30/09/2025
CELEBRATING HER 90TH BIRTHDAY TODAY…………….
Born on 1st October 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Dame Julie Andrews, DBE is an English actress, singer, and author. As a child actress and singer, Andrews appeared in the West End in 1948 and made her Broadway debut in “The Boy Friend” (1954). She rose to prominence starring in Broadway musicals such as “My Fair Lady” (1956), playing Eliza Doolittle, and “Camelot” (1960), playing Queen Guinevere. In 1957, Andrews starred in the premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's written-for-television musical “Cinderella”, a live, network broadcast seen by over 100 million viewers.
Andrews made her feature film debut in “Mary Poppins” (1964), and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the title role. She starred in “The Sound of Music” (1965), playing Maria von Trapp, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Between 1964 and 1986, she starred in “The Americanization of Emily” (1964), “Hawaii” (1966), “Torn Curtain” (1966), “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967), “Star!” (1968), “The Tamarind Seed” (1974), “10” (1979), “Victor/Victoria” (1982), “That's Life!” (1986), and “Duet for One” (1986).
In 2000, Andrews was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the performing arts. In 2002, she was ranked No.59 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. In 2003, she revisited her first Broadway success, this time as a stage director, with a revival of “The Boy Friend”. From 2001 to 2004, Andrews starred in “The Princess Diaries” (2001) and “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” (2004). From 2004 to 2010, she lent her voice to the “Shrek” animated films, and “Despicable Me” (2010).
Andrews has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, five Golden Globes, three Grammys, two Emmys, the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, the Kennedy Centre Honours Award, and the Disney Legends Award. Apart from her musical career, she is also an author of children's books and has published an autobiography, “Home: A Memoir of My Early Years” (2008).
Andrews married set designer TonyWalton on 10th May 1959 in Weybridge, Surrey. They had first met in 1948 when Andrews was appearing at the London Casino in the show Humpty Dumpty. Andrews and Walton headed back to London in September 1962 to await the birth of daughter Emma Katherine Walton, who was born in London two months later.
Andrews married Blake Edwards in 1969. His children from a previous marriage, Jennifer and Geoffrey, were 3 and 5 years older than Emma, Andrews' daughter with Tony Walton. In the 1970s, Edwards and Andrews adopted two daughters; Amy in 1974 and Joanna in 1975. Blake Edwards died in 2010. Andrews is a grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to three.