Judi Dench ‘Can’t See Much’ — Her Caring Partner, Who Still Lives Apart from Her, Even Had to Feed Her

Iconic English actress Dame Judi Dench, 88, known for her acting prowess in many popular movies, theatre, and television productions, opened up about her degenerative eye condition. The condition impairs her vision to the point where she has difficulty seeing, affecting her ability to work and carry out other daily activities.

The Oscar winner described the ailment as an extreme shock to one’s body. Dench has also needed to rely on the support of others to help her along the way.

Though she has needed help from others, Dench’s assertive and independent personality leaves her feeling as though she does not want to have to be dependent on people. Nonetheless, she accepts her need for assistance, especially when it comes to her career. While speaking on how her impaired vision affects her acting, Dench disclosed:

“I mean I can’t see on a film set any more. And I can’t see to read. So I can’t see much.”

Another incident in which Dench found it particularly difficult to see was when she and her longtime partner, David Mills, attended an important dinner. The “Skyfall” star stated that the room was too dark to see if she had any food on her plate.

She turned to Mills and asked him if there were any contents on her plate, to which he responded that there were and asked if she needed help cutting the food. After helping her cut up the food, he handed the fork over to her with a portion of the meal on it. Summing up her problem with her vision, Dench admits:

“It’s bad. Bad enough in that you’re quite fuzzy. I’ve got to teach myself a new way of learning.”

Dame Judi Dench Found Love Again with Her Longtime Partner, David Mills, after Her Husband Passed Away

Dealing with a severe vision issue has been quite a challenging feat for Dench. However, she luckily has the assistance, love, and support of her longtime partner, Mills. Before she and Mills started their romantic relationship, Dench was married to the late English actor Michael Williams for thirty years.

It was only after nine years following Williams’ passing that Mills and Dench started courting (in 2010). Mills and Dench have been together for 13 years and remain in love and committed to each other, despite not being married or living together under the same roof.

Far from having any concrete plans to retire, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” star plans to work as much as she can for as long as her condition allows.

Though the couple has revealed that they have had many conversations about the potential of getting married and moving in together, both have also expressed their preference and love for having their own spaces. Of the prospect of joining their lives under one roof, Mills said:

“We talked about that but I think we are far better off as we are as we have got two separate houses… and we are four miles apart.”

Similarly, Dench remains headstrong in her wanting to enjoy the life they have as it is instead of concerning themselves with marriage and all the prospects that go along with it. When asked whether she and Mills would be tying the knot anytime soon, the “Victoria & Abdul” talent answered no with haste, adding:

“…Let’s just pull ourselves together and be our age!”

Even though Mills and Dench live in two separate houses and may not see themselves getting married, they are still very much in love. In a past interview, Dench gushed about how lucky she feels to have found Mills, after thinking she would never find anyone else again after Williams’ death.

She went on to speak about how caring Mills is with her and how much he makes her laugh, which the talented actress holds in high regard. Although Mills divulged the minor difficulties that come with living in the shadow of the phenomenal likes of Dench, he credits their relationship’s durability to the fact that because he is not an actor or involved in show business, he and Dench do not view each other as competition.

How Dame Judi Dench’s Career Has Been Impacted by Her Degenerative Eye Condition

Dench’s eyesight issue has prohibited her from seeing her way around production sets. The condition, which is age-related, is called macular degeneration (AMD), and she was diagnosed in 2012. According to the celebrated entertainer:

“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.”

The ailment also progressed to a stage where she had to give up driving a few years after her diagnosis. Additionally, Dench revealed that outside of her photographic memory and help from friends who read her script’s lines aloud, she has yet to find a sustainable way to get around those challenges. However, Dench’s fiery and resilient personality, which fuels her incredible work ethic, will not allow her to give up.

Far from having any concrete plans to retire, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” star plans to work as much as she can for as long as her condition allows. Her perseverance is also fueled by a mantra tattooed on her:

“I have an irrational fear of boredom. That’s why I now have this tattoo that says carpe diem. That’s what we should live by.”

Though Dench may be facing a tough time seeing, impacting her day-to-day living as well as her career severely, Mills remains steadfast by her side, and her resilience pushes her forward.