Julie Andrews Is Keeping Her Voice Alive As An Author

Legendary actress co-writes charming new children's book with her daughter

Gayle Jo Carter,

AARP

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Published April 30, 2024

Julie Andrews against orange-peach ombre background

AARP (Todd Owyoung/Getty Images)

Legendary actress Julie Andrews, 88, has retired from singing, but she keeps her voice alive as a writer. She’s cowritten more than 30 books with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, 61, cofounder of the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York. Their latest collaboration, the children’s book Waiting in the Wings, out April 23, was inspired by a family of ducks that nested near the theater and paraded down to the water while the staff looked on. Andrews shares the joys of working with her daughter, her love of gardening and what she hopes she’s most remembered for.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What’s it like to be writing with your daughter, Emma?

I find it very pleasant, and we do have different strengths. I do a lot of the openings and closings of chapters. She’s all about the structure. There’s a lot of mutual respect. And obviously, the more we write, the more we learn to trust each other. It is such a pleasure, and [with] every book, you learn something. We’re quite compatible.

Book cover that says New York Times bestselling authors Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton present Waiting in the Wings

Andrews co-wrote the children’s book “Waiting in the Wings” with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

What kind of books are on your to-read pile?

I have so many you can’t imagine. I mean, it’s maddening, because I’m always making room for one more book on my bedside. It’s anything that catches my fancy, but a great deal of it is either biographies or nature studies.

Do you have a favorite book?

My favorite — or certainly way up high on the list — is Act One by Moss Hart, which I find a wonderful biography. He was the director of My Fair Lady and Camelot. [It’s] fabulous, and [he’s] an adorable guy. I just wish he’d lived long enough to write the second one.

In regards to your remarkable career, did you have a favorite role?

No, I don’t think so. I’ll tell you why. Every one in its own way has either taught me something or I’ve learned something by doing it. If I could choose what I’d like to be remembered for, I’d love it if people would mostly think of me as a singer and giving pleasure and joy.

When you feel like watching a movie, what’s your go-to?

It could be any number. In terms of sweetness and comedies and things — a wonderful movie called The Quiet Man with John Wayne. That’s an enchanting story. And then I love things like On the Waterfront with [Marlon] Brando. If it’s well done, I’d like just about anything. I’m not terribly fond of space and sci-fi and things like that.

Julie Andrews holding umbrella in sky; 2 people on carousel horses in front of her and penguin next to her

Andrews made her movie debut and won an Oscar for her role in the classic 1964 movie, “Mary Poppins.”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Julie Andrews’ Remarkable Career

1947: Makes her professional debut singing an operatic aria in Starlight Roof, a musical revue
1954: Makes her Broadway debut in the musical The Boy Friend
1957: Tony nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for My Fair Lady
1964: Makes her movie debut as the lead in Mary Poppins; wins a best actress Oscar and Grammy for the role
1965: Stars in The Sound of Music, which earns her a nomination for a best actress Oscar
1973: Wins an Emmy for outstanding variety musical series for The Julie Andrews Hour
1983: Wins a Golden Globe and is nominated for a best actress Academy Award for her role in Victor/Victoria
2001: Kennedy Center Honors recipient
2002: Nominated for a Kids’ Choice Award for The Princess Diaries
2007: Narrates the animated and live-action film Enchanted
2011: Presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys and wins a Grammy for best spoken word album for children
2018: Voice of Karathen in the movie Aquaman
2020-2024: Narrates the voice of Lady Whistledown in the Netflix series Bridgerton

What are you doing to keep yourself physically in shape?

I’m a bit guilty in that department now, but I do work out. I do a lot of breathing. I do yoga when I can. These days, I am out in the country [in Long Island, New York]. I have nice pathways. I do take walks, and I love my two dogs, and I love my garden.

What kind of dogs do you have?

One’s a miniature poodle, and one is a moyen [poodle], which is taller and bigger. They’re both now 13 and 14. The smallest one is called Button because she’s white with a black nose and black eyes, and she’s adorable. The bigger one was named when he came to me, and his name is Barney. So I have Barney and Button. They are absolutely a joy.

And what’s in your garden?

My garden has a lot of trees in it … so I try to use variegated plants like hollies, which I love, and rhododendrons — things like that. I try to have something that’s in the garden at every phase of the year, and I’ve managed to just about do that. So I have bluebells in the spring, and before that, I have some daffodils; roses, which I love. A lot of different trees and flowers.

What does retirement look like to you?

I don’t sing anymore, and it’s probably just as well, because I’m fairly ancient these days. I miss my singing very much, but I love music. I love concerts and going to hear the philharmonic and things like that. That’s a true joy. Or the ballet, I adore it. To really actually retire, I hope I find things that I love. I hope I’d always be learning something or studying something or reading something. I don’t want to go out to pasture or anything like that.

What career advice would you give to others?

Just do your homework. Study, do, learn, watch. And that is a pretty good beginning for most things.

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Gayle Jo Carter is a former entertainment editor at USA WEEKEND, who during her 30-year reporting and editing career, has worked at USA TODAY, Voice of America and Feature Story News. When not interviewing high-profile people, she’s teaching reformer Pilates classes and doing her best to raise two empathetic, curious, healthy young people to adulthood.

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