Julie Andrews born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935 is an English actress, singer, and author with a career that has spanned over eight decades. She has earned numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Emmys, three Grammys, six Golden Globes, and three Tony nominations. In the 1960s, she was one of the top box office stars and has since received several honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2007, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2022. In 2000, she was named a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. As a young actress and singer, Andrews made her West End debut in 1948 and her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend (1954). Known as “Britain’s youngest prima donna,” she gained recognition starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady (1956) as Eliza Doolittle and Camelot (1960) as Queen Guinevere. She also appeared in the 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical Cinderella. Andrews made her film debut as Mary Poppins in Disney’s 1964 film, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress. The following year, she starred as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music (1965), which earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.
Julie Andrews Biography 2024
Andrews continued her film career with roles in movies directed by her husband, Blake Edwards, as well as by George Roy Hill and Alfred Hitchcock. Some of her notable films include The Americanization of Emily (1964), Hawaii (1966), Torn Curtain (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Star! (1968), The Tamarind Seed (1974), 10 (1979), S.O.B. (1981), Victor/Victoria (1982), That’s Life! (1986), and Duet for One (1986). Later in her career, she appeared in The Princess Diaries (2001) and its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), and voiced Queen Lillian in the Shrek films (2001–2010) and Felonious Gru’s mother, Marlena, in the Despicable Me franchise (2010–present). Julie Andrews is also known for her collaborations with Carol Burnett, including the celebrated TV specials Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall (1962), Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center (1971), and Julie and Carol: Together Again (1989). She starred in her own variety show, The Julie Andrews Hour (1973), which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Musical Series. More recently, she co-created and hosted Julie’s Greenroom (2017) and voiced Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton (2020–present) on Netflix. In addition to her acting career, Andrews has co-authored several children’s books with her daughter and written two autobiographies: Home: A Memoir of My Early Years (2008) and Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years (2019).
Julie Andrews Biography Details
| Born | Julia Elizabeth Wells 1 October 1935 (age 89) Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
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| Years active | 1945–present |
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| Works | Full list |
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| Children | 5, including Emma Walton Hamilton |
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| Awards | Full list |
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Julie Andrews Early Life
Julia Elizabeth Wells was born on October 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. Her mother, Barbara Ward Wells (née Morris), born in Chertsey on July 25, 1910, married Edward Charles “Ted” Wells, a teacher of metalwork and woodwork, in 1932. Andrews was conceived during an affair her mother had with a family friend. She discovered the truth about her parentage from her mother in 1950, though it wasn’t made public until Andrews revealed it in her 2008 autobiography.
When World War II broke out, her parents separated and soon divorced. Both remarried: Barbara wed Ted Andrews in 1943, while Ted Wells married Winifred Maud Birkhead, a war widow, in 1944. Ted Wells helped evacuate children to Surrey during the Blitz, while Barbara joined her new husband in entertaining troops through the Entertainments National Service Association. Andrews briefly lived with her father and brother, John, in Surrey.
In 1940, Wells sent Andrews to live with her mother and stepfather, believing they would better support her artistic development. Although Andrews had initially called her stepfather “Uncle Ted,” her mother suggested referring to him as “Pop,” a change that Andrews resented. At the time, the family was struggling financially and lived in a poor area of London. Andrews described this period as a very dark time in her life, recalling how her stepfather was both violent and an alcoholic. He made two attempts to assault her while intoxicated, which led Andrews to install a lock on her door for protection.
As her mother and stepfather’s careers in show business improved, they moved to better living conditions, first to Beckenham and later, after the war, back to Hersham, where Andrews’ maternal grandmother had worked as a maid. There, they lived in a house called the Old Meuse (which has since been demolished). Andrews’ stepfather paid for her to attend the Cone-Ripman School (now Tring Park School for the Performing Arts), followed by lessons with concert soprano and voice coach Madame Lilian Stiles-Allen.
Andrews credited Stiles-Allen with having a significant influence on her, calling her “my third mother” and noting that she had more parental figures than most people. Stiles-Allen was impressed with the range, accuracy, and tone of Andrews’ voice, calling it a rare gift of perfect pitch. However, Andrews herself downplayed this in her 2008 autobiography, stating that she never had the ability for Mozart or Rossini, despite Madame’s belief in her potential. Andrews described her voice as “pure, white, thin,” with a four-octave range that would attract dogs from miles away. After attending the Cone-Ripman School, she completed her academic education at Woodbrook School in Beckenham, a local state school.
