Julie Andrews reflects on her Hollywood years
LOS ANGELES >> Everyone is on their best behavior when Julie Andrews is around.
It’s early June in Los Angeles and Andrews is coming to film segments for a night of guest programming on Turner Classic Movies and speak about her new book, “Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years,” which hits shelves Tuesday. The air is thick with anticipation before her arrival. When her car does appear — as prompt as Mary Poppins — the crew, the producers and even the catering staff all abandon their lunches and stand to attention. When she steps out, some even start to softly clap, as though she is royalty or perhaps even something bigger than that.
But Andrews, seemingly knowing the effect she has on people, brings it back down to earth.
“Hi gang!” she says cheerily, with that voice that for many is as familiar as their own mother’s, putting everyone (almost) at ease as she glides through the room.
Even TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, who is no stranger to speaking to screen legends, is a little awe struck.
“God, every time you talk I think, ‘She sounds just like Julie Andrews!’” Mankiewicz says to his guest.
Andrews just laughs. “Shut up, shut up,” she says.
For the next few hours, The Associated Press got a front-row seat as Andrews and Mankiewicz turned the little soundstage into a cozy living room for movie lovers as they discussed three films from her career: 1967’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” 1982’s “Victor/Victoria” and 1986’s “That’s Life!,” all of which she touches on in her memoir.
Although they may not be as well-known as “Mary Poppins” or “The Sound of Music,” each provides a revealing glimpse into her work at different stages of her career outside of those beloved nanny roles. In talking about George Roy Hill’s adaptation of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Andrews reflected on her friendship with co-star Mary Tyler Moore.
“She called me Millie and I called her Miss Dorothy for the rest of our lives,” Andrews, who just turned 84 this month, said. “I miss her so much.”
All of the films are special to Andrews in some way, but naturally the ones she made with Blake Edwards, her husband of 41 years, are particularly so.
“We made seven pictures together,” Andrews said. “The first one ‘Darling Lili’ was such a huge flop it’s amazing we stayed together for 41 years!”