Things To Know About Julie Andrews
How many people have seen Julie Andrews on screen? Depending on how you count, the answer is anywhere from 6.2 billion to 100 billion. With a career spanning almost 50 years, Julie Andrews is one of the most iconic and well-known actresses of our time. In honor of her 97th birthday, here are some things to know about Julie Andrews.
Meet Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews was born in America, but she is not an American actress. She was born in London before her family moved to Los Angeles when she was five years old. Andrews studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her Broadway debut in 1944. In 1956, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress as Maria in “The Sound of Music.”
Her first film role was playing Elizabeth I in “The Virgin Queen” (1955). Andrews received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance as Victoria Woodhull in the 1965 film “Sophie’s Choice,” a true story about a woman who faced persecution for being a financial supporter of women’s suffrage. Her other films include “Mary Poppins” (1964), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “A Christmas Story” (1983), and “The Princess Diaries” (2001).
The Early Years of Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews was born on Oct. 26, 1935, in Great Britain. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was just five years old, where she started to act in school plays. She got her big break when she landed the lead role in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” At age 16, Julie Andrews signed with MGM Studios and starred in a film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” with James Mason.
During the filming of “Cinderella,” Julie Andrews met her future husband John F. Kennedy Jr., who was playing the prince in the film. They married in 1956 and had four children together: Caroline, Katie, John Michael III, and Patrick Michael.
Julie Andrews in The 70s
Julie Andrews was born on April 25, 1935, in England, but she moved to the United States with her family at a young age. When she was studying at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to be an actress, she starred in the West End production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, the first time she had ever performed in front of live audiences. In 1955, Julie made her Hollywood film debut with The Boyfriend and continued appearing on both stage and screen throughout the 50s.
Most notably, Julie began starring alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Mary Poppins. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. You might also recognize her from Mary Poppins Returns or The Sound of Music.
In the 70s, Julie tried something new when she took on a role as a singer/dancer on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress for this performance as well as winning a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 1976.
Julie Andrews in The 80s-1990s
In the 1980s, the actress took a break from film, making her return to movie screens in 1990 with the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. In 1993, she starred in Disney’s That Darn Cat! for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
Julie Andrews’ final project was playing Mrs. Potts in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 1994. She died of natural causes at her home on March 23rd, 2016 at the age of 90.
Julie Andrews in The 2000s-Present
Julie Andrews, who has been acting since she was a child, is now 97 years old. She is one of the most iconic and well-known actresses of our time. However, Julie Andrews’ career began in the late 1940s when she starred in “The King and I.” Julie Andrews can currently be found on screen as Dr. Poppy P. Harris on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
A Brief History of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music was released in 1965 and starred Julie Andrews as Maria. The movie became an instant hit with audiences and has since become a cultural phenomenon.
As one of the most celebrated actresses of her time, Julie Andrews appeared in over 100 films throughout her career, garnering two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and six Emmy Awards. She is also the oldest nominee ever for an Oscar for her role in 2002’s “The Producers.”
Julie Andrews has been married to British director Richard Donner since 1964.
In 2005, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which can be seen at 6925 Hollywood Blvd., near several other stars including those for Audrey Hepburn and Bette Davis. In addition to being a renowned actress, Julie Andrews is also well known for her charity work as she holds a position on the Board of Directors for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). She is also an honorary member of the board at Greenpeace USA.
What’s Next for Julie Andrews?
Currently, Julie Andrews is still acting; she just finished filming a movie in 2019. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards and won one for her role in The Pirate.
But she’s not slowing down anytime soon. In the near future, Julie Andrews will be appearing in an upcoming Broadway production of Into the Woods with Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp. This will be Andrews’ first time on Broadway since 1964 when she played Mary Poppins. It would be hard to get more iconic than that!
Conclusion
Julie Andrews is one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century. She has been involved in many iconic films such as “Mary Poppins,” “Sound of Music,” and “The Princess Diaries.” Her career has spanned over 60 years and she still continues to be influential to many people.
Despite her age, she is still a sought-after actress. She has appeared in many films recently and continues to act in musicals. It is unknown what she is going to do next but whatever she does, it will be a hit.
