Birthdate and Place
In Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, England, Julia Elizabeth Wells was born on October 1st, 1935. Although she was conceived to the result of an affair, Julia was her parents pride and joy.
Family
Julia was surrounded by her father, Ted Wells, teacher of metalwork, and her mother Barbara Ward Wells. After the start of World War II and Barbara left Julia and Ted for another man, the two separated; causing Julia to be tossed between mother and father. Barbara Wells met Ted Andrews, and took their singing act to entertain soldiers in the ENSA. Julia’s name was later changed from Julia Wells to Julie Andrews, because her mother thought Julia Wells did not sound very attractive when she started her singing career. Julie met Tony Walton later, who she would soon marry in 1959, and unfortunately separated in 1967. With Tony, Julie gave birth to Emma Walton, now an author and actress. Two years after Tony and Julie’s separation, Julie met and later married Blake Edwards and adopted two children, Amelia and Joanna. Blake also had two children from a previous marriage, Jennifer and Geoffrey.
Childhood
Though she lived with her father and brother John briefly, she was sent to live with her mother and Ted Andrews to help start her artist training. Her family, when the war was at its prime and Ted Wells and Barbara were together, was very poor and was known to have lived in the “slums” of London. Barbara, Ted Wells, and Julia all moved later on after the war to the Old Meuse in West Grove, Hersham. Julie took most classes at Cone-Ripman School for Arts Education, sponsored by her step-father, Ted Andrews. Along with Cope-Ripman, Andrews also took classes in a local school known as Woodbrook. To improve her singing abilities, as well, her step-father persuaded Madame Lillian Styles-Allen to give her weekly and then later, daily singing lessons.
Hobbies
It comes to no surprise that one of Julie’s favorite hobbies was singing and working with her broadway cast members and shows such as, Aladdin, Cinderella, and My Fair Lady. She was able to find her niche in music with her teacher, Madame Lillian Styles-Allen. Julie also loved spending time with her father, Ted, and her siblings. They would take many walks through the parks of London and picnics. Many would say this woulkd be more of a chore, however, Julie loved to practice for hours on her soprano singing voice to prove to her teacher she could do the best of all students.
Anecdotes
Julie Andrews was always one to keep up on her craft. Not only did she work with her stepfather, who she wasn’t rather fond of, but also a half an hour on her own. It wasn’t until a while later, Ted Andrews arranged for his voice coach Lillian Styles-Allen to start coaching Julie. After Julie’s first time singing for Madame, her opinion of Julie was she may be too young for her type of teaching. However, Ted was pertinacious and convinced Allen to take on Julie as a full time student. Julie at first had lessons with Madame once a week. Her in the middle of the roomand Allen at the piano, practicing breathing and singing scales. Julie recalls Madame once telling her, “ Think of a beautiful string of pearls and each pearl is identical to the next. As your voice comes down, bring it up, and as you go up, bring it down”. Julie also remembers Madame’s emphasis on the ends of phrases. For example, if she were coming to the end of a word she would say, “ Follow it-see it disappearing in the distance.” Andrews says, “ For Madame, it was the foundation, technique that mattered the most.”
Around the age of eleven, Julie started Woodbrook Boarding School. It was one particular day, however, that Andrews remembers the most. She recalls one day at school being excused. Once she was home, her mother had revealed to her she would be singing in London that night. Julie’s mother and stepfather got into their car and innocently parked in front of the theater. Yet, when they were ready to depart the vehicle a doorman walked up to the window and said, “ Sorry, sir, you can’t park here. This spot is for the Queen’s car.” Julie then realized backstage she would be performing in front of Queen Elizabeth. She was given proper protocol for when her Majesty arrives backstage, to meet the entertainers including Julie. After the show was complete, all of the performers formed a line to meet the Queen of England. Julie recalls curtsying, the Queen said, “ You sang beautifully tonight.”
Career
Julie Andrews made her self known for her stage and screen appearances. In 1954, Andrews made her Broadway debut in the London musical, “ The Boy Friend”, when she was nineteen. In 1955, she played alongside Bing Crosby in the first television movie, High Tor. Later in 1956, she aquired the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. In 1957, Andrews was featured in the television movie, Cinderella on CBS in which she was nominated for an Emmy. June 1962, she then worked along Carol Burnett on the CBS Special, Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall. Mary Poppins began work in 1963 and come 1964 Julie won the Academy Award for Best Actress
and the 1965 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Musical. 1965 introduced The Sound of Music, another Andrews film. This movie was the highest grossing filmof the year and the biggest hit for Twentieth Century Fox. Andrews once again won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in her work in the film. 1966, Hawaii was filmed and became the highest grossing film of that year. After all of the years of successful films, Andrews was known as the most successful film star of that time. !982 marked the year Andrews played both Victoria Grant and Victor Grezhinski in the film Victor/Victoria. This film earned Julie a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and the Academy Award nomination. Julie Andrews’s most recent stellar performance was the 2001 Princess Diaries and its sequel Princess Diaries 2:The Royal Engagement alongside Anne Hathaway in 2004. Also, in 2004 she performed the voice of Queen Lillian in Shrek 2 and its sequels Shrek the Third in 2007 and lastly Shrek Forever After in 2010. January 2007, Andrews received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Screen Actor’s Guild. In 2011, Andrews received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement at the 53rd Grammy Awards.
Reason for Fame
Is there really anything that Julie Andrews has not done for reason of fame. Well, with all of the theater performances and on-screen appearances, it is no wonder she is known still today as one of the most successful film stars of all time. It was Andrews stellar performance in Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins that gave her the rise of fame. Her performance in that movie in 1963, earned Julie an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe. Another famous movie Andrews is known for is The Sound of Music that was the highest grossing film of 1965. In the eighties, Andrews brought her name back to the screen with Victor/Victoria. Most recently, her 2001 Princess Diaries and Shrek has got her name in the viewers minds.
Older Age
Even at the age of seventy-seven, Julie Andrews is still on stage and screen and as graceful as ever. 2001 marked her career revival with The Princess Diaries and its sequel in 2004. Andrews in 2005-2008 served as Disneyland’s Ambassadorof the 18 month long 50th Anniversary known as the Happiest Homecoming on Earth. Recently, Andrews has appeared in Despicable Me and has guest appeared on Oprah to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of The Sound of Music. Although she may have lost her signature singing voice with her older age, still she puts her wisdom to the test in directing musicals and uses her famous speaking voice to voice characters in popular children’s films.
