Julie Andrews is one of the most important actresses in cinema, and on her birthday, we review some curiosities that you probably didn't know about her life. Do not miss it!
We can mention many actors who have left an impressive legacy on the big screen, and Julie Andrews is definitely one of them. The legendary actress became one of the most important figures in film and theater during the 60s and 70s, and today, her career spans nearly eighty years.
Today, Julie Andrews is celebrating her 88th birthday, and the truth is that her age is nothing more than a number for her, as she is still very focused on her career. Active in the industry since the mid-1940s, the actress's career took a leap thanks to her role as Mary Poppins in the popular Disney film of the same name. From that moment, she began a career that expanded, not only through cinema but also television and theater.
Julie Andrews has managed to win all kinds of recognition throughout her career, including an Oscar, several Golden Globes and even Grammys. At the same time, in 2000, Queen Elizabeth II granted her the title of Lady of Her, as she is considered one of the most recognized and important figures in England. Julie Andrews' life is full of anecdotes, and as a reason to celebrate her birthday, we review some curiosities that you probably didn't know about her.
Julie Andrews had a difficult childhood
As Julie Andrews once expressed, “I have more mothers and fathers than anyone else in the world.” Born on October 1, 1935, her original name was Julia Elizabeth Wells, and her birth was the result of an affair that her mother, Barbara Ward Welles, had with a friend of her husband.
Due to the war, much of her childhood was marked by poverty. Her parents divorced her when she was little, and they both remarried on several occasions. After living for a time with her father, she was sent to live with her mother and stepfather, Ted Andrews, from whom she adopted her last name. Both were dedicated to entertainment, but Ted was an alcoholic and violent. Even so, they dedicated themselves to providing Andrews with training and education, especially in singing, since from a very young age, she demonstrated to have an impressive voice.
The role that launched Julie Andrews to stardom
Although Julie Andrews' career began in theater in the mid-1940s, it was not until the mid-1950s that she gained recognition. After succeeding on Broadway with works such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, the actress gained the interest of none other than Walt Disney, who did not hesitate to offer her the lead role in her new film: Mary Poppins.
At that time, Ella Andrews was married to Tony Walton and was two months pregnant, so she rejected the offer. However, Walt Disney was so determined to have her as his protagonist that he assured her that he would wait until she gave birth to make the film. The rest is history, Julie Andrews became one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry and won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of her famous nanny.
Julie Andrews lost the most important thing in her life: her voice.
Without a doubt, one of the qualities that made Julie Andrews stand out above the rest was her voice, since she could reach almost impossible notes. Throughout her career, the actress starred in iconic musicals such as Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Victor/Victoria, among many other Broadway works.
Towards the end of the 1990s, Andrews was leading the Victor/Victoria play, but she was forced to resign due to problems with her voice. That same year, she decided to have surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, but the surgery ended up permanently damaging her vocal cords, and the actress was never able to sing again. It was one of the most traumatic moments of her life, to the point that she had to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for a short time.
The actress even sued the hospital and doctors for malpractice, and a couple of years later, she ended up settling. After several extra operations, she slowly recovered her voice, but not enough to sing again. While filming The Princess Diaries 2, she sang the song Your Crowning Glory. It was the first time she had sung in public since her surgery, and she managed to hit her notes on the first take.
Julie Andrews has a big family
Not only did Julie Andrews have a large family during her childhood, but she later formed her own. With her first husband, Tony Walton, she had her first daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and in 1968 they divorced. Later, she married director Blake Edwards, to whom she was married for more than 40 years until he died in 2010.
