie

Meanwhile, Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan discussed being a shareholder in AFC Bournemouth, stating: ‘It is crazy and amazing. One reason I wanted to invest is that there was so much potential there. 

‘If you give to the community, and you have new managers and new players you can raise the culture of the team. It’s exciting.’

Talk then turned to Eugene Levy’s career, with the star revealing he initially turned down the role of Jim’s (Jason Biggs’) dad in American Pie. 

He confessed: ‘The script was really raunchy and I thought, “I honestly would not want to see this film so why I would want to be in it.”

‘After we improvised the role and I suggested he should be the type of dad that no teenager would want to hang out with, I agreed to do it.’

Later in the show, Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas joined Graham to chat about their new Marvel movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Paul, talking about being in physical shape playing opposite Jonathan Majors, confessed: ‘He was terrifying, and it was pretty intense.’

Double trouble: Later in the show, Paul Rudd (left) and Michael Douglas joined Graham to chat about their new Marvel movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Wow: The guests were then treated to an extraordinary performance of Pink’s new single Trustfall, featuring a stunt with performance artist Yoann Bourgeois

He continued: ‘I tried to bulk up and get in shape, but it was pointless compared to Jon and why do it when Ant-Man never takes his shirt off!’

The guests were then treated to an extraordinary performance of Pink’s new single Trustfall, featuring a stunt with performance artist Yoann Bourgeois.

Revealing her love of aerial stunts, Pink told the audience: ‘It is a lot of fun but very scary. I am afraid of heights, so I have to do it – it is fantastic.’

The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday, February 17 at 10.40pm.

Judi Dench details her frustration at being unable to learn lines with her macular degeneration
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