Julie Andrews: Rediscovering Her Voice Through Children's Books

"Mary Poppins" marked Julie Andrews' debut in the film industry, followed by her iconic role in "The Sound of Music." Even if she had never pursued another movie, she would still be cherished as one of Hollywood's most beloved stars, with audiences of all ages singing along to her tunes.

While these films were just the start of a career spanning eight decades, they laid a strong foundation. Today, Julie Andrews has ventured into the world of children's literature, collaborating with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Their latest creation tells a unique tale of the theater through the eyes of a duck.

The inspiration for this story came from a real-life incident at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor. Hamilton shared, "A few years back, we noticed a pair of ducks nesting in a planter in our courtyard."

"Our ducks in the book are truly theatrical ducks," Andrews added with a smile. "They have a fondness for music." In the story, Mr. Puddle Duck embarks on an adventure by sneaking into the theater...

"Waiting in the Wings" is the 35th book by this prolific partnership, a collaboration that has given Andrews a new voice. Thirty years ago, a surgical procedure went horribly wrong, destroyed her famous soprano, and took her identity. "One day I was bemoaning my fate and missing very much the fact that I couldn't sing, because the surgery went awry and it took away my ability to do what I love to do," Andrews said. "And so, I was bemoaning my fate to Emma, and she said, 'Oh, Mum, you've just found another way of sharing your voice.' And I tell you, it hit me so hard what she said. And I've never really bemoaned it since."

Sounding a lot like a younger Julie Andrews, who as Maria said, "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window."

And there are some other intriguing parallels: "Both Maria and Mary Poppins must win over skeptical children," said Pauley. "They are all about fun, but not all about fun. They are sly teachers. They are optimists. But they recognize that children have real problems."

"We don't talk down to kids," said Andrews. "We try to bring them up so that you don't condescend in any way."

She's loved books since she was a child. Born in 1935, her childhood memories include air raid sirens and running for cover during the Blitz, the German bombing of London in World War II. Her parents had already split up. It was her stepfather who discovered her voice – a nine-year-old soprano with an astonishing four-octave range. "Little Julie" became part of her parents' musical act on the vaudeville circuit.

Before long, she was supporting the family, paying the family mortgage while still a teenager. "Well, we needed cash dreadfully," Andrews said. "So eventually, when I was about 15, I went out on my own all around England, 'round and around and around."

"From Humble Beginnings to Broadway Star"

During a recent interview, a renowned Broadway star reflected on her journey from humble beginnings to stardom. When asked about the responsibility of providing for her family at a young age, she shared, "I was part of the family trying to do it. But eventually, it was just me, because my stepfather was an alcoholic, sadly."

Despite her early struggles, she admitted that she never imagined reaching great heights. "No, in fact, doubting that I ever would," she revealed. "I was doing it because it helped and I had to. In my teens, I would think, 'What is all this for? Where is it going to lead?' And then, suddenly, the world broke open."

Her big break came at 19 when she landed the lead role in Sandy Wilson's "The Boy Friend" on Broadway. With no prior acting experience, she relied on her natural talent and the guidance of others. "I picked it up and learned, and people are very kind," she shared. "And I was a puppy, and I didn't know what the heck I was doing. But I learned and was grateful for all of the teaching that I got."

Still a newcomer, at 20 she created the role of Eliza Doolittle opposite veteran Rex Harrison in Lerner & Loewe's 1956 smash hit, "My Fair Lady." The following year, she starred in a CBS production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" on television. One hundred million Americans saw Andrews for the first time.

In 1960 she was Guenevere to Richard Burton's King Arthur in "Camelot." But when Walt Disney was in the audience one night, he saw his Mary Poppins. It was an Academy Award-winning performance in her very first motion picture.

Andrews still radiates grace, and gratitude, but in the very British tradition of "getting on with things." "I just feel most of my life that I've been so very, very fortunate to have the identity of a singing voice, to have the opportunities to learn about how to be on stage or film or whatever," she said.

Hamilton added, "You were very fortunate, and you were also very unfortunate in some ways - growing up in the war with alcoholic parents and being put to work at a very young age and being, essentially, robbed of a childhood."

"Feeling needed and vital and valuable, too, yeah," said Andrews.

Hamilton noted that her mother's mantra has always been, Are we lucky or what? "I think whether or not it's true, it is the thing that got you through," Hamilton said.

During a conversation, Pauley reminisced about a line from the song in 'The Sound of Music' where Maria sings, "Somewhere in my youth and childhood, I must have done something good."

"Well, somebody must have, 'cause I got so damn fortunate," Andrews chuckled. "Are we lucky ...?"

"… or what?" chuckled Hamilton.

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