Julie Andrews has captivated audiences for generations with her unforgettable voice, timeless screen presence and decades-long career in entertainment. Born Julia Elizabeth Wells in England in 1935, Andrews began performing as a child before rising to fame on Broadway in productions like My Fair Lady and Camelot. Though she famously lost the film adaptation of My Fair Lady to Audrey Hepburn, Andrews quickly became a Hollywood sensation after starring in Disney’s Mary Poppins in 1964, a role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The following year, Andrews cemented her legacy with The Sound of Music, which became one of the most successful movie musicals of all time. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she continued to showcase her versatility in films including Victor/Victoria, 10 and S.O.B., while also becoming a television and stage staple.
In the 2000s, Andrews introduced herself to a new generation by playing Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries films alongside Anne Hathaway. She later became known to younger audiences as the voice of Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Despite undergoing throat surgery in the late 1990s that permanently affected her singing voice, Andrews continued acting, writing children’s books with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton and making occasional public appearances.
Over the years, Andrews has received numerous honors, including an Oscar, multiple Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Emmys and a Grammy, making her one of the few entertainers connected to EGOT status. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II named her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the arts.
Take a look back at photos of Andrews from her early career to today.
