Dame Julia Elizabeth “Julie” Andrews, DBE (née Wells) is a famous English film, television and Broadway actress and author who rose to international fame in 1964 when she debuted as the titular character in the Disney live-action musical ‘Mary Poppins’, which earned her an Academy Award. Andrews has since appeared in several successful films like ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘The Americanization of Emily’, ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, ‘Victor/Victoria’, and ‘Duet for One’.

Andrews is also an accomplished Broadway artiste and is best known for her performances in the Broadway musicals ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Camelot’. She has received several awards including an Oscar, a BAFTA, 2 Emmys, 3 Grammys, and 5 Golden Globes among several others. Andrews was felicitated with the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000, by Queen Elizabeth II for her services towards performing Arts.

Early Life and Education

Andrews was born as Julia Elizabeth Wells in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, United Kingdom on 1 October 1935 as the daughter of Barbara Ward Wells (née Morris) and was conceived out of her mother’s affair with a family friend, boat designer Alfred Westmacoot. Her mother was first married to metalwork and woodwork teacher Edward Charles “Ted” Wells, who Andrews believed was her biological father until she learnt about her real father later in life. Andrews lived with Wells for a brief time.

Wells then married Ted Andrews in 1943 and the couple became part of a successful entertainment troop. Ted Andrews discovered his step-daughters’ talents and sponsored her education. Andrews attended Cone-Ripman School in London an\d later studied under Madame Lilian Stiles-Allen, a voice instructor who helped Andrews realize her four-octave range. Andrews also studied at the local Woodbrook School in Beckenham.

Career Rise

Andrews made her television debut in 1949 with the BBC programme ‘RadiOlympia Showtime’ and rose to prominence for starring the BBC radio comedy program ‘Educating Archie’ that ran from 1950 to 1952. Andrews earned further acclaim after she debuted on Broadway in 1954 with the musical ‘The Boy Friend’ in which she essayed ‘Polly Browne’. Andrews portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway musical ‘My Fair Lady’ earned her a Tony Award nomination in 1955. She received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of ‘Cinderella’ in the CBS TV musical of the same name. Andrews then appeared in ‘Camelot’ on Broadway and in the US TV musical ‘Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall’.

Andrews made her silver screen debut in 1964 with the musical ‘Mary Poppins’ which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She then starred in ‘The Americanization of Emily’ and ‘The Sound of Music’, playing Maria Vonn Trapp and won a Golden Globe Award for the latter. Andrews then began hosting ‘The Julie Andrews Show’ and appeared in successful films like ‘Hawaai’, ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, ‘Victor Victoria’, ‘That’s Life’, and ‘Duets for One’ among several others until the 1990s when she released two solo albums. Andrews then starred as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the 2001 film ‘The Princess Diaries’ and its 2003 sequel ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’. She has also served as a voice artiste in films like ‘Shrek’, and ‘Despicable Me’.

Personal Life

The 1.73 meter tall Andrews has been married two times. Andrews first met set designer Tony Walton in 1958 and married him in Weybridge, Surrey in May 1959. Andrews and Walton have a daughter together, Emma Katherine Walton. The couple divorced in 1967.

Andrews’ second marriage was with director Blake Edwards. The couple tied the knot in 1969. Andrews became step-mother to Edwards’ children from a previous marriage, daughter Jennifer and son Geoffrey. They also adopted two daughters named Amy and Joanna. Andrews and Edwards remained married until Edwards death in 2010.

Julie Andrews – Net Worth

Andrews has an estimated net worth of approximately $45 Million.

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Julie Andrews – Young Pictures