Andrews, Julie (1935–)

English actress and singer. Name variations: Julie Edwards; Dame Julie Andrews. Born Julia Elizabeth Wells, Oct 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England; m. Tony Walton (set designer), 1959 (div. 1968); m. Blake Edwards (director), 1969; children: (1st m.) Emma Kate Walton; (adopted daughters) Amy and Joanna; (stepchildren) Geoffrey and Jennifer Edwards (actress).

Musical-comedy star, began performing as a child in England; made London stage debut at the Hippodrome (1947), singing operatic arias in Starlight Roof; made NY stage debut in The Boyfriend (1954), then starred as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1956) and much later in title role in Victor/Victoria; films include The Americanization of Emily (1964), Torn Curtain (1966), Hawaii (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Star (1968), Darling Lili (1970), The Tamarind Seed (1974), 10 (1979), S.O.B. (1981), The Man Who Loved Women (1983), That's Life! (1986), Duet for One (1986), The Princess Diaries (2001) and Princess Diaries2 (2004); starred on tv series "Julie" (1992); with Carol Burnett, starred on tv specials, "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall" (1962) and "Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center" (1971); an operation on vocal chords left her singing voice badly damaged (1998); writes children's books under name Julie Edwards, including Mandy, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles and Little Bo: The Story of Bonnie Boadicea. Won Academy Award for Best Actress for Mary Poppins (1964) and nominated as well for The Sound of Music (1965) and Victor/Victoria (1982); named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II (DBE, 1999); honored by the president in the Kennedy Center Honors (2001).