Dame Judi Dench fired her agent on the spot after she was thrown 80 feet into a pool of water at a theme park.
The 87-year-old star recalled how she once went to Universal Studios, where she was advised to hop on a ride, but she didn’t realize the result would see her plunge into water.
She said: “We were in Los Angeles and my agent said, ‘I have to take you to Universal Studios.'”
“I told him I didn’t want anything to blow me up. So we were in little boats and it was absolutely lovely.”
“And then all of a sudden we fell 80 feet into a puddle of water. I was so mad… I fired her right then and there. I said, ‘You’re fucking fired.'” “
Judi was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in 2012, and admits that learning lines is now “annoying” because of her eyesight.
She said, “I can’t read any more, which is very, very boring. I can’t see.”
“It’s annoying to learn parts.”
But the ‘Belfast’ actress can still appreciate works of art, like a drawing of a rabbit by Olly Alexander from Years and Years, which she has in her bathroom.
Speaking to Olly on the ‘Acting For Others Presents’ podcast, he added: “Remember that drawing you did for me? The rabbit?
“It’s right in the bathroom, right next to me. It’s so beautiful.”
In July, Judi admitted that she will never retire.
She said, “Slow down? How dare you! How dare you. I’m slowing down just because I can’t see to read. But I’ll find a way.”
Despite a string of awards over the years, including 10 BAFTAs, an Oscar from eight nominations and seven Oliviers, the ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ actress insisted she never takes her success for granted.
She added, “No, no. You can do one thing that’s a hit and then for the next thing you might go crazy. You can never take that for granted and it’s right that we don’t.” .”
