Julie Andrews to receive Lifetime award at Venice fest
JULIE Andrews, the English star of such classic movies as “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music”, will get the Golden Lion for Career Achievement at the 76th Venice Film Festival, organisers said on Friday.
The decision was made by the board of the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, based on a proposal made by festival director Alberto Barbera.
“I am so honoured to have been selected as this year’s recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement,” Andrews said. “The Venice Film Festival has long been recognised as one of the world’s most esteemed international fi lm festivals. I thank the Biennale for this acknowledgement of my work, and I look forward to being in that beautiful city in September for this very special occasion.”
Said Barbera: “This Golden Lion is the well- deserved recognition of an extraordinary career, which has admirably parsed popular success with artistic ambition, without ever bowing to facile compromises.”
The festival director also highlighted: “At a very young age, Ms. Andrews made a name for herself in the music halls of London and, later, on Broadway thanks to her remarkable singing and acting talent. Her
I am so honoured to have been selected as this year’s recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Julie Andrews, English star
fi rst Hollywood movie, “Mary Poppins”, gave her top-tier star status, which was later confi rmed in another treasured fi lm, “The Sound of Music”. Those two roles projected her into the Olympus of international stardom, making her an iconic fi gure adored by several generations of moviegoers.”
The Venice festival this year runs Aug 28– Sept 7.