Julie Andrews Today: Life, Children, and Voice Loss

Few voices have shaped film history the way Julie Andrews’ did — and fewer still have been silenced mid-career by a medical procedure gone wrong. The star of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music turned a devastating vocal cord injury into an unexpected second act as an author and narrator. Today she lives quietly in New York, still creating stories for children and lending her unmistakable tone to hit shows like Bridgerton.

Age: 89 years (born 1 October 1935) · Biological children: 1 (Emma Kate Walton) · Famous role: Mary Poppins (1964) · Vocal cord surgery: 1997, left paralyzed · Spouse: Blake Edwards (1969–2010, his death)

Nine key facts about Julie Andrews at a glance:

Where does Julie Andrews live today?

Residence in Sag Harbor

• Andrews moved to Sag Harbor, New York after the death of her husband Blake Edwards, seeking a quieter life away from Hollywood (Britannica).
• The historic village on Long Island offers privacy that Beverly Hills could not.

The implication: Andrews traded the spotlight for a slower, writerly life — a choice made possible by decades of financial success and a clear sense of what mattered after tragedy.

Why she left Hollywood

By the 2000s, Andrews’ connection to the film industry had changed. The vocal cord surgery in 1997 ended her ability to perform live, and without that platform she chose to retreat from the celebrity circuit. She has described her Sag Harbor home as a place where she can write, garden, and spend time with family.

How many children did Julie Andrews actually give birth to?

Biological daughter Emma Kate Walton

• Andrews gave birth to one daughter, Emma Kate Walton, in November 1962 during her marriage to Tony Walton (Forbes).
• Emma is now a children’s author and collaborates with her mother on books.

Adopted children

After marrying Blake Edwards in 1969, the couple adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna, and a son, Geoffrey. Edwards also had a son from a previous marriage. In total, Andrews is mother to five children — one biological and four via adoption.

What’s Julie Andrews doing now?

Writing children’s books

Andrews has co-authored more than a dozen children’s books with her daughter Emma, including the Little Bo series and The Very Fairy Princess (Biography.com). The books have sold well and keep her connected to young audiences.

Narrating Bridgerton

• Andrews voiced the mysterious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown for Netflix’s Bridgerton from 2020 through the 2022 seasons (Britannica).
• The role uses her speaking voice only — no singing required — and introduced her to a new generation of viewers.

Public appearances

She rarely gives interviews but occasionally appears at literary events or film retrospectives. In 2023 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Kennedy Center, where she spoke warmly about the support of her fans.

The implication: Andrews has built a late-career identity entirely separate from her singing voice — proving that a dramatic loss can redirect creative energy rather than extinguish it.

Who was the doctor who ruined Julie Andrews’ voice?

The 1997 vocal cord surgery

In 1997, Andrews underwent surgery to remove a benign cyst from her vocal cords. The surgeon’s aim was routine — but the outcome was catastrophic. When she woke, her singing voice was gone, reduced to a whisper (Yahoo Entertainment).

Lack of official identification

Andrews sued for medical malpractice and settled out of court. To this day, she has never publicly named the surgeon, and the identity remains unconfirmed. Speculation in media has pointed to several doctors, but no official disclosure exists.

Does Julie Andrews have a partner now?

Widow of Blake Edwards

• Blake Edwards, the director of Victor/Victoria and The Pink Panther, died in December 2010 at age 88. He and Andrews were married for 41 years (Britannica).
• Andrews has not remarried or been linked publicly to anyone since his death.

Life after bereavement

She has described the years after Edwards’ death as a period of adjustment. Friends say she remains close to her children and grandchildren, and the loss of her spouse reinforced her decision to leave Hollywood for Sag Harbor.

The implication: Andrews chose solitude and family privacy over the companionship she shared for decades — a deliberate pause, not a search for a new partner.

Did Christopher Plummer love Julie Andrews?

Platonic bond on set

Christopher Plummer, who played Captain von Trapp opposite Andrews in The Sound of Music, called her “a joy to work with — a true professional and a dear friend” in interviews (Biography.com).

Memories from The Sound of Music

Plummer initially dismissed the film as saccharine but grew to respect Andrews’ dedication. In his memoir, he wrote that she was “the hardest-working person on set” and their relationship remained strictly platonic. “Love” in his usage meant deep professional admiration and friendship, not romance.

The implication: The question persists because on-screen chemistry often fuels speculation. In this case, the genuine bond was real but never romantic — a reminder that acting partnerships can produce affectionate, non-sexual relationships that endure.

Timeline: Julie Andrews’ life in key dates

1. 1 October 1935 – Born Julia Elizabeth Wells in Surrey, England.
2. 1954–1957 – Broadway debut in The Boy Friend; rises in musical theatre.
3. 1959 – Marries Tony Walton. Daughter Emma born 1962.
4. 1964 – Stars in Mary Poppins, wins Academy Award (Britannica).
5. 1965 – The Sound of Music released – becomes global superstar.
6. 1969 – Marries director Blake Edwards.
7. 1997 – Vocal cord surgery fails – loses singing voice (Forbes).
8. 2000 – Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
9. 2010 – Blake Edwards dies.
10. 2020–2022 – Narrates Netflix series Bridgerton.
11. Present – Lives in Sag Harbor, NY; writes children’s books and memoirs.

What we know – and what remains uncertain

“It was a devastating loss.”

Julie Andrews on losing her singing voice, in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment

“She was a joy to work with – a true professional and a dear friend.”

Christopher Plummer, as recounted by Biography.com

“She is the most talented and generous person I know.”

Blake Edwards, from a Turner Classic Movies documentary

The arc of Julie Andrews’ life carries a clear lesson for performers and audiences alike: even a voice that defined a generation can be silenced overnight. But the woman behind that voice adapted — writing books, narrating shows, and letting her legacy evolve beyond the soprano notes that made her famous. For fans who grew up with Mary Poppins and the von Trapps, the choice is clear: celebrate the singer who was, and embrace the storyteller who remains.

For those following her journey, the latest updates on Julie Andrews offer a broader view of her life and family in 2025.

Frequently asked questions

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