Judi Dench on refusing retirement and living with vision loss
Dame Judi Dench spoke about ageing and her determination to keep working despite age-related macular degeneration. The 91-year-old actress said she wants words such as retire and old to be abandoned. She also shared that she hopes to remain active and die after a performance rather than step away from her career.
Dame Judi Dench, now 91, was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012. The James Bond actress has continued to take on professional projects despite the condition affecting her vision, maintaining a busy schedule well into her 90s.
In comments to The Times, she rejected the idea of stepping back from work and called for words like "retire," "vintage," and "old" to be discarded. She pointed to Newton Blick, who died in his dressing room after a performance, and to centenarian women who skydive as examples she admires.
Dench's remarks may resonate with older people who face assumptions about retirement and capability, especially those living with disabilities or chronic conditions. Her visibility could encourage conversations about ageism and continued purpose, while also highlighting the personal nature of decisions about work, health, and mortality. It may prompt audiences to reconsider how language around ageing shapes expectations, though individual choices and circumstances will vary.