Julie Andrews facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julie Andrews
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Andrews in 2013
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Julia Elizabeth Wells
1 October 1935 Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
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| Years active | 1945–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Children | 3, including Emma Walton Hamilton |
| Awards | Full list |
Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells, 1 October 1935) is a famous English actress, singer, and author. She is known for her amazing talent on stage and in movies. Julie Andrews has won many important awards, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and seven Golden Globe Awards. She was also nominated for three Tony Awards.
In 2001, she received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2007, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2022, she was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award. Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame (DBE) in 2000, which is a very special honor in Britain.
Julie Andrews started performing as a child. She appeared in London's West End in 1948. From 1950 to 1952, she was on the radio show "Educating Archie". She made her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend in 1954. She became very famous for her roles in Broadway musicals. These included Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1956) and Queen Guinevere in Camelot (1960). She also starred in the TV musical Cinderella in 1957.
Her first movie role was playing Mary Poppins in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins (1964). For this role, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The next year, she starred in The Sound of Music (1965) as Maria von Trapp. This role earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
Julie Andrews has starred in many other films. She worked with famous directors like her husband Blake Edwards, George Roy Hill, and Alfred Hitchcock. Some of her films include The Americanization of Emily (1964), Hawaii (1966), Torn Curtain (1966), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Later, she returned to movies in The Princess Diaries (2001) and its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). She also lent her voice to characters in the Shrek franchise (2001–2010) and the Despicable Me franchise (2010–present).
She is also known for her TV specials with Carol Burnett. These include shows in 1962, 1971, and 1989. Her own variety show, The Julie Andrews Hour (1973), won an Emmy Award. She helped create and hosted Julie's Greenroom (2008, 2017). She also voiced Lady Whistledown in the Netflix series Bridgerton (2020–present). Julie Andrews has written many children's books with her daughter. She also wrote two autobiographies about her life.
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About Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews has had a long and successful career in entertainment. She is celebrated for her beautiful singing voice and her ability to bring characters to life. Her work has touched the hearts of millions around the world.
Early Life and Talents
Julia Elizabeth Wells was born on October 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. Her mother, Barbara Ward Wells, was a talented pianist. Her father, Edward Charles "Ted" Wells, was a teacher. Julie's parents later divorced. Her mother remarried Ted Andrews in 1943. Her father remarried Winifred Maud Birkhead in 1944.
Julie lived with her mother and stepfather, Ted Andrews. They encouraged her artistic training. Julie began taking lessons at the Cone-Ripman School. She also studied with a famous opera singer and voice teacher, Madame Lilian Stiles-Allen. Julie said Madame Stiles-Allen had a huge influence on her. She described her own voice as "very pure, white, thin," with a wide range. Besides singing, Julie also trained in dance. She learned ballet, ballroom, and tap. This helped her move gracefully on stage and in films.
A Star is Born: First Performances
From 1945, Julie performed on stage with her parents. She would stand on a beer crate to sing into the microphone. She performed solos or duets with her stepfather. Her mother played the piano. Julie later said it "must have been ghastly, but it seemed to go down all right."
Julie's big break came when her stepfather introduced her to Val Parnell. He managed many famous venues in London. At just 12 years old, Julie made her professional solo debut. This was at the London Hippodrome on October 22, 1947. She sang a difficult song called "Je suis Titania" from Mignon. She performed there for a whole year.
On November 1, 1948, at 13, Julie became the youngest solo performer to appear in a Royal Variety Performance. This was for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at the London Palladium. She performed alongside other stars like Danny Kaye. Julie also worked in radio and television. She was on the BBC show Educating Archie from 1950 to 1952. She also appeared in stage shows like Aladdin and Humpty Dumpty in London's West End. In 1952, she voiced Princess Zeila in the animated movie La Rosa di Bagdad. This was her first film role.
Rising to Stardom: Broadway and TV
My Fair Lady and Cinderella Success
On September 30, 1954, just before her 19th birthday, Julie made her Broadway debut. She played Polly Browne in the musical The Boy Friend. Critics praised her performance.
Soon after, Julie auditioned for the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She got the part and worked hard to understand the character. The show opened on Broadway on March 15, 1956. It was a huge success with audiences and critics. Julie called her time as Eliza "the great learning period" of her life.
While starring in My Fair Lady, Julie also appeared in the TV musical Cinderella. This show was written especially for her by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was broadcast live on CBS on March 31, 1957. An estimated 107 million people watched it. Julie was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role. In 1957, she released her first solo album, The Lass with the Delicate Air.
Camelot on Stage
In 1960, Julie was cast again by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. She played Queen Guinevere in the musical Camelot. She starred alongside Richard Burton as King Arthur. Julie found the role challenging due to the costumes and deep story. Camelot opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre.
When the film version of My Fair Lady was being cast in 1962, Julie hoped to play Eliza again. However, the studio decided to cast the more famous film actress Audrey Hepburn. Julie later understood that her Broadway experience was "within a very small pond."
Hollywood Icon: Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music
Becoming Mary Poppins
In 1963, Julie began working on Disney's musical film Mary Poppins. Walt Disney had seen her in Camelot and offered her the main role. Julie initially said no because she was expecting a baby. But Disney insisted, saying, "We'll wait for you."
Mary Poppins became a huge success. It was the biggest box-office hit in Disney history at the time. Critics praised Julie's performance. The film won five Academy Awards, including Academy Award for Best Actress for Julie. She also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Julie and her co-stars also won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children in 1965.
The Magic of The Sound of Music
After Mary Poppins, Julie starred in The Americanization of Emily (1964). She then took on the role of Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music (1965). This film was the highest-grossing movie of its year. Julie said she thought the musical was "rather saccharine" before she was cast. Filming took place in Salzburg, Austria.
