Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells, 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, author, and theatre director who rose from a difficult wartime childhood to become one of the most celebrated performers of the 20th century. Her accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and nominations for three Tony Awards. A major box office draw in the 1960s, she received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2007, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2022. She was appointed a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2000 New Year Honours.
Andrews began her career as a child actress and singer, appearing in the West End in 1948 and on the radio programme *Educating Archie* from 1950 to 1952. She made her Broadway debut in *The Boy Friend* (1954) and was billed as "Britain's youngest prima donna." She rose to prominence starring as Eliza Doolittle in *My Fair Lady* (1956) and Queen Guinevere in *Camelot* (1960) on Broadway, and also starred in the Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical *Cinderella* (1957). Her film debut came as Mary Poppins in Walt Disney's *Mary Poppins* (1964), winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. The following year, she played Maria von Trapp in *The Sound of Music* (1965), winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
She went on to star in numerous films for directors including her husband Blake Edwards, George Roy Hill, and Alfred Hitchcock, with notable titles such as *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 film work included *The Princess Diaries* (2001) and its sequel (2004), as well as *Eloise at the Plaza* and *Eloise at Christmastime* (both 2003). She also voiced roles in the *Shrek* franchise (2001–2010) and the *Despicable Me* franchise (2010–present). Andrews collaborated frequently with Carol Burnett on television specials and starred in her own variety series, *The Julie Andrews Hour* (1973), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award. She co-created and hosted *Julie's Greenroom* (2008, 2017) and voiced Lady Whistled
- field
- Actress, singer, author, theater director
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Honorific Prefix
- Dame
- Honorific Suffix
- country=GBR · size=100% · DBE
- Birth Name
- Julia Elizabeth Wells
- Birth Date
- 1935-10-01
- Birth Place
- Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
- Occupation
- Actress · singer · author · theater director
- Years Active
- 1945–present
- Works
- Full list
- Spouse
- Tony Walton · 1959 · 1968 · end=divorced · Blake Edwards · 1969 · 2010 · end=died
- Children
- 3, including Emma Walton Hamilton
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Julie Andrews performed on *Tell It Again – Songs of Sense and Nonsense* alongside Martyn Green, released in 1957 by Angel Records. The album features music by Moondog, who composed and arranged the children's songs and nursery rhymes, and also performed on flute, guitar, and tabla. According to Andrews, the compositions incorporate unusual time signatures, such as 5/4 and 7/8, which added a unique and technically complex dimension to the recording process. Andrews referred to Moondog as a "brilliant" and "unconventional" artist and described his music as both "inventive" and "enjoyable" to perform, despite its challenges. The album received positive reviews, with *Billboard*'s critic describing it as a "delightful package" and praising its "excellent production." Gordon Jocelyn of *The Montreal Gazette* highlighted the "enchanting" nature of the album. Although it did not chart, *Billboard* wrote that the release had "strong sales potential in its specialized market."
Reader's Guide
For fans of Julie Andrews, *Tell It Again – Songs of Sense and Nonsense* offers a rare collaboration with the eccentric composer Moondog. The album features renditions of well-known classics such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Pussy Cat," and "Star Light Star Bright," presented through arrangements that blend traditional elements with Moondog's experimental musical style. The album has never been officially reissued on CD, but it was released twice in Europe, taking advantage of the region's 50-year copyright limit. In 2009, the British reissue label Poppydisc released the first unauthorized version, followed later that year by Avid Easy's *Julie Andrews: Four Classic Albums*, a two-CD compilation featuring four of Andrews' albums from the late 1950s: *Tell It Again* (1957), *The Lass with the Delicate Air* (1957), *Julie Andrews Sings* (1958), and *My Fair Lady* (1959). AllMusic's William Ruhlmann rated the compilation three and a half stars, noting that Andrews' fans might find this reissue particularly intriguing thanks to the inclusion of *Tell It Again*.
Did You Know?
- Julie Andrews performed on *Tell It Again – Songs of Sense and Nonsense* with Martyn Green, released in 1957 by Angel Records.
- The album's music was composed and arranged by Louis Hardin, known as Moondog, who also played flute, guitar, and tabla on the album.
- Andrews described Moondog as a 'brilliant' and 'unconventional' artist and his music as both 'inventive' and 'enjoyable' to perform.
- The album incorporates unusual time signatures such as 5/4 and 7/8, according to Julie Andrews.
- The album has never been officially reissued on CD, but was released twice in Europe under the region's 50-year copyright limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Julie Andrews?
Dame Julie Andrews is a retired English actress, singer, author, and theater director who became one of the most recognizable film stars of the 1960s. She is best known for leading roles in classic musicals on both stage and screen.
What films is Julie Andrews most famous for?
She is widely remembered for starring in Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965), both of which became cultural landmarks. Her earlier Broadway credits include My Fair Lady and Camelot.
Where and when was Julie Andrews born?
She was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on 1 October 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England.
What major awards has Julie Andrews received?
Her accolades span an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. She was also nominated for three Tony Awards during her stage career.
What is Julie Andrews's birth name?
Her full birth name is Julia Elizabeth Wells. She adopted the stage name Julie Andrews early in her performing career.
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