Following on from an interview in The Mirror that suggested she was going blind, Dame Judi Dench has released a statement saying that she does not wish for the situation to be exaggerated. The statement, according to The Metro, reads "In response to the numerous articles in the media concerning my eye condition - macular degeneration - I do not wish for this to be overblown. This condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world are having to contend with. It's something that I have learnt to cope with and adapt to - and it will not lead to blindness."
In the interview, the Bond actress - who has ben cast to play the role of M once more in the upcoming Skyfall - described how she often struggles to see people's faces and can only do crosswords in strong daylight. The condition that she sufferes from, macular degeneration is the same condition that her mother had before her. She told the reporters for The Mirror that she can no longer read scripts herself but instead has them read to her. She added that she had no plans to retire and that she would continue to work as long as the opportunity was there.
As well as appearing in Skyfall, Judi Dench is also scheduled to appear in Better Living Through Chemistry. Due to be released in 2013, the film will star Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and MICHELLE MONAGHAN.