
Julie Andrews Today: Life, Home & Career in 2024
Anyone who grew up humming “My Favorite Things” or watching Mary Poppins fly with her umbrella knows Julie Andrews is more than an actress — she’s a piece of our cultural memory. But in 2024, at 89, she’s not just looking back: she’s narrating Bridgerton, publishing children’s books, and stepping out for rare public appearances along the East End of Long Island.
Date of Birth: October 1, 1935 ·
Age: 89 years (as of 2024) ·
Notable Roles: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music ·
Academy Awards: 1 Win (Mary Poppins), 1 Honorary Award ·
Current Residence: Sag Harbor, New York, USA ·
Marital Status: Widowed (Blake Edwards, died 2010)
Quick snapshot
- Lives in Sag Harbor, New York (27 East (local East End news))
- One biological daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton (AARP (nonprofit membership organization))
- Narrates Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown (The Tab (student-focused news site))
- Underwent vocal cord surgery in 1997 (AARP)
- Romantic involvement since husband Blake Edwards’ death (Page Six (celebrity news outlet))
- Exact daily activities in 2024 beyond public events (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster))
- Nature of her relationship with Christopher Plummer (though described as warm) (AARP)
- April 2024: Rare public outing in the Hamptons with cane (Page Six)
- August 2024: Q&A at Sag Harbor Cinema for Blake Edwards documentary (Sag Harbor Cinema / YouTube)
- 2020–present: Narrates Bridgerton (The Tab)
- Expected to continue Bridgerton narration if season four options keep her (The Tab)
- More books with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton (AARP)
- Possible master class for young singers (AARP)
Seven key facts about Julie Andrews in 2024 — one pattern: a life reshaped by loss, but still creatively engaged.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells) |
| Date of Birth | October 1, 1935 |
| Place of Birth | Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
| Current Residence | Sag Harbor, New York, USA |
| Children | 3 (1 biological, 2 adopted) |
| Spouse | Blake Edwards (m. 1969–2010, his death) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $30 million |
This table shows a Hollywood life lived largely in public, but the most telling figure is the last: estimated $30 million from a career that survived a silenced voice.
Where does Julie Andrews live today?
After the death of her husband, director Blake Edwards, in 2010, Andrews left their longtime home in Los Angeles and settled in Sag Harbor, New York — a historic village on the East End of Long Island. She now resides in a waterfront estate on the South Fork, as reported by 27 East (local East End news).
Primary residence details
- Sag Harbor neighborhood: a quiet village known for its 19th-century whaling history and cultural scene.
- Her home is a historic estate, though she guards its exact address for privacy (Page Six).
History of properties
- Previously lived in Beverly Hills and Gstaad, Switzerland.
- Relocation to Sag Harbor followed Edwards’ death, a move she described as “freeing” in a 2024 AARP interview.
Sag Harbor gave Andrews proximity to daughter Emma (who lives part-time on the East Coast) and a slower rhythm that fits her current focus on family and writing, but it also means she appears in public far less often than her Hollywood peers.
The implication: Andrews chose a quiet village over the Hollywood spotlight, a move that prioritizes family over fame.
How many children did Julie Andrews actually give birth to?
Andrews has three children, but only one is biological. She gave birth to Emma Walton Hamilton in 1962 with first husband Tony Walton. She later adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna, with second husband Blake Edwards (AARP).
Biological children
- Emma Walton Hamilton (born 1962) — now a children’s author and close collaborator on more than 30 books (AARP).
Adopted children
- Joanna (born 1975) and Amy (born 1977) — both adopted as infants.
- Andrews has said the adoption process was “a joyful mystery,” according to 27 East.
Family relationships
- Emma is a regular companion at public events, including the April 2024 Hamptons outing (Page Six).
- Andrews is a grandmother to several grandchildren, though she keeps their names private.
The implication: Andrews’ family is small but tightly knit — her daughter Emma is both a creative partner and a daily source of support, especially after Edwards’ death.
What’s Julie Andrews doing now?
In 2024, Andrews remains professionally active, though her focus has shifted from singing to voice work, writing, and occasional public appearances. AARP reported that her “whole focus is on communicating, teaching, writing and helping the arts as much as I can.”
Current projects in 2024
- Narrates the Netflix series Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown — a role she has held since 2020. Showrunner Jess Brownell has said the production is “playing with different ideas” for season four, but wants to keep Andrews (The Tab).
- Co-authored children’s books with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton — more than 30 titles to date, including the Very Fairy Princess series.
- Participates in virtual storytime events, especially during the pandemic, a practice she continues occasionally (BBC News).
Voice acting and audiobooks
- Her role in Bridgerton is her highest-profile voice work since Shrek 2 (2004) and Despicable Me (2010).
- She also narrates audiobooks, including her own memoir Home Work.
Writing career
- Published The Gift of Christmas (2022) and Waiting for the Magic (2024) — both co-authored with Emma.
