Julie Andrews: Our Favorite Nanny

Book: Julie Andrews by Robert Windeler

Yet another book recommendation came from my co-worker Sue. She had loaned me the Carol Burnett book which I loved, so I felt safe accepting her recommendation to read about Julie Andrews, who is a good friend of Carol's. And so Sue gave me Robert Windeler's 1997 biography of Julie, which was an easy and quick read - which is always nice.

The book wasn't in-depth about Dame Julie (as she was so dubbed not too long ago). While reading this book I felt that I was really just getting a synopsis of her life - much like you'll get here in a moment. But despite it reading as a "book lite", I still recommend the book if you are interested in learning a little bit more about the complex woman plagued by stereotypes of being a goody-two shoes and a snob.

On October 1, 1935, Julia Elizabeth Wells was born in Walton-on-Thames,England to parents Barbara and Ted. As a toddler (four years old), her parents separated, and Barbara formed a relationship with another Ted - Ted Andrews, a singer who hoped to make it big as a performer on the cabaret stage. When Barbara married Ted, Julia changed her name to Julie Andrews to honor her stepfather. Barbara and Ted formed a musical duo but also discovered that Julie had a great talent - a tremendous singing range with an astonishingly pure sound. Thrilled, Barbara and Ted had eight year old Julie begin singing lessons with Mme. Lillian Stiles-Allen. They also took her on the road with them - letting her sing a song as part of the family act. People took notice - and when Julie was twelve years old (1947) , she was cast in the play "Starlight Roof". Around this time she was also asked to perform in the Royal Command Variety Performance at the London Paladium in front of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret.

Things started happening to Julie, who was not an actress but enjoyed performing. In 1954, Julie was cast in "The Boyfriend" in New York City, and was required to leave her family to live in America. She was able to sign a rare one-year contract in order to go home sooner (the standard was a two-year contract). However, it was not to be - New York loved Julie Andrews. She was spotted in "The Boyfriend" and got the role of Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production "My Fair Lady" co-starring Rex Harrison. She became famous with this role and ticket sales were through the roof as people stood in long lines hoping to see the angel on the stage with the beautiful voice.

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