Julie Andrews Tribute and News/title> <meta name="keywords" content="Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews Biography, Julie Andrews career, Julia Elizabeth Wells, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Princess Diaries, Julie Andrews News" /> <meta name="description" content="Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage, screen and televison for more than half a century." /> <style type="text/css">  </style> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td class="style1"><table width="990" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="CEC68B"> </table> <table width="990" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="6" bordercolor="CEC68B" background="../../layout/headerJA.jpg"> <tr> <td height="150" class="style3"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style3"><table width="720" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../index.html">HOME</a></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../info.html">INFO</a></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../news.html">NEWS</a></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><span class="style15"><a href="../../forum/index.php">FORUM</a></span></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><span class="style15"><a href="http://www.julieandrewsonline.com/gallery/index.php">PHOTOS</a></span></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../media.html">MEDIA</a></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../links.html">LINKS</a></td> <td width="90" class="style32"><a href="../../about.html">ABOUT US </a></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"><table width="980" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="6" bgcolor="#CEC68B" id="links"> <tr> <td width="20%" class="style20 style27 style3 style31"><div align="center"><a href="../../films.html">MOVIES</a></div></td> <td width="1" height="1" rowspan="4" bgcolor="#4E4E3E" class="style3 style15 style22 style27"><div align="center"><img src="file:///Macintosh HD/Users/Sue/images_site/clearpixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /></div></td> <td width="20%" class="style3 style27 style20 style31"><div align="center"><a href="../../theater.html">THEATRE</a></div></td> <td width="1" height="1" rowspan="4" bgcolor="#4E4E3E" class="style3 style15 style22 style27"><div align="center"><img src="file:///Macintosh HD/Users/Sue/images_site/clearpixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /></div></td> <td width="20%" class="style3 style27 style20 style31"><div align="center"><a href="../../music.html">MUSIC</a></div></td> <td width="1" height="1" rowspan="4" bgcolor="#4E4E3E"class="style3 style15 style22 style27"><div align="center"><img src="file:///Macintosh HD/Users/Sue/images_site/clearpixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /></div></td> <td width="20%" class="style3 style27 style20 style31"><div align="center"><a href="../../books.html">BOOKS</a></div></td> <td width="1" height="1" rowspan="4" bgcolor="#4E4E3E"class="style3 style15 style22 style27"><div align="center"><img src="file:///Macintosh HD/Users/Sue/images_site/clearpixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /></div></td> <td width="20%" class="style3 style15 style25 style31"><div align="center"><a href="../../forum/index.php">FORUM</a></div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"><table width="980" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" bordercolor="#CEC68B" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td valign="top"><table width="100%" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4" bordercolor="#88495E"> <tr> <td><br /> <table width="95%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5" bgcolor="#EAD0D6" id="info"> <tr> <td height="75"><div align="center"> <p class="style88"><span class="style38">"Endurance is absent among many performers today, I think it's an attribute we should all strive to attain.</span>"</p> <p class="style84">Julie Andrews - 1972</p> </div></td> </tr> </table> <br /> <table width="95%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" id="body"> <tr> <td><p align="left" class="style15"><span class="style79">Photoplay Film Monthly</span><em><span class="style41"><br /> April 1972 <br /> </span><span class="style74"><br /> <em><strong>The Return of the Julie Andrews Smile </strong></em></span></em><br /> </p> <p class="style56"><strong>Her last film was made over two years ago.</strong> Since then Julie Andrews' fans must have wondered if they'd ever see her smiling face again on the screens. On and off movie deals appear to have dominated the last few years of her professional life. That last movie she made with Blake Edwards, now her husband, wasn't the success many thought it would be. Darling Lili cost a fortune to make, and, following her previous movie, Star, which also did badly at the box-office, we were beginning to suspect the writing might be on the wall for superstar Julie.</p> <p class="style56">Now at last comes a deal, which will see Julie back in a big, big way. The ATV chief, Sir Lew Grade has signed her up to a £2 million contract to star in a TV series and two new feature movies. Each TV spectacular will run for an hour and will take the form of a variety show featuring other guest stars. The first batch is to be made in Hollywood in September, while the rest will be made here at Elstree. The contract covers two series of 24 shows, and the two feature films, which will be made in this country. Said a delighted Lew Grade: "It's the biggest deal of my TV career. It's taken me three years to pull it off." </p> <p class="style56">Julie is expected to make at least £2 million over the next two years as a result of the deal. It will also make her one of the highest-paid TV stars in the world.</p> <p class="style56">Before this deal was announced writer Verne Scott went along to see Julie in her Californian home to talk about her career and life today. Here is his report...</p> <p class="style56">Julie Andrews, for all her Americanization by marriage and residence, manages to maintain more than a few of the English traditions she knew as a girl.