Julie Andrews: a Spoonful of Sugar and Much More
Julie Andrews was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935, in a south suburb of London called Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey, England. She came from a musical family; her mother was a pianist and her stepfather was a singer with whom she performed in many of their stage shows. She performed in her first royal command performance, for Princess Margaret and others, at London 's Stage Door Canteen.
Julie’s first solo performance was in a new musical called "Starlight Roof" at the London Hippodrome. She became a star in her native London overnight. In 1948, she performed for King George VI, and members of the Royal Family, in a Royal Command Variety Performance, at the London Palladium, where she became the youngest solo performer ever.
When Julie was 18 years old, she flew to New York City, to play the leading role of Polly in the new Broadway production of the musical "The Boyfriend". After her one-year contract was up with “The Boyfriend”, Julie starred in "My Fair Lady”, where she earned a Tony Award nomination. A lot happened for Julie during her long run in "My Fair Lady". Both Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe wrote musicals for her; Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the original television musical, "Cinderella", which was broadcast live and in color, and set a record for most watched entertainment television show. Lerner and Lowe, the composers of "My Fair Lady”, wrote "Camelot” in which Julie starred as Queen Guenevere, and for which she received another Tony nomination. Walt Disney was in the audience during a performance of "Camelot", and immediately after the show went backstage to offer Julie the starring role in his new motion picture, Mary Poppins. She accepted and with that she made her film debut winning an Oscar for Best Actress in the most successful film of 1964.
She followed up this success with her dramatic film debut in the World War II satire The Americanization of Emily with James Garner. Julie then scored the most
Julie’s first solo performance was in a new musical called "Starlight Roof" at the London Hippodrome. She became a star in her native London overnight. In 1948, she performed for King George VI, and members of the Royal Family, in a Royal Command Variety Performance, at the London Palladium, where she became the youngest solo performer ever.
When Julie was 18 years old, she flew to New York City, to play the leading role of Polly in the new Broadway production of the musical "The Boyfriend". After her one-year contract was up with “The Boyfriend”, Julie starred in "My Fair Lady”, where she earned a Tony Award nomination. A lot happened for Julie during her long run in "My Fair Lady". Both Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe wrote musicals for her; Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the original television musical, "Cinderella", which was broadcast live and in color, and set a record for most watched entertainment television show. Lerner and Lowe, the composers of "My Fair Lady”, wrote "Camelot” in which Julie starred as Queen Guenevere, and for which she received another Tony nomination. Walt Disney was in the audience during a performance of "Camelot", and immediately after the show went backstage to offer Julie the starring role in his new motion picture, Mary Poppins. She accepted and with that she made her film debut winning an Oscar for Best Actress in the most successful film of 1964.
She followed up this success with her dramatic film debut in the World War II satire The Americanization of Emily with James Garner. Julie then scored the most
Cited: 25 June 2008 <http://www.julieandrewsonline.com>. "Julie Andrew 's Biography." A Hollywood Site. 25 June 2008 <http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Guild/7634/andrews2.html>. "Women 's Health Forum." Integris Heart Hospital. 25 June 2008 <http://www.integris-health.com/integris/en-us/specialties/heartcare/hearthospital/whatsnew/newsarchive/womenshealthforum.htm>.