Julie Andrews
by Evie Dunbabin, Billy Todd and Sofia Lorena Varela Gonzalez

Julie Andrews was born on the 1st of October 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey as Julia Elizabeth Wells. Her early childhood was shaped by the hardships of WWII were growing up near London, Andrews recalled in an interview on Fresh Air with Terry Gross that “We went down to bomb shelter together... and took refuge from the bombs that were dropping all over London” (Andrews, 2008). Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother, Barbara Ward, a pianist and actress, later married entertainer, Ted Andrews, whose surname Julie adopted.

Despite an often-unstable home life, her family’s involvement in the industry propelled her career from an early age. Travelling with her parents as they performed in variety shows, Andrews began developing her remarkable singing ability and was soon recognised for her four-octave vocal range. She started performing professionally as a child and received vocal training that strengthened her stage presence.

At twelve, she appeared in the Royal Variety Performance in London, an early success that helped launched her career on Broadway, where she reached international fame. Making her Broadway debut in 1954, she received universal critical acclaim for early performances in shows like The Boy Friend and My Fair Lady, the latter one of Broadway’s biggest hits and won the Tony for Best Musical in 1957. Alongside her extensive theatre credits – including directing revivals of The Boy Friend and My Fair Lady – Andrews is perhaps more well known for her screen career. Spanning a remarkable seven decades, her work in film and television redefined her image, as well as solidifying her status as a musical theatre icon. Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965) further propelled Andrews as a household name and are widely regarded as her most famous roles. While later work, like the beloved Princess Diaries (2001) and its 2004 sequel, introduced her to a new generation, establishing a timeless legacy to her career, as well as her respective roles in Bridgerton (2020-present) and the Despicable Me franchise, showcasing a new talent in voiceover acting. Despite her current residence in Long Island, New York, where she has remained for over twenty-five years, Julie Andrews remains a local hero and symbol of community pride for the citizens of Walton-on-Thames.

A few examples of her support are seen through art patronage and local business recommendation. At the start of October in 2025, the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre held a celebration for the Dame’s ninetieth birthday holding a ‘Silver Sing-along’ and premiering ‘four different Julie Andrews Films!’ (Walton). This resulted in a large turnout for the community and funding towards the Arts Centre. A similar turnout continuously follows at the Angler’s pub in Walton from her description of it as “wonderful” in her explanation of her perfect, ideal day out (White). Moreover, smaller but still recognisable events such as the three-hundred cupcake giveaway at the Heart Shopping Centre in 2025, and repeated screenings of her The Sound of Music at venues such as the Everyman Cinema in 2025, which allow her to remain part of Surrey’s culture and community.

Images: 
Photo of Julie Andrews from a 1970 CBS television special A World of Love. Creative Commons. 

Mary Poppins Trailer, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5388556