Legendary actress Dame Judi Dench has admitted she behaved a little awkwardly with podcaster and television presenter Richard Osman at an event, something caused by a persistent health issue. Judi, 91, is one of the UK’s most famous actresses, having appeared in the likes of James Bond, Shakespeare in Love, and Philomena.
In recent years, she has been dogged by worsening age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that the NHS says affects the middle part of one’s vision. The same condition her mother had, it has greatly affected Judi’s ability to work and interact with people, leading to at least one unfortunate gaffe, including one with the 55-year-old host of Pointless Celebrities and The Rest Is Entertainment, Mr Osman.
The incident was recounted in her autobiography Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, co-written with her friend Brendan O’Hea, which takes the form of a question and answer session between the pair. At one point, the duo discuss how Dame Judi appears to enjoy taking photographs with tall men, as she looks humorously small in comparison.
In the book the star, who is just over five feet tall, explained how it all started, before revealing what happened with Mr Osman. Judi said: “It all started with the American artist Mark Bradford. He’s six feet eight. You should see the photo – I don’t even come up to his armpit.
“I look like something you’d throw for the dog. And I’ve got a great one of me with Richard Osman. But I behaved so badly. There he was, standing around at an event, and I sidled up and said, ‘May I have my photograph taken please?’
“Only then did I realise he was talking to someone and I was so rude – no apology. It turned out to be Alexander Armstrong, I must send him a voice note. That’s what comes with not being able to see.”
Although Dame Judi’s sight loss has provided moments of levity, it has also caused her great sadness since her diagnosis in 2012. In a recent interview, Judi admitted she was no longer able to read, watch a film, or act in a play.
Speaking to the broadcaster’s Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4, Judi said: “I can’t be on stage. I can’t do a play anymore. I can’t do a film anymore. I can’t read anymore.”
Judi also touched on how her sight loss means she sometimes mistakes people for others, on occasion going in to give the wrong person a hug before she soon realises the error she’s about to make. When it comes to ageing, she added that there was “nothing to say”, and that she tries not to consider it “too much”.
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
