Dame Judi Dench told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that an eye condition has left her unable to perform on stage or screen or to read, a change she said has significantly affected her life.
Speaking to the programme, the actress said, 'I can't do a play, a film or read any more,' outlining how the loss of sight has curtailed her ability to continue with the kinds of work she has long been associated with.
The comments underline the personal impact of the condition on day-to-day life and professional activity. Dench indicated that the change has forced a reassessment of what she can and cannot do, including activities that once formed the centrepiece of her career.
Her remarks were made in an interview setting on radio and were presented as a reflection on the practical consequences of deteriorating vision. She did not expand in the interview on medical details of the condition.
The disclosure comes from one of the UK's best-known actresses and may offer wider public insight into how sensory impairment can affect people working in performance fields where reading scripts and visual cues are central to the job.