Dame Julie Andrews made a rare public appearance to lend her support to the 7th Annual World Parkinson's Congress, which commenced on Sunday. The 90-year-old actress, renowned for her iconic roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, addressed viewers in a brief video message uploaded to the World Parkinson Coalition's YouTube channel.
Video Message of Support
The clip began with the Oscar-winning star greeting the audience and introducing herself. 'And I'm pleased to welcome you to the 7th World Parkinson's Congress. Your participation is invaluable as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease,' she stated. Andrews further expressed, 'I know well how devastating it can be. May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks. Count me in as a red thread. Thank you.' Throughout the short reel, she was seen seated on a chair, wearing a light blue sweater.
Life Away from the Spotlight
Andrews has largely stepped away from the public eye following her decades-long Hollywood career. Last October, she celebrated her 90th birthday. In a 2024 episode of the Wiser Than Me With Julia Louis-Dreyfus podcast, she shared, 'I probably feel like in my 50s, honest to God. As long as the brain holds out, I'm doing okay.' The star explained that she now leads a 'quieter' life, which she has come to enjoy. 'I don't go out as much, and I love being home. But I kind of enjoyed that, pulling back a little bit now.' She added, 'I've got a million thoughts and ideas and hope that I can keep going for a great deal longer. But who knows? And I'm just pleased that I've arrived here.'
Career Highlights
Andrews gained recognition with her film debut in the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins alongside Dick Van Dyke. The film earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. For a time, she kept the Oscar out of sight in an attic. 'It does seem rather ridiculous - and I do proudly display it now - but at the time I was in such a new crowd. I didn't want to boast,' she told Glamour. In 1965, she starred in The Sound of Music, which garnered another Oscar nomination. The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Later Roles and Recent Work
Andrews appeared in films such as Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Darling Lili (1970), and Victor/Victoria (1982). In 2001, she played Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries, reprising the role in its 2004 sequel. A third film is in development, though Andrews' participation remains unconfirmed. Director Adele Lim told E! News that The Princess Diaries 3 is 'a movie we all need in our lives right now,' but the script is still being written. Most recently, Andrews voiced Lady Whistledown in the Netflix series Bridgerton. In 2022, she revealed to Today that she had never met the cast in person. Last year, she won the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance award at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys.