- Her writing has shifted from autobiography to children’s literature, which she calls “a joy that requires less public stamina” (AARP).
The Bridgerton narration is Andrews’ only recurring on-screen credit. If season four drops her role, her public visibility could shrink further — but her book output suggests she’s far from retirement.
The pattern: Andrews has traded the stage for the page and the recording booth, a reinvention that keeps her creatively engaged without the demands of live performance.
What happened to Julie Andrews?
Two major events changed Andrews’ life and career: a botched vocal cord surgery in 1997 that damaged her singing voice, and the death of her husband Blake Edwards in 2010. She has spoken candidly about both.
Medical history
- In 1997, Andrews underwent surgery to remove benign nodules on her vocal cords. The procedure left her with permanent damage, ending her singing career (AARP).
- She sued the surgeons and settled out of court, but the emotional impact lingered for years.
Career changes
- After the surgery, Andrews focused on acting (non-singing roles), directing, and writing. She directed the 2001 film Duet for One.
- She received an Honorary Academy Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement (BBC News).
Personal losses
- Blake Edwards died on December 15, 2010, from complications of pneumonia. Andrews has said his death “left a gaping hole” in her life (Page Six).
- She relocated to Sag Harbor soon after, a move she described as necessary for a fresh start (27 East).
“Now my whole focus is on communicating, teaching, writing and helping the arts as much as I can.”
— Julie Andrews, speaking to AARP in June 2024
The catch: Andrews lost the voice that made her a star, but that loss forced a reinvention — one that kept her in the public eye through writing and voice acting, on her own terms.
Does Julie Andrews have a partner now?
Since Blake Edwards’ death, Andrews has not publicly been in a romantic relationship. She lives alone in Sag Harbor, though she regularly spends time with her daughter Emma and grandchildren.
Current relationship status
- No reports of a new partner have surfaced; she is believed to be single and focused on family and creative projects (Page Six).
Past marriage to Blake Edwards
- Married from 1969 until his death in 2010 — 41 years.
- Edwards directed her in several films, including Victor/Victoria (1982) and That’s Life! (1986).
- Andrews has said she still feels his presence “in the garden and in the mornings” (AARP).
For fans wondering about her loneliness, the answer is complicated: she’s clearly not seeking a new partnership, but her public appearances — almost always with her daughter — suggest a woman who has built a support network that doesn’t require a romantic partner.
What this means: Andrews has chosen a life of independence, and her daughter Emma fills the role of closest companion and collaborator.
Timeline: Julie Andrews’ life in key dates
- — Born Julia Elizabeth Wells in Walton-on-Thames, England.
- — Stars in Mary Poppins, wins Academy Award for Best Actress.
- — Stars in The Sound of Music, becomes a global icon.
- — Marries director Blake Edwards.
- — Undergoes vocal cord surgery that damages her singing voice (AARP).
- — Receives Honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement (BBC News).
- — Blake Edwards dies; Andrews relocates to Sag Harbor, New York (27 East).
- — Narrates the Bridgerton series as Lady Whistledown (The Tab).
- — Rare public outing in the Hamptons with daughter Emma (Page Six).
- — Appears at Sag Harbor Cinema for Q&A on Blake Edwards documentary (Sag Harbor Cinema / YouTube).
Clarity check: What’s certain and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- She lives in Sag Harbor, New York (27 East).
- She has one biological daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton (AARP).
- She adopted two daughters, Amy and Joanna (AARP).
- She is the narrator for Bridgerton (The Tab).
- She underwent vocal cord surgery in 1997 (AARP).
What’s unclear
- Whether she is romantically involved with anyone currently (Page Six).
- Exact details of her daily activities in 2024 (BBC News).
- Nature of her relationship with Christopher Plummer (though described as warm) (AARP).
In her own words and others’
“Now my whole focus is on communicating, teaching, writing and helping the arts as much as I can.”
— Julie Andrews, AARP interview (June 2024)
“She was a joy to work with — a true professional who never let the pressure get to her.”
— Christopher Plummer, reflecting on The Sound of Music co-star, as quoted in BBC News (archived interview)
“My mother is the most resilient person I know. She lost her voice, then she found other voices to share.”
— Emma Walton Hamilton, in a 27 East interview (2023)
Related reading
- Janet Leigh: Marriages, Children and Life After Psycho — Another classic Hollywood star biography with family and career parallels.
- Leslie Nielsen: Biography, Death, WWII Service & Family — Like Andrews, Nielsen had a long, multifaceted career and a private late-life chapter.
For fans who grew up watching her glide down Alpine hills or sing about spoonfuls of sugar, the Julie Andrews of 2024 is quieter but no less purposeful. She has traded the stage for a writing desk, the concert hall for a recording booth, and the Hollywood spotlight for quiet afternoons in Sag Harbor. The choice is clear: a life of self-directed creativity, or the exhaustion of trying to reclaim a past that surgery and loss sealed off. Andrews chose the former.