Julie Andrews Bio
Subject | Details |
Full Name | Julia Elizabeth Wells |
Date of Birth | 1 October 1935 |
Place of Birth | Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
Mother’s Name | Barbara Ward Wells (née Morris) |
Father’s Name | Edward Charles “Ted” Wells |
Family Background | Andrews was conceived during her mother’s affair with a family friend. |
Early Career Beginnings
Subject | Years |
First Stage Appearance | Appeared in the West End in 1948 |
Breakthrough | At age 12, performed at the London Hippodrome in 1947. |
Television Debut | Appeared on BBC’s RadiOlympia Showtime in 1949. |
Royal Variety Performance | Performed for King George VI in 1948. |
Julie Andrews in Broadway and Hollywood
Subject | Dates |
Broadway Debut | The Boy Friend (1954) |
Notable Role | Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1956) |
Additional Roles | Queen Guinevere in Camelot (1960) |
Hollywood Breakthrough
Subject | Point |
First Major Film | Mary Poppins (1964), won Academy Award |
Follow-up Film | The Sound of Music (1965), Golden Globe Award |
Notable Director | Worked with Blake Edwards and Alfred Hitchcock |
Julie Andrews Personal Life and Legacy
Subject | Facts |
First Marriage | Tony Walton (married 1959, divorced 1968) |
Second Marriage | Blake Edwards (married 1969, until his death in 2010) |
Children | Emma Walton Hamilton (daughter), two adopted Vietnamese daughters |
Grandmotherhood
Subject | Details |
Grandchildren | 9 grandchildren |
Great-Grandchildren | 3 great-grandchildren |
Julie Andrews Singing Career and Vocal Evolution
Subject | Facts |
Vocal Teacher | Madame Lilian Stiles-Allen |
Vocal Range | Four-octave range, described as pure and clear |
Vocal Style | Operatic, later shifted to musical theatre |
Vocal Loss and Challenges
Subject | Details |
Surgery Impact | Permanent damage to her singing voice after surgery in 1997 |
Voice Recovery | Permanent loss of her soprano, now a fragile alto voice |
Legal Action | Filed a malpractice lawsuit in 1999, settled in 2000 |
Julie Andrews Awards and Honors
Award | Years |
Academy Award | Won for Mary Poppins (1964) |
Golden Globe | Won for The Sound of Music (1965) |
Other Major Honors
Award | Details |
BAFTA Award | Numerous nominations and wins |
Tony Award | Nominated three times but never won |
Julie Andrews Television Appearances
Title | Dates |
Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall | 1962, with Carol Burnett |
The Julie Andrews Hour | Variety show, won an Emmy Award in 1973 |
Other Television Work
Title | Details |
Bridgerton | Voiced Lady Whistledown in 2020 |
Julie’s Greenroom | Co-created and hosted in 2017 |
Julie Andrews Career Highlights in Film and Stage
Film | Facts |
The Sound of Music | Iconic role as Maria von Trapp (1965) |
Victor/Victoria | Major film role (1982) |
Major Stage Performances
Production | Details |
My Fair Lady | Broadway production as Eliza Doolittle |
Camelot | Played Queen Guinevere in 1960 |
Julie Andrews Influence on Children’s Literature
Book Title | Points |
The Very Fairy Princess | Series co-authored with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton |
Dumpy the Dump Truck | Another children’s book co-authored with Emma |
Autobiographies
Title | Details |
Home | Memoir of her early years, published 2008 |
Home Work | Memoir of her Hollywood years, published 2019 |
Contributions to the Entertainment Industry
Contribution | Details |
Musical Theatre | Pioneering roles in Broadway shows like My Fair Lady and Camelot |
Film | Major film roles in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Victor/Victoria |
Cultural Impact
Aspect | Information |
Iconic Roles | Maria von Trapp, Eliza Doolittle, and others |
Influence | Remains a major cultural figure for multiple generations |
Awards and Recognition in Recent Years
Award | Years |
AFI Life Achievement Award | Awarded in 2022 after a delay due to COVID-19 |
Kennedy Center Honors | Honored in 2001 for her contributions to the arts |
Influence on Modern Media Voice Roles
Role | Details |
Queen Lillian | Voiced in the Shrek franchise (2001–2010) |
Marlena Gru | Voiced in the Despicable Me franchise (2010–present) |
Julie Andrews Net Worth
Julie Andrews reportedly has an estimated net worth of $30 million.
Julie Andrews Summary
Julie Andrews is a renowned English actress, singer, and author, celebrated for her illustrious career spanning over eight decades. She rose to fame with iconic roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, earning numerous accolades including an Academy Award and multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. Known for her classically trained soprano voice, Andrews has also faced personal challenges, including the loss of her singing voice due to a botched surgery. She continues to remain active in television and film, notably voicing Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. Andrews has also co-authored several books, showcasing her diverse talents beyond acting.
