At 90, the famed actress talks books, Broadway and creating a legacy of love

When Julie Andrews’ three daughters—Emma, Amy and Joanna—were growing up, one of their favorite ways to spend a lazy afternoon was to curl up beside their mother with a good book. This time-honored family ritual has continued with her nine grandchildren, creating a through line of storytelling that stretches across several generations.

That legacy of love—for books, adventure and the arts—has blossomed into a brilliant second act for the star of The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Over the past 25 years, Andrews has co-authored 37 engaging children’s books, most with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.

“I’ve enjoyed reading a wide variety of books with my own kids when they were younger,” Andrews, now 90, says. “Children tend to be my test audience. Reading to children, especially in libraries, is great fun. I can instantly tell whether they’re slightly bored or restless, or if they’re really lapping it up. It’s a great guide, and I love doing it with Emma.”

Andrews recalls one unforgettable reading when a young girl raised her hand and asked, “How did you get out of the television?” Having seen her in films, the child was puzzled that the actress now stood before her in real life. “It was so adorable,” reflects Andrews.

Hamilton agrees that sharing their stories with young audiences is essential. “I feel such joy when we get to share something we’ve written with a group of children the stories are intended for. Otherwise, it can feel like we’re writing in a vacuum.”

A Love Letter to Broadway

The daughter of vaudeville performers, Andrews has always had theater in her blood. That lifelong passion shines in The Great American Mousical, a colorful, charming tale about a troupe of theater mice busily preparing to stage their own show, Broadway Airs, in the basement of the Sovereign Theater.

The production is thrown into chaos when their diva disappears, and the theater faces demolition. At the heart of the story is a reminder that courage and creativity can come from the most unexpected places.

Andrews hopes that families will walk away from their book with a renewed appreciation for the arts. “There is value to it, and it is an important part of life that should be cherished and appreciated,” she says.

For the mother-and-daughter team, the writing process continues to evolve. It involves drinking copious cups of tea and close collaboration—everything from brainstorming and outlining to sharing the story art and polishing the final draft.

“We like to be in the same room when we write, if we can. If not, we can meet over Zoom,” says Andrews. “All of this is such a pleasure, and it is one that I never expected to happen.”

The book is especially meaningful as a family project. Andrews’ first husband, Tony Award-winning designer Tony Walton, illustrated the original 2019 edition. His drawings served as the basis for the re-issue, making a creative collaboration across generations.

The story also mirrors their own lives. Andrews began her career in London and on Broadway in productions such as The Boy Friend (1953), My Fair Lady (1956), Camelot (1960), and later, Victor/Victoria (1982).

Meanwhile, Hamilton and her husband built and operated a theater in Sag Harbor for 17 years, where she worked as an actor, director and producer, and Hamilton’s daughter is also a stage actress.

“This book is about our combined experiences,” Hamilton explains. “We cast the mice in our minds as we were writing. We imagined wonderful actors playing the parts, and that helped us visualize the characters. We leaned into every theater troupe we could think of so it would be a genuine Valentine to the theater.”

There is even a stage adaptation of the book, directed by Andrews herself. “We hope it helps children become curious about theater and find their own way into loving it,” she says.

Why the Classics Endure

More than 60 years after their premieres, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music remain beloved family traditions.

“I think they are basically stories about love and making children realize that they’re very important,” Andrews says. “The Sound of Music is about love—for family, for the arts, for one’s homeland.”

As for Mary Poppins, Andrews believes children respond to the character’s balance of firmness and warmth. “Although she’s a little strict, she’s actually full of goodwill and a good heart. She makes the children feel like they matter.”

After decades on stage, Andrews still feels the same thrill every time the house lights start to dim. “There’s nothing like that moment when the lights go down, and there’s a hush over the audience. The orchestra begins—and when it’s good, it’s pure magic.”

Today, she worries about the challenges facing live theater in a post-pandemic world. Budget pressures and shifting priorities make producing theater increasingly difficult.

“I so badly want future generations to feel the same way about theater and Broadway,” says Andrews. “It’s so important to share this enthusiasm. I’m fortunate to have a daughter, and grandchildren, who share my passion.”

A New Role

In recent years, Andrews has lent her unmistakable voice to Lady Whistledown, the narrator of Netflix’s hit historical Regency drama Bridgerton.

Recording the narration for four seasons has become another family collaboration. Hamilton’s 29-year-old son, Sam, is a sound engineer who built a recording studio in Andrews’ home—transforming a room into a sound booth lined with carpets, drapes, cushions and blankets.

“I just walk into my ridiculous closet,” Andrews says with a laugh, “and there’s the microphone and my grandson. We work so well together. He’s a wonderful director.”

She also uses the booth to record audiobooks, including a recent release of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which she described as a monumental task.

Timeless Advice

Over the years, Andrews has offered her daughters simple but steadying motherly advice that they have held close to their hearts. “When in doubt, stand still,” she would tell them. “Don’t panic. Don’t rush forward recklessly. Don’t get into a tizzy about things until you have thought about it for a while. Stand still and wait—the solution will come.”

Another favorite lesson: turn things upside down. Look at a situation from the opposite perspective.

Hamilton remembers that if someone treated her unkindly, her mother would encourage empathy. “I remember her saying, ‘Perhaps that person had a bad day. Perhaps someone had been unkind to them.’ It was a gentle way of teaching compassion.”

The Legacy of Joy

Looking back on her remarkable career—and forward to what’s ahead—Andrews treasures time above all. “There are so many things I still want to do,” she affirms. “There are books I still want to write and experiences I still want to have.”

But ultimately, the legacy she hopes to leave is simple: Joy.

“To have made someone smile, to have enlightened someone through a book or a performance—that’s the best legacy I can hope for,” says Andrews. “My life has been about a lifetime of realizing what talent is there and what it means to people who are working hard.”

With characteristic grace, she sums it up in two words: “Lucky me!”