Gaga one of Andrews’ favourite things
TORONTO Julie Andrews says she’s always been a fan of Lady Gaga, but after seeing the pop star perform a medley of songs from The Sound of Music at the Oscars, the stage and screen icon developed a new appreciation for the singer.
“She was just belting it out of the park, and I was so pleased and so proud, and I thought she did a wonderful job,” Andrews said in a phone interview from New York.
If Gaga had any doubts about her performance, they quickly dissipated as she was enveloped by rapturous applause — and a warm embrace from Andrews.
“I just said to her: ‘You were terrific. You were marvellous,”’ Andrews recalled of the tender moment.
“Doing it meant a great deal to her because she says it was one of the hardest things she’s ever done. She was understandably nervous, but she was so generous about it. And that’s the first time I met her face-to-face.
“I’d been a fan, and now I’ve found a new friend.”
The Sound of Music has been rebooted in recent years for both stage and television. But for legions of fans, Andrews’ portrayal of Maria — a young nun who becomes governess to an Austrian widower’s seven children — remains the definitive performance of the beloved Oscar-winning musical, which premièred in 1965.
“It’s a little mind-boggling, isn’t it?” Andrews said of the film’s 50th anniversary. “It’s unbelievable to me that this far along in the film’s history that we’ve all survived this long — but how lovely. What a wonderful thing.”
The movie milestone is being commemorated with the release of a new DVD and Blu-ray collector’s edition.
The five-disc collection includes more than 13 hours of bonus content, including an all-new documentary The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg, which the star filmed last year. The actress admitted she didn’t have much spare time to tour Salzburg while filming The Sound of Music due to her demanding schedule. But a Sunday excursion to hear a chamber orchestra playing Mozart was among her treasured moments away from the cameras.
“(It was) one of those beautiful salons ... with little beautiful highback gilt chairs that you sat on very formally, and I suddenly realized the seduction of that music in its proper place,” she said.
“It became such a wonderful rich sound. It was sensual in its richness, and it was a wonderful afternoon that I’ll never forget.”
Cineplex is also marking the anniversary by screening the film on March 29, April 1 and April 6 in dozens of theatres across Canada.
Andrews said her favourite song from the movie is one she didn’t actually sing — save for a few bars at the end — Edelweiss.
“I love it because it is so classically simple and speaks to anyone’s homeland. It’s not just about Austria.”
Andrews said the cast reunites every 10 years and remains in close contact. She also maintains a strong relationship with her Canadian co-star Christopher Plummer, who portrayed onscreen love interest Capt. Georg von Trapp.
The pair were recently profiled in Vanity Fair and will be honoured at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood on March 26.
“We’ve worked twice together since and we talk about everything under the sun when we get together, because we have known each other a long time and enjoy each other’s company,” Andrews said.
“I love his wife, Elaine, and he knew (director) Blake (Edwards, Andrews’ late husband) and worked with him also, so it’s been a really easy relationship all these years.”