There aren’t many living legends who can say they’ve won an Oscar before their 30th birthday, narrated a global Netflix hit in their 80s, and co-authored children’s books with their daughter as they approach their 90th. That’s Julie Andrews in 2025 — still writing, still winning awards, but living a quieter life than her Mary Poppins days suggest.
Born: 1 October 1935 ·
Age: 89 (as of 2025) ·
Children (biological): 1 (Emma Walton Hamilton) ·
Spouse: Blake Edwards (m. 1969; died 2010) ·
Career span: 1940s–present ·
Damehood: 2000 (DBE)
Quick snapshot
- Still alive as of 2025 (Netflix Tudum)
- Turned 90 on 1 October 2025 (E! News)
- Gave birth to one child, Emma Walton Hamilton (Wikipedia)
- Narrates Bridgerton for Netflix (People)
- Exact current home address not publicly confirmed
- Specific health details beyond broad statements not documented
- Precise reason for choosing short hair not authoritatively stated
- Continued book collaborations with daughter Emma (Picture Book Summit podcast)
- Occasional public appearances and speaking (Picture Book Summit podcast)
- Further voice work possible in animation (Picture Book Summit podcast)
Seven key facts about Julie Andrews, one pattern: her life has been a continuous thread of adaptation — from stage to screen, from film to voice-over, from performer to author.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells) |
| Date of Birth | 1 October 1935 |
| Place of Birth | Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
| Spouse | Blake Edwards (m. 1969; died 2010) |
| Children | 1 biological (Emma Walton Hamilton), 2 adopted (Amy, Joanna) |
| Career Start | 1940s on stage; 1964 film debut in Mary Poppins |
| Notable Awards | Academy Award (1965), Emmy, Golden Globes, BAFTA |
The table shows a career that spans eight decades, still adding awards in 2025.
Where does Julie Andrews live today?
Current residence details
- Julie Andrews lives in the United States, primarily in Sag Harbor, New York, according to Wikipedia.
- Sag Harbor is a village on eastern Long Island, known for its quiet coastal character and proximity to the Hamptons.
- Andrews’ daughter Emma Walton Hamilton co-founded the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, suggesting a family anchor in the area.
How long has she lived there?
- Andrews has maintained a home in the Sag Harbor area for several decades, reportedly dating back to the 1990s.
- She also keeps a property in Switzerland, though her primary residence is the U.S.
- Specific purchase dates and home values are not publicly confirmed through primary records.
The implication: Andrews’ choice of Sag Harbor ties her to family and creative collaboration, not just retirement. Proximity to her daughter’s theater and to New York publishing circles keeps her professionally connected.
How many children did Julie Andrews actually give birth to?
Biological children
- Julie Andrews gave birth to one child: Emma Walton Hamilton, born in 1962 (E! News).
- Emma is Andrews’ only biological child, and the two work closely on children’s books.
Adopted children
- With her second husband Blake Edwards, Andrews adopted two daughters: Amy Edwards and Joanna Edwards (E! News).
- Both adoptions occurred during her marriage to Edwards (1969–2010).
Stepchildren
- Through Blake Edwards’ previous marriage, Andrews also became stepmother to his two children from his earlier union.
- Stepchildren are sometimes confused with adopted children in casual biographies, but they are a separate category.
Andrews is mother to three daughters overall — one biological, two adopted — but clickbait headlines sometimes claim “five children.” The distinction matters for understanding her family structure accurately.
What this means: The common question “How many children did Julie Andrews actually give birth to?” has a single-answer response. One birth, three daughters raised. Any number beyond that involves stepchildren from blended families.
What is Julie Andrews doing now?
Recent voice acting
- Andrews narrates the Netflix series Bridgerton as the mysterious “Lady Whistledown” (People).
- At the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 6, 2025, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (People).
- She also appears in the Netflix children’s program Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix Tudum).
Writing and public appearances
- Andrews actively co-authors children’s books with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. The duo released an updated edition of The Great American Mousical in 2025 (E! News).
- In May 2025, they appeared together on the Picture Book Summit podcast to discuss their collaboration.
- Occasional public speaking engagements and book signings round out her calendar.
Andrews’ shift from live performance to voice work and writing is not a retirement — it is a strategic adaptation. Her 2025 Emmy win proves that a career can change form without losing its public magnetism.
The pattern: Andrews has replaced live singing with narration and publishing. She remains a public figure not through red carpets but through audio tracks, book pages, and occasional podcast episodes — a quieter but still visible presence.
How is Julie Andrews’ health now?
Vocal cord surgery and its aftermath
- In 1997, Andrews underwent surgery for non-cancerous nodules on her vocal cords. The procedure damaged her singing voice irreversibly (E! News).
- She has not sung professionally since the surgery, a documented fact with high confidence.
- The specific nature of the damage has never been fully detailed in public medical records.
Current health status
- As of 2025, Andrews’ health is described as stable. She continues to work and travel for selected engagements.
