was born on 1st October, 1935 in Walton on Thames, Surrey, England. She was brought up in humble surroundings. At a young age, her parents were divorced and she was brought up by her father, her mother (Barbara) and step father, Ted Andrews.
Julie Andrews is best known for her iconic roles in Mary Poppins and “The Sound of Music”. In addition to these two films she has enjoyed a rich and varied career as entertainer and singer.
Early Life of Julie Andrews.
One of her earliest memories is living through the blitz, sheltering in air raid shelter’s. It is said that during the air raids, Ted Andrews, would often start singing, Julie would also join in singing - a full octave above everyone else. This was the first time her beautiful singing voice was noticed, and her parents took care to nurture and improve her voice in her childhood years.
Amongst her teachers was the famous concert soprano and voice instructor Madame Lillian Stiles-Allen. Andrews later revealed that Madame Lillian Stiles-Allen " had an enormous influence on me," Andrews said that the relationship was almost like that of mother and daughter.
Julie Andrews first experiences of performing came in 1945, at the age of only 10. She was invited to join her mother and “pop” (her step father Ted) on stage. She remembers how she had to step on to a crate to reach the microphone.
Her first big single performance came on 22 October 1947, when she performed at the London Hippodrome. She performed the testing "Je Suis Titania" aria from Mignon. This difficult piece was from part of a musical revue called "Starlight Roof". From this point her progress was swift; in the next year, aged only 13, Julie Andrews, became the youngest person to perform in a Royal Command Variety Performance. Between 1950-52, Julie Andrews made her break into the fledgling TV programs, gaining national prominence through her appearances in the show "Educating Archie".
Early Career - Julie Andrews
Her international career really took off with her performance in the musical “My Fair Lady”. The musical is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion. My Fair Lady, tells the story of a poor, uneducated London girl from the east end, who is taught to speak like a lady. Given Julie Andrews humble beginnings, there is some parallel with her rapidly blossoming career. Julie Andrews was the undoubted star of the musical and she helped make it one of the smash hits of the year. During her performances in my fair lady, she was asked to perform in the 1954 film production of Cinderella. However, When My Fair Lady was made into a movie, Julie Andrews was passed over for the much better known Audrey Hepburn. Ironically, shortly after this disappointment she was given the opportunity to perform in the Walt Disney film “Mary Poppins”. This was received with great critical acclaim and has remained one of the most treasured films of all time. For her performances, Julie Andrews was awarded the 1964 Academy award for best actress. In 1965, she was also awarded a Golden Globe. In the next year, Julie Andrews played Marie von Trapp, in the classic film production of The Sound of Music. By many accounts, the Sound of Music has been the most successful film of all time, and Julie Andrew’s performance is a defining feature of the film. She was nominated for another academy award, but lost out to Julie Christie - Darling as "Diana Scott" These years were amongst the most successful for any actress.
After these unprecedented successes, the career of Julie Andrews always lived under the shadow of these two iconic performances. Despite forays into new movies, Julie Andrews, admitted she often felt typecast due to the lasting impression left from her performance in these productions.
However, in 1983 she received her third Oscar nomination for her performance of Victoria Grant and Count Victor Grezhinski in the film Victor/Victoria.
In the 1990s she had successful return to the theatre. However, in the late 1990s a throat operation meant she was left unable to sing. Although her voice has recovered somewhat, it has never been the same. Commenting on her loss of voice, Julie Andrews said:
"I'm not quite sure what I was supposed to learn from all of that. It did bother me. I can't say that I wasn't devastated. Singing, with an orchestra, being able to sing, was what I'd known my entire life. Whatever happened, I think I found so much to keep me feeling that I'm contributing still."
Julie Andrews is married to Blake Edwards, they have 3 children.
For her lifetime of service to entertainment, Julie Andrews has received many awards including:
The Lifetime Achievement Award at the Screen Actors Guild's awards. 2007,
List of "100 Greatest Britons" sponsored by the BBC and chosen by the public 2002
Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE). 2000
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