Judi Dench reveals she's going blind
Dame Judi Dench, famed for her Oscar winning role in 'Shakespeare in Love' and her ongoing role as 007's boss, M, in the James Bond film series, has revealed that she can now barely read scripts due to her macular degeneration.
The 77-year-old told The Mirror: "I can't read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes.
"And so somebody comes in and reads them to me, like telling me a story."
The star revealed that the condition, which causes damage to the retina and can lead to full blindness, runs in the family and that she has already undergone treatment - "they had to do these injections and I think it's arrested."
However, she is not letting the condition change her typically busy schedule.
"As long as there is a possibility of working, I'm not going to retire," she says. "If I retire, nothing will work any more, and it's hard enough as it is.
"The most distressing thing is in a restaurant in the evening, I can't see the person I'm having dinner with.
"I know there might be something going on, but sometimes, I can't see it and that infuriates me as I think I'm really missing out on something."
Dench will next appear in 'Skyfall' alongside Daniel Craig, Albert Finney, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. She can currently be seen in 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' - trailer HERE.
Other film news
Recent Oscar winner sandra Bullock and 'Bridesmaids' scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy are to team up for a new buddy cop comedy, it has been confirmed.
We previously broke the news that Ron Burgundy and his co-workers would return for 'Anchorman 2' and now a teaser trailer has broken on the web promising that the long-awaited sequel will be "broadcasting from a hottub of scotch".
Hong-Kong born action legend Jackie Chan has revealed to audiences at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival that he has completed his last ever action movie.
'Terminator 3' and 'In the Bedroom' actor Nick Stahl has been reported missing by his wife after he hasn't been seen for over seven days.
The Mario Puzo estate will release a new 'Godfather'-based book, after the late author's legal team and Paramount Pictures (who produced the original masterpiece film trilogy) came to an agreement following mutiple lawsuits.
Despite objections from The Jimi Hendrix Estate, a biopic of the legendary guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi Hendrix is going ahead starring Outkast MC and multi-instrumentalist Andre 3000.
Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas have both signed on for comedy 'Last Vegas', it has been confirmed.
It's good news for fans of the original 'Alien' films, the latest in the franchise - Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' - will not be cut down to secure a family-friendly age rating 20th Century Fox has confirmed.
After it was revealed that Jessica Chastain's schedule made it impossible to join 'Iron Man 3', it seems that 'The Town' star Rebecca Hall has been brought in to fill her shoes as the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark/Iron Man.
'Grease' and 'Pulp Fiction' star John Travolta has been sued by two male masseurs who have both accused the actor of sexual assault.
In probably the least shocking film news this year, Marvel's megahit 'Avengers Assemble' has been greenlit for a sequel, but it won't be as rushed as you'd think.
'Twilight' star Robert Pattinson is taking giant steps to put his teen idol Hollywood heartthrob status behind him, following up David Cronenberg's sordid 'Cosmopolis' with Saddam Hussein thriller 'Mission: Blacklist'.
Ashton Kutcher's latest ad for Popchips has been pulled, following accusations of racist content.
'Avengers Assemble' star Scarlett Johansson has received a star on the prestigious Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.
It's good news for Hollywood - the biggest awards show in American film - the Oscars - is remaining in town for at least another 20 years under a new 20-year deal signed by the Academy.
Film and TV star Charlie Sheen has filed suit against a strip club who named a VIP room in his honour without his permission.
As the 'Avengers Assemble' movie shattered box office records in dozens of countries, it comes as little surprise to learn that its cast members signed multiple picture deals with Marvel beforehand, but the length of the contracts may raise a few eyebrows - Mark Ruffalo is up for five more films.
Armando Iannucci has spoken out on the one of the key issues in Norfolk and beyond, confirming that not only is an Alan Partridge movie in the works but that it will also shoot this year.
Marvel's 'Avengers Assemble' made an interesting move of holding back the opening in the prime US market, allowing for an international wide release to get the financial ball rolling. It paid off with the superhero film bagging $178.4 million between Wednesday and Sunday.
We previously brought you the first poster and synopsis from Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' follow-up 'Django Unchained', and now we've got some scorching stills to go with it.