JULIE ANDREWS, a beloved and honored stage, film, A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

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2 MARY POPPINS 1964 DISNEY ENTERPRISES. INC. A LIFETIME of ACHIEVEMENT JULIE ANDREWS, a beloved and honored stage, film, television and recording star for more than half a century, as well as a celebrated author and dedicated goodwill ambassador, will receive the Guild s most prestigious tribute the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Andrews will be presented the Award, given annually to an actor who fosters the finest ideals of the acting profession, at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. IN MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT, Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg said, Julie Andrews is a woman of great generosity, creativity, courage, elegance and wit. She embodies and transcends the memorable roles she has created. Julie has been a positive presence in my life and continues to inspire multiple generations. I believe it is exceptionally significant to be recognized by people who do the same work you do. Julie seems genuinely touched and thrilled to be receiving an award from her fellow actors. I have assured her the honor is ours. CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 Winter 2006 SCREEN ACTOR 33

3 Julie Andrews, continued from page 33 As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for 15 years, Andrews traveled as an advocate for women s human rights and economic security. Julie Andrews was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964 s Mary Poppins. Her iconic performance in the title role as the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar nomination and won another Golden Globe for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She received her third Academy Award nomination and won another Golden Globe for her dual role in 1982 s Victor/Victoria. Today s young film audiences may be more familiar with Andrews as a queen trying to train her teenaged granddaughter to be a princess in The Princess Diaries, and its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Andrews also voiced the character of Queen Lillian in Shrek 2, and she is currently reprising her role in Shrek 3, due out in the summer of Andrews other motion picture credits include The Americanization of Emily, Hawaii, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Star!, Darling Lili, Torn Curtain and 10, to name only a few. Andrews was born and raised in England, where she first came to fame as a young musical performer on stage and on radio. She was still in her teens when she made her way across the Atlantic and to Broadway, where she made her debut in 1953 in the musical The Boy Friend. She went on to create the role of Eliza Doolittle in Lerner and Loewe s Broadway musical My Fair Lady in 1956, which became an instant classic and the longest-running musical of its day. Andrews won a New York Drama Critics Award and garnered a Tony nomination for her performance. She received another Tony nomination in 1961, when she originated the role of Queen Guinevere in the Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot. Thirty-five years later, Andrews returned to Broadway to star in the 1996 stage adaptation of Victor/Victoria. Her career came full circle last year when she directed a revival of The Boy Friend, which toured throughout North America. Andrews has also been honored for her work on television, beginning in 1957 with her Emmy-nominated performance in the title role of Rodgers and Hammerstein s musical Cinderella. She later won an Emmy for her own musical variety series, The Julie Andrews Hour, and also earned Emmy nominations for Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center, with her close friend Carol Burnett; her 34 SCREEN ACTOR Winter 2006 COURTESY OF THE BILL HARRIS FAMILY KEN BERRY AND ANDREWS MAKE LIKE ASTAIRE AND ROGERS ON THE JULIE ANDREWS HOUR ( ). appearance on The Andy Williams Show; and her performance in the special Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas. Andrews more recent television work includes Eloise at the Plaza and her Emmynominated performance in Eloise at Christmastime. She also re-teamed for the third time with James Garner in the telefilm One Special Night, starred opposite Christopher Plummer in the CBS live production of On Golden Pond and hosted the Emmy-winning PBS series: Broadway: The American Musical. Already an accomplished best-selling author (The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, Mandy, Little Bo, Dumpy the Dump Truck), Andrews has joined talents with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, to pursue the publishing of books committed to stimulating a sense of wonder in children and young readers. The Julie Andrews Collection, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, was launched in October 2003 and has released 22 books to date. The Collection includes newly discovered authors and re-purposing books out of print. The Dumpy the Dump Truck franchise is currently being readied (with the Sesame Workshop) as a television series for PBS, with an initial launch in Andrews and Hamilton s most recent novel, The Great American Mousical, was released earlier this year to superb reviews and within one week became number seven on the New York Times bestseller list for children s books. This whimsical tribute to Broadway is serving as inspiration for a newly built revival at Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade of the Parade s historic Storybook float, which carried Andrews and Hamilton in this year s 80th annual parade on November 23. Andrews received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year s Eve 1999 for Lifetime Achievements in the Arts and Humanities. For her exemplary achievements in the performing arts and American culture, she was named a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree. As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for 15 years, Andrews traveled as an advocate for women s human rights and economic security. With her husband, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Blake Edwards, she is a founding board member of Operation U.S.A., which has provided privately funded worldwide relief and development assistance since its inception in Andrews and Edwards, who have been married for nearly 37 years, have five children and seven grandchildren.

