Julie Andrews

Date of Birth: October 1, 1935

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Biography

Dame Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, is a renowned actress, singer, and author. She has had a distinguished career in film, television, and theater, known for her crystalline voice and commanding stage presence. Andrews began her career as a child actress and singer in the West End before making her Broadway debut in “The Boy Friend” in 1954. She won critical acclaim and fame for her roles in “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot.” Julie Andrews’s film debut came in 1964 when she starred as Mary Poppins, a role that earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She followed this with her iconic performance as Maria in “The Sound of Music” (1965), solidifying her place as a Hollywood legend. Despite a botched vocal cord surgery in 1997 that significantly reduced her singing abilities, Andrews continued to act and lend her voice to various projects, including the “Shrek” series and “The Princess Diaries.” In addition to her acting career, Julie Andrews has authored numerous children’s books, often in collaboration with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2000.

5 Interesting Facts about Julie Andrews

1. Julie Andrews was the youngest person ever to perform in a Royal Command Performance before the Queen of England at the age of 13.

2. She turned down the role of Eliza Doolittle in the film version of “My Fair Lady,” which went to Audrey Hepburn, but this led to her casting in “Mary Poppins.”

3. Andrews received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001 for her lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.

4. She has written over 30 children’s books, including the popular “The Very Fairy Princess” series.

5. Julie Andrews has had a successful second career as a director, helming a production of the musical “The Boy Friend” in 2005.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Julie Andrews

1. “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”

2. “Sometimes I’m so sweet even I can’t stand it.”

3. “All love shifts and changes. I don’t know if you can be wholeheartedly in love all the time.”

4. “I would be a fool to deny my own abilities.”

5. “The thrill of being in front of a camera remains exactly the same.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Julie Andrews has achieved a highest net worth of approximately $30 million.

Children

Julie Andrews has two biological children and three stepchildren. She married set designer Tony Walton in 1959, and they had one daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, born in 1962. Andrews later married director Blake Edwards in 1969, becoming the stepmother to his two children, Jennifer and Geoffrey Edwards. The couple also adopted two Vietnamese daughters, Amy and Joanna.