Few stars have navigated a career-altering change with the grace of Julie Andrews. After the 1997 throat surgery (E! News, entertainment news outlet) that permanently altered her singing voice, she didn’t retreat—she reinvented. Today, at 90, she remains active, writing children’s books with her daughter and making occasional public appearances (Good Housekeeping, lifestyle magazine). This article separates verified facts from lingering questions about her health, family, and current projects.

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Born: 1 October 1935, Walton-on-Thames, England ·
Academy Awards: 1 win (Mary Poppins), 2 additional nominations ·
Damehood: Appointed DBE in 2000 ·
Marriages: Tony Walton (1959–1968), Blake Edwards (1969–2010) ·
Children: 5 (2 biological, 3 stepchildren)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Frequency of future public appearances after 2026 (Good Housekeeping)
  • Full scope of upcoming book projects with her daughter (E! News)
3Timeline signal
  • 1935 – Born in Walton-on-Thames, England (Good Housekeeping)
  • 1964 – Stars in Mary Poppins, wins Academy Award (People)
  • 1997 – Throat surgery damages vocal cords (E! News)
  • 2020–2024 – Narrates Bridgerton (InStyle)
4What’s next
  • Continued collaboration with daughter Emma on children’s books (E! News)
  • Potential further voice-over roles (E! News)
  • Rare public engagements for causes like Parkinson’s research (Good Housekeeping)

Five key facts paint the portrait of a woman who has worn many hats over nine decades.

Label Value
Full Name Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells)
Occupation Actress, singer, author
Years Active 1945–present
Notable Works Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor/Victoria
Spouse Blake Edwards (m. 1969–2010)

Is Julie Andrews Still Alive?

Current age and status

Julie Andrews is alive as of 2025. She turned 90 on 1 October 2025, and remains active in creative work (Good Housekeeping, lifestyle magazine). Her last verified public appearance was a video message for the World Parkinson’s Congress in May 2026.

Recent public appearances

The implication: At an age when many peers have retired, Andrews continues to choose her projects carefully—and they remain family-oriented.

Where Does Julie Andrews Live Today?

Her primary residence

Julie Andrews resides primarily in New York City. She also maintains a home in the Hamptons, a seasonal retreat where she has spent time with her family (InStyle, fashion and lifestyle magazine). The Hamptons property has been photographed in feature spreads, showing a serene coastal setting.

Properties associated with her

  • Manhattan apartment – her main base for professional commitments
  • Hamptons house – used for family gatherings and quiet writing time

What this means: Andrews has opted for a bicoastal lifestyle that balances city access with the privacy needed for her ongoing literary work.

How Many Children Did Julie Andrews Give Birth To?

Biological children

Julie Andrews gave birth to one child: Emma Kate Walton, born in 1962 with first husband Tony Walton (People, celebrity news magazine). She did not give birth to additional biological children.

Stepchildren and adopted family

  • Emma Walton Hamilton – biological daughter (born 1962)
  • Amy Edwards – adopted in 1974 during her marriage to Blake Edwards (InStyle)
  • Joanna Lynne Edwards – adopted in 1975 (InStyle)

The pattern: Andrews’ family grew through adoption and marriage, creating a blended household that she has described as her greatest source of joy.

What Is the Sad Story of Julie Andrews?

Loss of her singing voice

In 1997, Julie Andrews underwent throat surgery to remove non-cancerous nodules from her vocal cords. The procedure, intended to preserve her voice, instead permanently damaged her soprano range (E! News, entertainment news outlet). She has described the aftermath as devastating, losing the ability to sing the way she once did.

Family tragedies

  • Blake Edwards, her husband of 41 years, died in 2010
  • Tony Walton, her first husband and longtime friend, died in March 2022 at age 87 (People)

The catch: Andrews has turned the tragedy of her voice loss into a creative rebirth, focusing on writing and narration rather than musical performance.

The upshot

Andrews’ career pivot from singing to writing and voice-over work shows how adaptability can define a legacy. She has turned a medical setback into a second act that reaches new audiences through Bridgerton and children’s literature.

How Is Julie Andrews’ Health Now?

Post-surgery condition

Julie Andrews’ singing voice remains altered. She can no longer sustain the soprano notes that made her famous, but her speaking voice is strong, as heard in her Bridgerton narration (Good Housekeeping). She has adapted by taking on narrator and author roles that don’t require extended singing.

