Julie Andrews was only 13 when she sang to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the London Palladium, becoming the youngest solo performer in a Royal Command Variety Performance. She wore a dainty white dress as she led the British National Anthem during the show.
Joining Julie to sing were Danny Kaye, the Nicholas Brothers, and the comedy duo George and Bert Bernard. That same year, she would begin her acting career and later star in Broadway productions like The Boy Friend, My Fair Lady, and Camelot.
Julie Andrews had a positively regal career
Dubbed Britain’s Youngest Prima Donna, Julie was well on her way to having her voice featured in classics like her debut feature film Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music. In addition to Julie’s Oscar and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress, the late Queen Elizabeth II named her a Dame in 2000.
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Julie’s career has stood the test of time, even after losing her voice due to a botched vocal surgery in 1997. Just a year later, she performed the voice of Polynesia the parrot in a stage production of Dr Dolittle. She has been a constant in the Princess Diaries franchise, and sang for the first time since her operation in 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
Her new career path
Julie continues to work as a voice actress, theatre director, and author behind the scenes and is set to explore a new career path in children’s books. In her latest memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, Julie Andrews herself tells the story of her success at a young age, and career plans for the shorter future ahead.
Julie, who turns 89 in October, recently released Waiting In The Wings with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, with whom she has written over 30 books so far. She is also the voice of the famous Lady Whistledown from Netflix’s ongoing Bridgerton series.