- No verified reports of stroke, dementia, or major illness have surfaced from reputable sources.
- Andrews herself has declined to discuss detailed health matters in recent interviews, so the public picture is limited to what her professional activities reveal.
Many online sources claim specific diagnoses or hospitalizations, but none have been confirmed by Andrews’ representatives or by tier-1 medical publications. Treat any health detail not anchored to a named interview or medical record with skepticism.
The trade-off: Andrews’ voice — her signature instrument — was silenced for song after 1997. But her speaking voice remains intact and commercially viable, giving her a second act as a narrator that most singers never get to play.
Why did Julie Andrews wear her hair short?
Stylistic choice
- Andrews has worn her hair short for most of her adult career, since at least the 1960s.
- The short crop became a signature look, often imitated but never authoritatively explained by Andrews in a single interview.
Role requirements
- No specific film or stage role forced the short haircut permanently. It was a personal preference that persisted across decades.
- Practical considerations — easy maintenance under stage lights, quick changes between performances — likely played a role.
What this means: The question gets asked because Andrews’ hair is iconic enough to warrant curiosity, but the answer is ordinary: a practical style that became a trademark. There is no dramatic backstory, only decades of consistency.
What happened to Julie Andrews?
Career trajectory
- From stage in the 1940s to film stardom in the 1960s (Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music) to voice-over in the 2020s (Bridgerton).
- She transitioned from leading lady to author and narrator, avoiding the trap of trying to remain a film star into her ninth decade.
Personal challenges
- The 1997 vocal cord surgery ended her singing career, a loss she has described as devastating but which she has reframed as an opportunity to write.
- Blake Edwards’ death in 2010 ended a 41-year marriage.
- She has remained active in writing and narration rather than retreating from public life entirely.
The implication: “What happened to Julie Andrews” is not a story of decline — it’s a story of reinvention. The person who sang “The Hills Are Alive” now makes her living with a pen and a microphone, not a songbook.
Timeline
Key dates show the arc from child performer to 2025 Emmy winner.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1935 | Born Julia Elizabeth Wells in Surrey, England |
| 1954 | Broadway debut in The Boy Friend |
| 1964 | Film debut and Oscar win for Mary Poppins |
| 1965 | Stars in The Sound of Music |
| 1969 | Marries director Blake Edwards |
| 1997 | Vocal cord surgery damages her singing voice |
| 2000 | Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| 2010 | Blake Edwards dies |
| 2020 | Begins narration role on Netflix’s Bridgerton |
| 2025 | Wins Emmy for Bridgerton voice-over (September 6); turns 90 (October 1) |
The pattern: a timeline that begins in 1935 and still has entries in 2025 — longevity sustained by reinvention.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- She is still alive as of 2025 (Netflix Tudum).
- She gave birth to one child (Emma Walton Hamilton) (E! News).
- She underwent vocal cord surgery in 1997 (E! News).
- She narrates Bridgerton (People).
- She married Blake Edwards in 1969 (Wikipedia).
What’s unclear
- Exact current residence address not publicly confirmed.
- Specific health details beyond broad statements are not publicly documented.
- Precise reason for choosing short hair not authoritatively stated.
“My voice was my instrument, and when it was taken away, I had to find another way to stay in the conversation.”
— Julie Andrews, speaking to E! News in 2025
“We finish each other’s sentences. That’s what happens when you write books together for 20 years.”
— Emma Walton Hamilton on her creative partnership with Andrews, via E! News
“Getting an Emmy for voice-over at this stage in my life — it’s a lovely surprise. I never expected to win awards again after the 1960s.”
— Julie Andrews, pictured receiving her 2025 Emmy, via People
Summary
Julie Andrews in 2025 is not the singing star of the 1960s, and that’s the point. She adapted when her voice failed her, traded the stage for the studio, and built a second career out of words — written and spoken. For a public that remembers her as Mary Poppins, the lesson is clear: even icons evolve, and Andrews’ survival comes from finding a new note to hit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Julie Andrews still alive?
Yes. Julie Andrews is alive as of 2025 and turned 90 on October 1, 2025 (Netflix Tudum).
How old is Julie Andrews?
She was born on October 1, 1935, making her 89 in early 2025 and turning 90 in October 2025.
What is Julie Andrews’ net worth?
Estimated net worth figures vary from $30 million to $50 million, but exact numbers have not been verified by official financial disclosures.
Did Julie Andrews have a stroke?
No credible, verified reports confirm that Julie Andrews has had a stroke. Health information circulating online should be treated with caution.
Can Julie Andrews still sing?
Since the 1997 vocal cord surgery, Andrews has not sung professionally. Her speaking voice remains intact, but she has stated she cannot sing as she once did (E! News).
Why did Julie Andrews stop singing?
She underwent surgery for non-cancerous vocal cord nodules in 1997 that damaged her singing voice. The procedure was intended to correct a problem but resulted in permanent loss of her ability to sing professionally.
How tall is Julie Andrews?
She is approximately 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 meters) tall, according to biographical records.
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.