4 Q A with & JULIE ANDREWS Julie, you had your Broadway debut at 19. Do you remember the project which earned you your SAG card? JULIE ANDREWS: It has to have been something that I did for television because I didn t make a feature film until late in You became a Broadway and film star at a very early age. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of handling that kind of attention? JA: Well, I think probably it remains as true today as it was then, that if you re fortunate enough to be successful as a youngster, there is an enormous amount of publicity that follows. It s very challenging for young people who suddenly find themselves in the spotlight. It s challenging for all but the most grounded. I know it toppled me a little bit. Having worked on stage, film and television, do you have a favorite medium? JA: No. I just love the fact that I m allowed to play in all these different arenas and sandboxes. Stage is such a different medium from film. Stage is full figure every moment. You really have to think of the total image that you re creating. You ve the immediate contact with an audience, which is so exciting. But, I couldn t say which I prefer. In movies there are full figure shots, but there are, of course, medium shots and close-ups. A movie is a closer medium which is projected in a very large way. Do you find that there s anything that you have to consciously adjust if you go from one to the other? JA: I think the adjustments are small. It s better to try not to be too busy on film. At least that s what I ve found, especially in close-up shots. I learned that valuable lesson from Robert Wise when we were doing The Sound of Music. Do you have a suggestion for younger actors? COURTESY OF THE BILL HARRIS FAMILY ANDREWS received sage advice from the real MARIA VON TRAPP whose life provided the story line for The Sound of Music. I f you help, let s say, 400,000 women, then at least a million children automatically benefit. Mothers in third world countries need support and education and empowerment. JA: I often say to young actors the chances are that at some point you re going to get a break and be very lucky. You had better have done your homework and be ready. Never stop thinking, learning, watching, listening. It s invaluable. CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 Winter 2006 SCREEN ACTOR 37

5 Are there any young, up-and-coming actors that you enjoy watching? JA: There are too many to mention. It s really exciting to see the young talent that is out there. It s not merely about glamour these days. We re seeing true talent. The young stars of today are there for a reason. James Garner won SAG s Life Achievement Award a couple of years ago, and you presented the award. We asked him what was his favorite film, and Jim said The Americanization of Emily. He loved Paddy Chayefsky s script and working with you. Of all the roles you have played, do you have a favorite? JA: The Americanization of Emily was one of my favorites also, and I hand the compliment right back to Jim. Working with him was wonderful. We ve done three projects together, and each was such a pleasure. He was, and is, simply delicious. Other projects? Too many to mention. Obviously some of the wonderful films that I ve done with my husband, Blake in particular, a little movie called That s Life, made on a shoestring budget which we shot in our own home with many of our friends. Everyone contributed. It was an experimental film and a joy to make. How is it to be directed by your husband? JA: It s great. We talk shorthand, so to speak. Sometimes we discuss things on the way home after shooting sometimes I wish he d pay a little more attention to me because he always assumes that I know what he wants. Sometimes he hasn t even mentioned it! Plus, it s a little daunting when in the middle of a love scene your husband says to you, That s fine darling, but I know you can do it better. On the whole it s just terrific. Blake s sets are always fun, and he allows his actors a lot of freedom one feels one is really contributing. In spite of his Hollywood bad boy image (a legend he enjoys), I think he is one of the consummate directors, one who never shows off with his camera. The Life Achievement Award is presented for both career and humanitarian service. You have donated to so many charities, but two of your favorites are Operation USA and the United Nations UNIFEM. You served as a Goodwill Ambassador. JA: Yes, that s the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Why is that important to you? JA: It s very simple. If you help, let s say, 400,000 women, then at least a million children automatically benefit. Mothers in third world countries need support, education and empowerment. They re considered subordinate human beings in so many places the Congo and Southeast Asia for example. I loved being an ambassador for UNIFEM. Operation USA is a wonderful, small, but important relief organization that has done phenomenal work around the world and donated millions of dollars in high priority relief. Another organization that Blake and I heartily endorse is the Foundation for Heredity Disease. Its main mission is to help find a cure for Huntington s disease. It s a marker disease. If they find the cure to that one, so many others will topple. CONTINUED ON PAGE SCREEN ACTOR Winter 2006 LESTER COHEN/WIREIMAGE.COM JULIE ANDREWS and 2004 Life Achievement honoree JAMES GARNER greet each other backstage at the 11 th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. It s very challenging for young people who suddenly find themselves in the spotlight. It s challenging for all but the most grounded. I know it toppled me a little bit.

6 The Screen Actors Guild Foundation has a national literacy program. You are a wife, a mother and a grandmother, and you ve written 17 books. Obviously you feel strongly about children reading. JA: I feel there s a great place in this world for television and film, and all the electronic games and gizmos that entertain children and keep them occupied and make a mother s life easier when she has so much to do. But if it s at the expense of reading, and a child is watching television 90 percent of the time, then it s being spoon-fed and the child is not being asked to really engage or use its brain or participate in any way. If a child hasn t learned to read properly, then that child is going to really miss out on some important essentials in future life. You have received many awards including an Oscar, four Golden Globes and an Emmy. You have been honored at the Kennedy Center and named a Dame of the British Empire by the Queen. How do you feel about receiving the Screen Actors Guild s Life Achievement Award? JA: I ll tell you exactly how I feel. My, I never could have imagined this in a million years. To be honored by one s peers is just phenomenal. I m blessed. And very, very grateful. It s a little overwhelming. Julie Andrews spoke with Kathy Connell for Screen Actor. (ABOVE AND RIGHT) ANDREWS on her ABC variety show, THE JULIE ANDREWS HOUR. Winter 2006 SCREEN ACTOR 41 PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE BILL HARRIS FAMILY