For millions of fans, Julie Andrews will always be the singing nanny or the von Trapp family’s quick-thinking governess. But the real story of Dame Julie Andrews today is quieter and no less remarkable: a woman who lost her singing voice to surgery and rebuilt a creative life as a writer, narrator, and mentor. She turned 90 on October 1, 2025 (Netflix Tudum), and the chapters she’s writing now are as compelling as anything she filmed.
Age (2025): 89 years old ·
Biological children: 1 daughter (Emma Walton Hamilton) ·
Adopted children: 2 daughters (Amy and Joanna) ·
Notable awards: Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, Tony ·
Residence: New York City, USA ·
Current status: Retired from singing, active writer and narrator
Quick snapshot
- One biological daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton (E! News)
- Adopted two daughters from Vietnam with Blake Edwards (People)
- 1997 vocal surgery ended singing career (E! News)
- Narrates Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown (Entertainment Weekly)
- Exact current residential address (privacy)
- Details of daily routine and public schedule
- Whether she will ever return to film acting
- If she will continue narrating after Bridgerton ends
- 1935: Born in England (Netflix Tudum)
- 1964: Stars in Mary Poppins, wins Oscar (People)
- 1997: Vocal cord surgery, loses singing ability (E! News)
- 2020: Begins narrating Bridgerton (Entertainment Weekly)
- 2025: Turns 90; receives Emmy for voice work (Yahoo Life UK)
- Continuing children’s book collaborations with daughter Emma
- Possible rare public appearances (e.g., Parkinson’s Congress 2026)
- Ongoing Bridgerton narration as long as series continues
Seven key facts, one pattern: a life built on artistic excellence that was interrupted by a medical event, then redefined through writing and voice-over work.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells) |
| Date of birth | 1 October 1935 |
| Place of birth | Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
| Spouse | Blake Edwards (m. 1969; died 2010) |
| Children | Emma (biological), Amy and Joanna (adopted) |
| Notable works | Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor/Victoria |
| Awards | Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, Tony, BAFTA, Golden Globe |
Where does Julie Andrews live today?
Dame Julie Andrews divides her time between a primary residence in New York City and a property in the United Kingdom. She has lived in the U.S. since the 1960s after marrying director Blake Edwards (People). The exact addresses are not publicly disclosed, consistent with her preference for privacy.
Current residence: New York City and homes in the UK
- New York City apartment in Manhattan (primary).
- Country home in the United Kingdom used for visits.
- Former Bel-Air, California home sold after Edwards’ death.
The catch: while many celebrities share location details, Andrews values discretion. Her New York base puts her near publishing contacts and Broadway, while the UK property keeps her connected to her English roots.
Why she maintains multiple residences
- Proximity to daughter Emma in New York area.
- Ongoing projects with British publishers and the Bridgerton series (filmed in UK).
- Personal connection to Walton-on-Thames, her birthplace.
What this means: Andrews has deliberately kept a low geographic profile, avoiding the Hollywood scene in favor of New York’s literary community.
How many children did Julie Andrews actually give birth to?
Andrews gave birth to one biological child, a daughter named Emma Walton Hamilton, born in 1962 (E! News). She and Blake Edwards also adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna, from Vietnam. Emma has become Andrews’ closest creative collaborator, co-authoring more than 30 children’s books.
Biological daughter Emma Walton Hamilton
- Born 1962 in London, first child.
- Children’s author, co-writer, and frequent partner in book projects.
- In a 2023 interview, Emma said: “My mother remains the most creative and resilient person I know” (E! News).
Adopted daughters Amy and Joanna
- Adopted from Vietnam in the 1970s.
- Both live private lives away from the spotlight.
- Andrews has spoken about the joy of raising a multicultural family.
Her role as a stepmother
- Blake Edwards had two children from a previous marriage, Jennifer and Geoffrey.
- Andrews embraced her step-children and maintained a blended family.
The implication: Andrews built a large family despite only one biological pregnancy, and her creative legacy now passes largely through Emma.
What’s Julie Andrews doing now?
At 90, Andrews remains remarkably active. She narrates the Netflix series Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown, a role she began in 2020 (Entertainment Weekly). In 2025, she received an Emmy for that voice work at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards (People). She also continues to write and publish children’s books with her daughter Emma.
Current projects: writing, narration, and appearances
- Co-author of over 30 children’s books with Emma Walton Hamilton.
- Voice work for Bridgerton (2020–present).
- Rare public appearances, including a video message for the World Parkinson’s Congress in 2026 (People).
Recent work with Emma Walton Hamilton on children’s books
- Andrews said the collaboration “has been a joy” and refreshing after her throat surgery (E! News).
- Books include The Very Fairy Princess series and Little Bo.
Narration for Bridgerton and other media
- Voices the gossip columnist Lady Whistledown.
- Acknowledged in 2025 with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
Why this matters: Andrews’ post-surgery career shift from singer to narrator is a case study in creative reinvention, proving that voice loss doesn’t mean voice loss entirely.
How is Julie Andrews’ health now?
Andrews’ health is closely tied to a single event: the 1997 vocal cord surgery that permanently altered her ability to sing. In her memoir Home Work, she described it as “a devastating blow that changed my life.” As of 2025, she is in good general health for her age and continues to write and narrate (E! News). She has retired from professional singing but remains active in other creative fields.
Vocal surgery in 1997 and its aftermath
- Andrews underwent a non-cancerous growth removal from her vocal cords.
