JULIE ANDREWS
by the woman who knows her best
British film legend Dame Julie Andrews hasn’t been seen on the small screen for a while, but now she’s back with a new children’s series, Julie’s Greenroom. In this exclusive interview with Good Housekeeping, she reveals her joy in working with her daughter, Emma Walton-hamilton, how she juggled stardom with motherhood, and her thoughts about the new Mary Poppins film…
It’s fantastic to see you back on our screens, Julie. Can you tell us about your new show?
Julie: It’s about a little theatre that I, Miss Julie, supposedly own, where I teach the arts – but my pupils are puppets! They’re really adorable and wonderful to work with. It has been a dream of mine to do something for children that shows them the wonder of the arts. Emma: We co-created the Netflix series with The Jim Henson Company. Each episode focuses on a particular topic, such as acting, singing, ballet, song-writing, and with each topic we have a guest artist who visits to help Miss Julie. For example, Alec Baldwin comes to teach the acting masterclass. Julie: Ever since Jim Henson began with the Muppets, I had been wanting to do something similar if I could. This is a long-held realisation. I just hope it is a tribute in the right way.
It’s an exciting time. Next year will be the 44th anniversary of Mary Poppins, for which you won an Oscar, and the release of the sequel starring British actress Emily Blunt. Julie: Yes, isn’t that great? I believe it’s being made in England. I’m a huge fan of hers – it’s about time there was a sequel! You know, Disney had these other Mary Poppins books and stories that they never developed, and they were just sitting in the vault. So why not do something with them? I wish them well. I’m thrilled!
You raised three children while making some of the biggest films in movie history. Do you believe women can have it all?
Julie: I think so. It is a lot of work, but that has been my creed: go for it! I did have to make a decision of quality over quantity for my children. That quality time is what I focused on, because there were various things pulling at me. If we had to make
a film, my husband, Blake, and I would do what we called Pitch A Tent – take the kids and make it into an adventure. Until your children are into junior high school (aged 11), they can travel anywhere. It is as good an education as what they may get in their young years at school. I can’t say it’s easy, but it is do-able! You learn as you go.
So, what did you learn about raising a family while being a working mother in Hollywood?
Julie: Don’t panic! When in doubt, just stand still and weigh things. If you have the time, the answers will come to you. The kids came first. We have a saying that we’ve made into a lovely sign for the wall: ‘Are we lucky or what?’ We really are. It sounds very Pollyanna-ish, but it’s true. I hope I can convey that to all my children. Emma: When my kids were young, Mum always said to me, when you don’t know what to do, wait an extra second. Things will have a way of resolving themselves. Julie: The terrible twos or the teens or whatever it is. The little battles. At first I thought I was getting too picky about tiny details that mattered, but it is actually the big stuff. Are the kids cutting it in school? Are they on drugs? Are they trying? Those are the things I believe you should focus on.
Emma, what has it been like for you to be the daughter of Julie Andrews?
Emma: She has always been Mum to me. When I was a child, she was the one who was making eggs and bacon in the morning before we went to school, even though she had a full day of work herself. So we are mum and daughter first and foremost. Julie: We are aware it could have been a burden, but it didn’t seem to be. Emma: There was a time in my life when I was trying to figure out who I was, separate and apart from being Julie Andrews’ daughter. But a dear friend of mine once said when I was young, wear the mantle with pride and dignity because it’s a real gift that you’ve been given. Her job and what she’s done in her life is something I’m enormously proud of. I’m proud to collaborate with her on creative projects. I’m also happy now to be able to share the message that she’s a good egg! People ask what is she really like and I say, you know what, she is exactly what you might imagine she would be like!
You’ve worked together before, co-writing children’s books. How
would you describe your working relationship?
Julie: I’m unbelievably proud and was so happy to have Emma. She had my back and was so supportive, and could step in when I was busy.
Emma: Once we got into production for Julie’s Greenroom, I had to not just have her back but her front and sides as well! I was trying to be mindful for the whole show and also keep an eye out for Mum. We are fortunate in that all of our work together has strengthened our relationship. Writing the books together continues to be a wonderful journey. We’ve written more than 30 now, and have come to realise we have different and complementary strengths. We respect each other’s talents and the differences we share in that. We have an unspoken understanding between us. We tend to agree that the best idea wins, and we always know who has the best idea!
What have you learnt while making this show?
Julie: That it’s been such a joy. Who could have guessed when Emma was my little girl that, when she grew up, we would be two equal women, creating ideas together.
You are 82 this year, Julie. How do you feel about ageing?
Julie: What’s the alternative? I am very fortunate to still be allowed to create and do. It gives me such joy and satisfaction. Emma: We had a tight shooting schedule because of Mum’s other commitment to the production of My Fair Lady, which she was directing in Australia. We were filming for 12 hours at a stretch for many days and not ending until midnight. It was very physically demanding. But the puppeteers kept saying to me, ‘Whenever I feel tired, when it’s a long day, all I have to do is look at your mum and think if she’s still standing there, being as gracious as she is, then we have nothing to complain about.’ Julie: I’d probably come in grousing and saying I’m tired, but as soon as something begins to happen, it becomes stimulating and such fun when you get going.
Julie, do you ever envisage retiring ?
Julie: I don’t think about it that much. I will say, ‘I’m a little exhausted today.’ But I’ve done this my entire life, ever since I was a child. That work ethic is part of what I do. If I have a month or two off, I know there’ll be something ahead because it’s fun to find things that I love to do.