Dame Judi Dench has lovingly revealed how she plants a tree in her garden for every friend who dies, as a way of honoring and remembering them.
The Hollywood star, 88, who is guest editing this Sunday’s episode of Countryfile, discusses her love of nature and her particular passion for trees.
Judi talked about how many of the trees she planted were for her deceased famous friends, saying, “I have a lot of famous people in my yard.”
The James Bond actress’ passion for trees started at a young age, when she remembered how she would feel if they were cut down.
She said, “As a child I would get irrationally upset when I saw long trucks with huge trees on them. I can’t explain that. I still don’t like seeing trees being felled.’
Sweet: Judi Dench has sweetly revealed how she plants a tree in her yard for every friend who dies as a way to honor and remember them (Judi pictured with Hamza Yassin in Countryfile’s Sunday episode)
Elsewhere in the episode, Judi gets tearful when she sees two golden eagles on an outing with wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin.
She also speaks to Countryfile regular Charlotte Smith on a visit to Inveraray Castle, in Argyll, where they discuss her poor eyesight.
When asked how she stays so positive about losing her sight, Judi says, “I don’t have a choice or I’ll just fall over.” But I have great people helping me.’
Judi recently candidly revealed that she can no longer see on movie sets and read scripts.
Judi, who is known for starring in many major films, including the Bond franchise, suffers from advanced macular degeneration.
She revealed that her friends help her learn rules instead and that she has a photographic memory.
Despite her deteriorating eyesight, the Academy Award winner says she refuses to give up and wants to “work as much as possible.”
The actress told The Mirror’s Notebook magazine: “I mean, I can’t watch on a movie set anymore. And I can’t see to read. So I can’t see much.
‘I can’t watch on a movie set anymore’: Judi revealed this week that she refuses to retire from her acting career despite being unable to read or write due to advanced macular degeneration
“But you know, you just have to deal with it. Continue.’
She added, “It’s hard for me when I have a piece of length. I haven’t found a way yet. Because I have so many friends who will teach me the script. But I have a photographic memory.’
Judi was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012 and had to stop driving a few years ago when her eyesight began to deteriorate.
This isn’t the first time the actress has opened up about her health condition. Last year she appeared on BBC’s Louis Theroux and admitted that ‘it sucks’.
She told the broadcaster: ‘I don’t want to retire. I’m not doing much right now because I can’t see. It’s bad’.
Judi also revealed that while eating with her partner David Mills, he had to cut up her food for her because she couldn’t see it on her plate.
“He cut it up and gave me something on a fork, and that’s how I ate it,” she explained.
With over 60 years of experience, Dame Judi made her first professional stage appearance in 1957 and her film debut was in 1964 for The Third Secret.
Legend: With over 60 years of experience in the business, Dame Judi is a star on stage and screen. here she plays Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at The Old Vic Theatre, London (pictured here in 1960)
Movie queen: Dame Judi won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was the oldest person ever to do a Vogue cover (pictured here on ITV’s A Fine Romance in 1981)
Candid: The actress, 88, spoke candidly about her health struggles last year when she appeared on the BBC’s Louis Theroux show, where she admitted her eyesight was poor
She has since appeared in Philomena and Shakespeare in Love – to name a few, with her last role earning her an Academy Award in 1998.
Judi is also known for playing M, the head of MI6, alongside Daniel Craig’s Bond.
The British star has also achieved success on stage, winning a Tony Award in 1999 for Amy’s View, as well as a string of Olivier awards.
Four years ago, she became the oldest woman to ever cover British Vogue in its 104-year history – an achievement she is still proud of.