- The surgery left her with a weaker, lower voice that could no longer sustain professional singing.
- She reportedly told Forbes in 2023: “I needed some lovely thing to work on” after the difficult surgery (E! News).
Current health status and quality of life
- Reports suggest she maintains a morning routine of stretching, aerobics, ballet barre, and even singing (Yahoo Life UK).
- Andrews has spoken about therapy as something that “saved my life in numerous ways” (Ravenwood Health video via Facebook).
- She continues to appear in video messages and rare public events.
The trade-off: Andrews traded a singing career for a full, intellectually vibrant life in writing and narration. The surgery was a loss, but not an ending.
Julie Andrews’ 1997 surgery ended her ability to perform on stage, but it opened a second act as a best-selling author and Emmy-winning narrator. The lesson for anyone facing a career-ending setback: creative adaptation is possible with resilience and support.
Did Christopher Plummer love Julie Andrews?
Christopher Plummer famously disliked making The Sound of Music but held deep professional respect for Julie Andrews. In a 2015 interview, Plummer called her “a consummate professional and a joy to work with.” There is no evidence of a romantic relationship; their bond was strictly professional and friendly (E! News).
Plummer’s reported admiration for Andrews
- Plummer said she was “a wonderful actress” and “a real pro.”
- He acknowledged their on-screen chemistry but maintained it was acting.
- In his memoir, Plummer wrote fondly of Andrews without romantic implications.
Their working relationship on The Sound of Music
- Plummer found the film “sentimental” but admired Andrews’ discipline.
- Decades later, he praised her voice and work ethic.
- The two remained on good terms until Plummer’s death in 2021.
The pattern: a classic case of co-stars with different artistic temperaments who nonetheless forged mutual respect. The public assumption of romance was never realized.
Timeline
- 1935: Born in Walton-on-Thames, England. (Netflix Tudum)
- 1954: Broadway debut in ‘The Boy Friend’. (People)
- 1964: Starred in ‘Mary Poppins’, wins Academy Award. (E! News)
- 1965: Starred in ‘The Sound of Music’. (Entertainment Weekly)
- 1969: Marries director Blake Edwards. (Yahoo Life UK)
- 1997: Vocal cord surgery, loses ability to sing professionally. (E! News)
- 2000s–2020s: Focuses on writing children’s books and narration. (Ravenwood Health video)
- 2020: Begins narrating Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’. (Entertainment Weekly)
- 2025: Continues writing and making rare public appearances. (E! News)
What we know and what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- Julie Andrews has one biological daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton (E! News).
- She adopted two daughters from Vietnam with Blake Edwards (People).
- She underwent vocal cord surgery in 1997 that ended her singing career (E! News).
- She resides primarily in New York City.
- She narrates the Bridgerton series (Entertainment Weekly).
What’s unclear
- Exact current residential address (privacy).
- Details of her daily routine and public schedule.
- Whether she will ever return to film acting.
- If she will continue narrating after Bridgerton ends.
In their own words
“She was a consummate professional and a joy to work with.”
— Christopher Plummer on Julie Andrews, 2015 interview (E! News)
“It was a devastating blow that changed my life.”
— Julie Andrews on her 1997 vocal surgery, from her memoir Home Work (E! News)
“My mother remains the most creative and resilient person I know.”
— Emma Walton Hamilton, 2023 interview (E! News)
Three perspectives, one thread: Andrews’ ability to transform personal loss into creative momentum is widely admired by those who know her professionally and personally.
What this means
Julie Andrews’ journey from Broadway ingenue to Hollywood icon to post-surgical author-narrator is a masterclass in resilience. For the millions of fans who grew up with Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp, her continued presence in the cultural conversation—through Bridgerton’s gossipy whispers and children’s books written with her daughter—proves that a voice can change form without losing its power. For a generation facing career disruptions, the lesson is clear: adapt the instrument, not the artistry.
en.wikipedia.org, people.com, people.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, parkinsonseurope.org, instagram.com
For a comprehensive look at her current projects and public appearances, readers may consult a detailed 2025 profile of Julie Andrews that also addresses her ongoing narration work for Bridgerton.
Frequently asked questions
Did Julie Andrews really sing in Mary Poppins?
Yes, Andrews performed all her own singing in Mary Poppins (1964), including the classic songs “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Feed the Birds.” Her singing voice was intact before her 1997 surgery.
What is Julie Andrews’ net worth?
Net worth estimates vary, but credible sources place it around $30–40 million, accumulated from decades of film, stage, book royalties, and narration work.
Has Julie Andrews ever been married?
She was married to stage designer Tony Walton from 1959 to 1967, and later to film director Blake Edwards from 1969 until his death in 2010.
Why did Julie Andrews stop singing?
She stopped singing professionally after a 1997 vocal cord surgery that damaged her voice. She has said the surgery was necessary but left her unable to sustain singing performances.
What is Julie Andrews’ connection to Bridgerton?
She provides the voice of the unseen gossip columnist Lady Whistledown in the Netflix series, a role she has performed since the show’s debut in 2020. She won an Emmy for the role in 2025.
Is Julie Andrews still acting?
She no longer performs film or stage acting. Her work today is limited to voice narration (Bridgerton) and rare public appearances or video messages.
How old was Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music?
She was 29 years old when the film was released in 1965. She was born on October 1, 1935, and the film premiered in March 1965.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Insightly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.