Julie Andrews

Julia Elizabeth Wells, known globally as Julie Andrews, early life was intertwined with the world of performance, as her mother was a pianist and her stepfather, Ted Andrews, a singer. It was Ted who recognised her exceptional vocal talent, boasting a remarkable four-octave range and perfect pitch, and provided her initial singing lessons. By the age of ten, she joined their music hall act, taking his surname professionally. Formal training followed with concert soprano Lilian Styles-Allen, who developed her operatic skills and impeccable diction. Her professional solo debut came at age twelve in 1947 at the London Hippodrome in a musical revue.

Julie Andrews transitioned to the American stage in 1954, making her Broadway debut in “The Boy Friend”. However, it was her role as Eliza Doolittle in the 1956 Broadway production of “My Fair Lady” that catapulted her to stardom. Her captivating performance earned her critical acclaim and the show became a monumental hit. Simultaneously, she starred in the 1957 television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”.

Despite not being cast in the film adaptation of “My Fair Lady,” Walt Disney, impressed by her stage presence in “Camelot,” offered her the lead role in “Mary Poppins” (1964). This iconic film debut earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. The following year, she starred in the beloved musical “The Sound of Music” (1965), which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Beyond these defining roles, Andrews showcased her versatility in films like “The Americanization of Emily” (1964), “Torn Curtain” (1966), and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967). She also collaborated with her second husband, director Blake Edwards, in films such as “10” (1979) and “Victor/Victoria” (1982), the latter earning her another Academy Award nomination. In later years, she endeared herself to a new generation with roles in “The Princess Diaries” (2001) and its sequel. On television, she hosted “The Julie Andrews Hour” in the 1970s and more recently, lent her voice as Lady Whistledown in the series “Bridgerton”.

In her personal life, Julie Andrews was first married to set designer Tony Walton from 1959 to 1968, with whom she had one daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. In 1969, she married Blake Edwards and they remained together until his death in 2010. Through this marriage, she became a stepmother and later adopted two more daughters, creating a large and blended family. In addition to her acting career, Andrews has also authored numerous children’s books and two autobiographies, reflecting on her remarkable life and career.