</p> <p class="style56">Tea, promptly at 4 o'clock, is an occasion at her home where the sound of music wafts through airy rooms. Daughter Emma Kate and Julie's step-children frequently join in the ceremony.</p> <p class="style56">As the wife of director Blake Edwards, Julie lives in an Edwardian home in Beverly Hills in the sort of splendor one expects of a film superstar. There is the immense circular courtyard with a garage sufficient for several cars. There is the formal rose garden, a vista of green rolling hills, a swimming pool, towering trees and manicured lawns.</p> <p class="style56">In sweater and pants, Julie, perched in a comfortable armchair, looked out over her domain.</p> <p class="style56">"Silly, isn't it, saying that Blake and I plan to make our permanent home in Switzerland?" she said, her English accent ringing clear. "We've only just moved into this house and we plan on staying here for a good long time. It's true we're looking for a modest home in Switzerland to enjoy winter sports and for a change of scenery --- but that's the extent of it."</p> <p class="style56">Julie presents a placid appearance to the world these days, not unlike the jolly Mary Poppins image she has created for millions of fans around the world. Yet she has had to face her share of worries and problems.</p> <p class="style56">Until recently Julie was the victim of a series of threats against herself and her 9-year-old daughter. The result was near isolation for the star and the child of her first marriage to Tony Walton.</p> <p class="style56">Since moving from her remote home in the hills to the more densely populated and well-patrolled streets of Beverly Hills, the anonymous threats and letters have ceased.</p> <p class="style56">But there are other personal difficulties. While Blake and Julie, married in November 1969, have no children together, they mutually share three step-children. In addition to Julie's Emma, there are Blake's offspring by his previous wife, Patricia, Geoffrey 10 and Jennifer 13.</p> <p class="style56">Therein lies a difficulty not uncommon to many Hollywood marriages.</p> <p class="style56">Blake has fallen in love with little Emma. Julie showers affection on Geoffrey and Jennifer. But his children live with their mother. Their visits to Blake and Julie are frequent and emotionally complex. The former Mrs. Edwards understandably feels the attachment her children have for their stepmother.</p> <p class="style56">'It is not an easy thing," Julie said, composed as always. 'But Blake and I are doing our very best to make this family arrangement less difficult for everyone. But we must work at it. Naturally, there are flare-ups and misunderstandings."One feels the complications are considerably greater than Julie or Blake discuss.</p> <p class="style56">Julie is more outspoken about the curious roadblock in her career.</p> <p class="style56">Above all actresses, living or dead, Julie Andrews is the box-office champion. Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modem Millie and The Sound Of Music are all-time record holders at each of three studios: Disney, Universal and 20th Century-Fox.</p> <p class="style56">Then came Hawaii, Star and Darling Lili. All high-budgeted films. All lost money.</p> <p class="style56">As quickly as Julie was acknowledged a star, won her Oscar (for Mary Poppins) and acclaimed the most popular actress in the world, critics and the public appear to have cooled towards her.</p> <p class="style56">She turned to writing and recently completed a children's book titled "Mandy". "It's based somewhat on the stories I've told Jennifer and my observations of Jennifer and Emma themselves," said Julie. "And I've started another book. This one is titled The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.' I enjoy writing. It's good fun."</p> <p class="style56">Julie does enjoy acting more, however. She and her husband have been planning a second picture together - Darling Lili was their first.</p> <p class="style56">"I can't talk about the title because the property isn't ours yet," she said. 'But it will be. Also it's a contemporary picture. Blake agrees that it would be wise of me to appear in a modern story.</p> <p class="style56">"It's quite difficult today to judge what audiences expect of a film, isn't it?" It was more a statement than a question. She looked out on the sun setting in the hills beyond her garden. The path has been a long one for the girl who, at the age of 12, sang in music halls, gradually working her way into acting in the theatre and her triumph on Broadway and in London as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady."</p> <p class="style56">Julie gives the appearance of an actress girding herself for a comeback of sizeable proportions. She has adjusted her personal life to the point where it is viable.</p> <p class="style56">Professionally she is not content. Her talent, beauty and voice have not diminished in the short two years since her last picture. If anything, Julie Andrews is more lovely than before.</p> <p class="style56">"Endurance is absent among many performers today," Julie concluded. "I think it's an attribute we should all strive to attain.</p></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> <br /> <table width="965" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="6"> <tr> <td class="style17"><div align="center" class="style27"><a href="../../index.html">Home</a> /// <a href="../../info.html">Info</a> /// <a href="../../news.html">News</a> /// <a href="../../gallery.html">Photos</a> /// <a href="../../media.html">Media</a> /// <a href="../../forum/index.php">Forum</a> /// <a href="../../links.html">Links </a> /// <a href="../../about.html">About Us</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style17"><div align="center" class="style27"> <p>All Rights Reserved</p> <p class="style19"><a href="http://www.julieandrewsonline.com">Julie Andrews Online</a></p> </div></td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> </body> </html>