Current well-being

  • In May 2026, she appeared via video for the World Parkinson’s Congress, looking healthy and speaking clearly (Good Housekeeping)
  • She remains mentally active, co-writing books with her daughter and participating in public events
  • No major health scares have been reported since the 1997 surgery

Why this matters: Her rare public appearance at the Parkinson’s conference underscores her commitment to causes despite her own health struggles.

Why this matters

By lending her voice to the Parkinson’s community, Andrews signals that even with vocal limitations, she can still make a powerful impact. It is a deliberate choice to use her platform for advocacy.

What Is Julie Andrews Doing Now?

Voice acting roles

Since 2020, Julie Andrews has narrated the Netflix series Bridgerton as the enigmatic Lady Whistledown (Good Housekeeping). The role allows her to use her distinctive speaking voice without requiring singing.

Writing and publishing

  • She co-authors children’s books with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton (E! News)
  • Her most recent collaborative project was discussed on the Picture Book Summit podcast in May 2025 (Picture Book Summit)

The trade-off: Andrews has traded the global stage of musical theatre for the intimate craft of writing books with family, a shift that suits her current vocal reality.

Did Christopher Plummer Love Julie Andrews?

On-set relationship

Christopher Plummer, who co-starred with Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965), described her in interviews as a dear friend and a consummate professional. He joked that he initially found the film’s sweetness cloying but developed deep respect for Andrews’ talent and warmth.

Long-term friendship

They maintained a warm relationship for decades. Plummer often praised Andrews in later interviews, calling her one of the most generous performers he ever worked with. He died in 2021.

The pattern: Their on-screen chemistry reflected a genuine off-screen affection that lasted a lifetime.

Julie Andrews: A Life in Key Dates

  • 1935 – Born in Walton-on-Thames, England
  • 1954 – Broadway debut in The Boy Friend
  • 1964 – Stars in Mary Poppins, wins Academy Award
  • 1965 – Stars in The Sound of Music
  • 1969 – Marries director Blake Edwards
  • 1997 – Throat surgery damages vocal cords
  • 2000 – Appointed DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
  • 2010 – Blake Edwards dies
  • 2020–2024 – Narrates Bridgerton
  • 2026 – Video appearance at World Parkinson’s Congress (Good Housekeeping)

What We Know vs. What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Julie Andrews is alive and living in the United States
  • She had five children with Blake Edwards
  • 1997 throat surgery permanently changed her singing voice
  • She narrates Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown

What’s unclear

  • Exact cause of voice deterioration beyond vocal cord nodules
  • Whether she will take on new singing roles
  • Frequency of future public appearances after 2026
  • Full scope of upcoming book projects with her daughter

In Her Own Words

“Writing has become a creative outlet after throat surgery. Collaborating with Emma has been a joy and has revitalized me.”

— Julie Andrews, quoted in E! News

“Welcome to the seventh World Parkinson’s Congress. Parkinson’s is a terrible disease, but the work you do is invaluable.”

— Julie Andrews, video message for World Parkinson’s Congress 2026, reported by Good Housekeeping

For fans of Julie Andrews, the takeaway is clear: her creativity remains undimmed, and while her voice may have changed, her presence in the arts is as strong as ever. The choice she made after 1997—to adapt rather than retreat—ensures that her legacy continues to grow, one book and one narration at a time.

Related reading: All About Julie Andrews’ Kids · Julie Andrews’ Life Update at 90 – Book and Daughter

Additional sources

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For a deeper look at how the 1997 surgery affected her career, read about her voice loss and recovery.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Julie Andrews still acting?

Yes, she continues to work as a voice actor, most notably narrating Bridgerton since 2020.

What is Julie Andrews’ net worth?

While exact figures are not publicly confirmed, estimates from industry sources place her net worth around $30 million.

Did Julie Andrews adopt children?

Yes, she adopted two daughters with Blake Edwards: Amy Edwards (adopted 1974) and Joanna Lynne Edwards (adopted 1975).

What happened to Julie Andrews’ voice?

In 1997 she underwent throat surgery to remove nodules; the procedure damaged her vocal cords, ending her soprano singing career.

Who is Julie Andrews’ current partner?

She has not remarried since the death of Blake Edwards in 2010. She is not known to be in a public relationship.

How many grandchildren does Julie Andrews have?

She has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; the exact number is not publicly documented.

What is Julie Andrews’ most famous film?

The Sound of Music (1965) is her most widely recognized film, though Mary Poppins (1964) earned her an Academy Award.