While her countless accolades certainly boost her icon status, Julie Andrews will go down in history for how she made people feel.
Whether it was watching her spin in a meadow in Germany for The Sound of Music, declare that a “Queen is never late, everyone else is simple early” in The Princess Diaries or take care of mischievous children in Mary Poppins.
Our admiration for Julie followed her away from the screen, because behind her prim and proper appearance was a woman who had a favourite curse word and overcame health scares.
So, when she resurfaced after three years away from Hollywood for the seventh annual World Parkinson’s Congress conference in May 2026, she sent fans into a tizzy.
The 90-year-old appeared in a video message welcoming attendees.
“Your participation is invaluable as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease,” she said. “I know well how devastating it can be.”
“May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks. Count me in as a red thread. Thank you.”
Julie’s red thread was in reference to the World Parkinson Congress’ Red Thread Project initiative which helps connect those impacted by the disease. Fellow supporters of the initiative include Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed in 1991, and Sir Paul McCartney, who sadly lost a friend to the disease.
While we haven’t seen Julie in many years, we have heard her as the narrating voice of Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s Bridgerton.
The Oscar-winner’s last in-person appearance was in March 2023 at the taping for Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. The series celebrated Carol’s incredible career, including a bunch of special guests including Katy Perry, Charlize Theron and Cher.
And although she is a frequent author of children’s books, she took a short break following 2023. But this year, she published a new novel, Shy: A Picture Book, in collaboration with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton.