Julie focused on the song lyrics to help her connect with Maria's character. She used her voice to show Maria's feelings. The film received great reviews, especially for Julie's performance. For her role, she won her second Golden Globe Award. She was also nominated for another Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.
More Films and TV Adventures
After The Sound of Music, Julie appeared on The Andy Williams Show. She also had her own Emmy Award-winning special, The Julie Andrews Show, in 1965. In 1966, she starred in Hawaii and Torn Curtain, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Julie learned a lot about filmmaking from Hitchcock.
The next year, Julie played the main character in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). This film was a big success. Critics called Julie "absolutely darling" and "deliciously spirited." She earned another Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
Working with Blake Edwards
Julie then appeared in Star! (1968) and Darling Lili (1970). Darling Lili was directed by her second husband, Blake Edwards. Julie recorded original songs for the film with Henry Mancini. Critics praised Julie's performance in Darling Lili. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Julie continued to work in television. In 1969, she had a special with Harry Belafonte. In 1971, she and Carol Burnett starred in Julie and Carol At Lincoln Center. From 1972 to 1973, Julie had her own TV variety series, The Julie Andrews Hour. The show won seven Emmy Awards. She also guest-starred on The Muppet Show in 1977. In the 1970s, she made two successful films: The Tamarind Seed (1974) and 10 (1979).
Memorable Roles and Collaborations
In 1981, Julie starred in Blake Edwards's film S.O.B.. She then played a dual role in Victor/Victoria (1982), reuniting with James Garner. Her performance earned her another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. In 1983, she was named Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year. She also starred in The Man Who Loved Women (1983), That's Life! (1986), and Duet for One (1986). These last two films earned her Golden Globe nominations.
In 1987, Julie starred in the ABC Christmas special, Julie Andrews: The Sound Of Christmas, which won five Emmy Awards. In 1989, she reunited with Carol Burnett for another TV special. In 1991, Julie made her dramatic TV debut in Our Sons. She was also named a Disney Legend. In 1992, she hosted Christmas In Washington. A rose was named after her at London's Chelsea Flower Show. In 1995, she returned to Broadway in the stage musical Victor/Victoria. This was her first Broadway show in 35 years.
A New Chapter: Voice Work and Children's Books
Facing a Challenge: Loss of Singing Voice
In 1997, Julie had surgery on her throat. Unfortunately, this surgery permanently affected her singing voice. She could no longer sing with the same purity and range. Despite this challenge, Julie continued to work on many projects. In 1998, she appeared in a stage production of Dr. Dolittle in London. She provided the voice for Polynesia the parrot. In 1999, she reunited with James Garner for the TV film One Special Night.
In 2000, Julie was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2001, she received Kennedy Center Honors.
Queen, Nanny, and Narrator Roles
In 2001, Julie starred in The Princess Diaries, her first Disney film since Mary Poppins. She played Queen Clarisse Marie Renaldi. She returned for the sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). In this film, she sang on screen for the first time since her throat surgery. The song, "Your Crowning Glory", was written to suit her recovering voice.
Julie continued her work with Disney. She appeared as the nanny in two TV films based on the Eloise books. These were Eloise at the Plaza (2003) and Eloise at Christmastime (2003). She was nominated for an Emmy Award for these roles.
From 2005 to 2006, Julie was the Official Ambassador for Disneyland's 50th-anniversary celebration. She traveled to promote the event and narrated a new fireworks show. In 2004, Julie voiced Queen Lillian in Shrek 2. She reprised this role in Shrek the Third (2007) and Shrek Forever After (2010). In 2007, she narrated Enchanted, a Disney musical comedy.
Author and Director
In 2008, Julie published Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, the first part of her autobiography. She also wrote many children's books with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. One of their books, The Very Fairy Princess, became a number 1 bestseller in 2010.
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In 2010, Julie had a supporting role in the film Tooth Fairy. She also voiced Marlena Gru in the animated film Despicable Me. She reprised this role in Despicable Me 3 (2017) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). In 2011, Julie received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She and her daughter Emma also won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
In 2013, Julie went on her first tour of Australia and New Zealand. She gave a series of speaking engagements. She also directed a musical stage adaptation of her children's book, The Great American Mousical, in 2012 and 2024. In 2015, Julie made a surprise appearance at the Oscars. She greeted Lady Gaga, who performed a medley from The Sound of Music. In 2016, Julie created the preschool TV series Julie's Greenroom with her daughter. The series premiered on Netflix in 2017.
In 2018, Julie voiced Karathen in Aquaman. She also declined a cameo in Mary Poppins Returns to let the new star, Emily Blunt, shine. Starting in December 2020, Julie voiced the narrator Lady Whistledown in the Netflix series Bridgerton. In September 2025, she won an Emmy for her voice work as Lady Whistledown. In 2022, Julie narrated the film The King's Daughter. On June 9, 2022, she received the AFI Life Achievement Award. In 2023, she participated in TV specials honoring her friends Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke.
Personal Life
Julie Andrews married set designer Tony Walton on May 10, 1959. They had a daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, in 1962. They divorced in 1968 but remained good friends.
In November 1969, Julie married director Blake Edwards. She became a stepmother to his children, Jennifer and Geoffrey. In the 1970s, Julie and Blake adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna. They were married for 41 years until Blake Edwards passed away on December 15, 2010. Julie was by his side. Julie is a grandmother to nine and a great-grandmother to three. She lives in Sag Harbor, New York.
Awards and Special Honours
Throughout her career, Julie Andrews has received many awards. These include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, six Golden Globe Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Emmy Awards. Although nominated three times, she never won a Tony Award. In June 2022, Julie was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award. In 2002, she was ranked No. 59 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
See also
In Spanish: Julie Andrews para niños
