DAME

Judi Dench, who suffers from macular degeneration, recounts a very awkward situation while dining out with her family recently. ‘Two weeks ago, we were going out to celebrate [my partner] David’s grandson’s birthday,’ she says. ‘He’s 14. ‘We were all meeting in a restaurant and I walked in with my family and I walked to these people’s seats, and I said: “Happy 14th birthday!” Until someone said: “Ma, there’s a couple sitting there!” ‘And we absolutely howled with laughter.’