Julie Andrews
“The crystalline soprano and beloved star who brought warmth and grace to stage and screen musicals.”
Passed over for the film of 'My Fair Lady,' Andrews instead made her movie debut in Disney's 'Mary Poppins.' Her practically-perfect nanny won the 1964 Best Actress Oscar, and 'The Sound of Music' the next year made her the world's biggest box-office star.
British Stage Prodigy
Born Julia Wells in Surrey, she had a remarkable four-octave voice as a child. By her teens she was a London variety star, then conquered Broadway in 'My Fair Lady' and 'Camelot.'
Disney Stardom
Walt Disney recruited her for 'Mary Poppins' (1964), which won her the Best Actress Oscar in her film debut. 'The Sound of Music' the next year became one of the most popular films ever made.
Enduring Career
She broadened her image with 'Victor/Victoria' and later charmed new generations in 'The Princess Diaries.' Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame in 2000.
Career Timeline
- 1935Born Julia Elizabeth Wells in Walton-on-Thames, England
- 1948Debuts on the London stage as a child singer
- 1954Makes Broadway debut in 'The Boy Friend'
- 1956Stars as Eliza Doolittle in 'My Fair Lady'
- 1960Plays Guinevere in Broadway's 'Camelot'
- 1964Film debut in 'Mary Poppins'
- 1965Stars in 'The Sound of Music'; wins Oscar
- 1966Earns second Oscar nod for 'The Sound of Music'
- 1982Oscar-nominated for 'Victor/Victoria'
- 2000Made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II
Biggest Hits
- She was famously not cast in the film of 'My Fair Lady,' freeing her to star in 'Mary Poppins' instead.
- A 1997 surgery on her vocal cords altered her four-octave singing voice.
The Moment You Remember
Standing alone on an Alpine hillside at the opening of <em>The Sound of Music</em>, Andrews spins and sings the title song, an image of joyful clarity that became one of the best-loved moments in movie musicals.
Portrait: Eva Rinaldi · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons