Judi Dench Shares She “Can’t Recognize Anybody” Amid Vision Loss

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Dame Judi Dench’s vision loss is progressing. 

More than a decade after revealing she had macular degeneration—an eye disease that affects vision—the Cats actress has shared that the condition has worsened to the point where she can no longer identify faces.

During a joint interview with ITV, Judi explained to Sir Ian McKellen that while she could make out shapes, she was unable to recognize people, see the television, or read anything.

And when the interviewer asked her about the theatre, Judy sullenly shook her head, “Well, no.”

Judi recently shared news about her health, two years after revealing her diagnosis had made it harder to remember lines for movies.

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show in 2023, the actress explained she was looking for a device that could both help her memorize lines and show her where those lines appeared in the script. She added that she used to have an easy time learning and remembering her lines.

You know, it’s amazing how memory works. Even with some recent challenges, my friend Judi still has a fantastic recall! She actually joked the other day that she could recite the entire play Twelfth Night from memory – and I believe her! It’s a testament to how deeply ingrained certain things can be, even as others fade.

Although dealing with the illness has been challenging for Judi, she remains determined to live life to the fullest.

Judi Dench has developed a unique method for memorizing her lines. As she shared in a 2021 speech reported by The Guardian, she relies on close friends to repeat them to her repeatedly. She admits she learns best through this kind of repetition and hopes audiences won’t be too critical if she occasionally stumbles over her words.

Judi Dench has understandably taken a break from acting since 2022, and has suggested her health played a role in that decision. When asked about future roles at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2024, she explained, “I can’t even see!” indicating her vision problems are a significant factor.

For more stars who have gotten candid about health struggles, keep reading… 

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during an elbow strike from wrestler Piper Niven in a match that took place in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, saying they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitments – implying after her divorce was finalized – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best. She wanted to make sure things were ready for future use and didn’t appear neglected.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being female. This often leads to women silently dealing with something that impacts a large part of their lives.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she’d been hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, causing a gap in her abdominal muscles.

She messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “You haven’t tweeted in ages!” Then, jokingly, she added, “Have you ever thought maybe I wore pants so tight six months ago that I got a hernia and I’ve been too afraid to mention it?”

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery because his appendix was close to rupturing.

Okay, so I was freaking out last week when Brian posted that video! He said he’d been having stomach pain, and honestly, I was so worried. Turns out he had a perforated appendix – not fully burst, thankfully, but super close! I was just relieved he went to the ER when he did. Seriously, I’ve been checking for updates non-stop!

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

A Racing Louisville soccer player fell to the ground early in the team’s game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

After receiving immediate medical attention on the field, Savannah was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a childhood accident – he was hit by a cement truck at age 11 – continue to cause him problems now.

Let me tell you, the last year has been incredibly tough. I was dealing with these awful spasms all over my body, and honestly, doctors were telling me things were very serious – that my life was at risk. It was a really frightening time, and a complete nightmare to go through.

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite perfect.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor had to be hospitalized after experiencing severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain during an RV trip with a friend that he could only get to the hospital by crawling.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a single squat or stand on one leg without falling. He compared the feeling to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is now recovering.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE what happened! My idol, the amazing Tracy Jordan from 30 Rock, had a scary moment at a Knicks game back in March 2025. I heard he wasn’t feeling well and they actually had to wheel him out of Madison Square Garden! I was so worried about him, it was awful!

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was now recovering.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was shot in the face by someone at another party who fired a gun carelessly. Thankfully, @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, checked her injuries, and got her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet came dangerously close to her right eye – less than an inch away.

The Kim Possible actress explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against surgery to remove it right now, as it’s considered too dangerous. She’s currently being monitored, and thankfully, her vision is still normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, emphasizing how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible, as life is precious and unpredictable.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, despite its often negative side, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and facing criticism online, doctors began commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome – a condition potentially caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d been receiving steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she described as “the greatest news imaginable.” Amy is now relieved to be healthy and credits the online attention for leading to her diagnosis.

During a game in December 2024, an American Hockey League player was accidentally cut in the face by another player’s skate and needed 25 stitches. After his son fully recovered, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly started having stroke-like symptoms, struggling to speak and noticing her face drooping. Although her symptoms briefly subsided, she went to the hospital for evaluation. Doctors discovered she’d had a small blood clot travel to her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The blood clot had passed through this hole and caused the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now recovering well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the rest of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also mentioned it became increasingly difficult to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, calling the situation scary but assuring everyone he would be completely fine and was grateful he was on the mend.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. He explained that while in Atlanta, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin, but then lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then went to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed them all.

The reality TV star said she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling as though she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but she then saw light, which led her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

As a huge fan of Emilia Clarke, I was absolutely floored when I read her incredibly honest essay in The New Yorker. She described a terrifying experience she went through while filming Game of Thrones. It all started with a really bad headache at the gym, which quickly escalated. She actually collapsed and was violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

It turned out she’d suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She had immediate surgery, but the pain was apparently unbearable. Even after that first surgery, recovery wasn’t straightforward. She experienced aphasia, and for a while, she was struggling to speak, just muttering nonsense. Thankfully, that passed after about a week, and she was able to leave the hospital after a month.

But that wasn’t the end of it. A scan in 2013 revealed the aneurysm had actually doubled in size, requiring a second, even more invasive surgery. She described waking up screaming from the pain, and learning the first attempt hadn’t worked, and another bleed meant her life was in real danger. This time, they had to open her skull to reach her brain.

It’s incredible to me that after everything she went through, she’s now completely recovered and says she’s at 100%. Her bravery in sharing her story is truly inspiring, and it really puts things into perspective.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she suffered a stroke in January 2024. She immediately contacted them, sending a text message and a photo, and they quickly came to her aid, she told TopMob News. While she could have been discharged after the stroke, Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer due to complications with her lupus and kidney issues. Now, she’s recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. “I just needed to regain some motor skills, but overall I’m doing fine.”

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. She saw many doctors but received conflicting diagnoses.

Shailene, who has kept the specifics of her condition private, decided to take a holistic approach, combining traditional medical care with alternative healing methods. This search for answers and comfort took ten years.

The physical discomfort led to emotional challenges, including fear of food, body image issues, and a struggle with her sense of self. However, after focusing on both her physical and mental well-being, Shailene is now healthy and happy. She shared that the issues ultimately resolved themselves, and she is grateful to be in a good place.

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2025-12-01 22:24