Julie Andrews is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most famous actresses. She was known for classics like “Mary Poppins” (1964), “The Sound of Music” (1965), and “Victor/Victoria” (1982). She was one of the few surviving actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood (1920s to 1960s).
Dame Julie Andrews, who was named Julia Elizabeth Wells at birth, was born on October 1, 1935. This 87-year-old actress has received numerous accolades throughout her career, spanning almost eight decades now. This includes an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, 2 Emmy Awards, 3 Grammy Awards, and 6 Golden Globe Awards, as well as nominations for 3 Tony Awards. Adding to her achievements were an Honorary Golden Lion, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2007, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2022. And to top it all, Julie Andrews was made a dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
Julie Andrews started as a child actress and singer. Known for her perfect pitch and impressive vocal range, she had her debut as Polly in the 1954 Broadway musical “The Boy Friend.” She had been receiving rave reviews from critics since then and was gaining devoted fans. Her most notable films include “Torn Curtain” (1966), “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967), “SOB” (1981), “Due For One” (1986), and “The Princess Diaries” (2001).
The veteran actress had her fair share of issues with regard to her personal life. That doesn’t come as a surprise considering the fact that she has been active in the industry for over 70 years. To name one, she had been rumored to be homosexual. Now, the million-dollar question is — Is Julie Andrews gay? Read on to find out.
VOTE: What is Julie Andrews’s Sexuality?
Julie Andrews’ Relationships: Get to Know Julie Andrews’ Husbands
Not everyone is lucky enough to find the “love of their lives”. Not Julie Andrews, though, because she did find hers. Twice.
Yes, the Mary Poppins actress has been married twice. The first one was with British set and costume designer Tony Walton. The second one the veteran actress tied the knot was with film director, producer, and screenwriter Blake Edwards.
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Julie Andrews and Tony Walton (1959 – 1968)
Julie had been performing on stage ever since she was a child. She would often share the stage with her mother and her stepfather. At the age of 13, Julie was the youngest performer to appear at a Royal Variety performance.
The actress first met her first husband, Tony Walton, in 1948 when Julie was performing in the show “Humpty Dumpty” at the London Casino. She was only 13 years old back then. It was not clear when they started dating, but the veteran actress walked down the aisle in 1959, when she was 24 years old.
They had their daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, in November 1962, who was now a renowned children’s book author. This was before Julie had her big break with “Mary Poppins”. It was actually Tony who designed the iconic costumes Julie had to wear for the movie.
Although the couple divorced in 1968, there was no bad blood between them. The Sound of Music actress even spoke so dearly of him in her recent interview with PEOPLE, following Tony’s death on March 2, 2022.
She also talked about their relationship being part of a huge, blended family.
Julie Andrews and Blake Edwards (1969 – 2010)
One year after her divorce from her first husband, Tony Walton, Julie found love again in the persona of the film director and producer Blake Edwards.
Julie shared in her 2015 guest appearance on “Good Morning Britain” that she had known Blake for a decade prior to their marriage. She describes their relationships as “ships that passed in the night at some event.” She even shared some details about their reunion — which was straight out of a romcom movie — calling the interaction “very corny.” They were driving along an LA intersection, going in the opposite direction when their eyes met. Julie was on her way to her therapist where Blake had just come from.
The “wonderfully Hollywood” meetup, as described by the film director, would have been perfect if not for the fact that they were still both married with their respective past spouses at that time. Julie admitted in an interview with Diane Sawyer that she was “trying very hard not to fall in love with him.”
But it must really be fate since they reconnected again when they were both divorced. The couple dated for roughly two years before they tied the knot in November 1969. They have raised their children together — Emma, Julie’s daughter with her ex-husband, and Jennifer and Geoffrey, Blake’s children from his first marriage to Patricia Walker.
The couple even decided to expand their family by adopting two orphans from Vietnam, Amy and Joanna. The family had been living in their houses which were located in different parts of the world — LA, London, and Gstaad in Switzerland.
The veteran actress was married to Blake until his death in 2010. He passed away at the age of 88 due to pneumonia complications, following his battle with chronic fatigue syndrome
Tony Walton and Blake Edwards were the only relationships the actress had that the public knew of. There was no information about whether she dated anyone else after her second husband passed away.
So if Julie Andrews were only in romantic relationships with men, where did all the gay rumors come from? Why do some fans assume she was queer?
Julie Andrews on Being an LGBTQ Ally
The Princess Diaries actress has always been known to be an LGBTQ ally. She was never hesitant to show her support to the queer community. And more often than not, being an ally leads to misunderstanding. No wonder it sparked rumors about Julie Andrews’ sexuality.
It has been Julie Andrews’ dream to have a collaboration project with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, who’s a renowned children’s book author. And this dream came true when she received an offer from The Jim Henson Co., which is famous for its Muppets. That’s how “Julie’s Greenroom” was born, a Netflix educational preschool TV series.
And one of the show’s characters, Riley, is non-binary. It’s a historic act for the LGBTQ community to be included in a children’s TV show.
Emma Walton Hamilton also added that adding Riley to the show has a personal significance for her.
Riley’s addition to “Julie’s Greenroom” was meant to raise awareness about bullying in schools of LGBT kids. Hamilton even left a message for the scared kids who had been victims of school bullying just because of their sexuality.
When The Advocates asked the mother-and-daughter tandem when they realized they’re LGBTQ allies, this is what they said.
And as expected, Hamilton shares the same view as her mom.
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Is Julie Andrews Gay?
No, being an LGBTQ ally doesn’t make her gay. Giving her all-out support to the LGBTQ community may have sparked some rumors about her sexuality. And although Julie Andrews never talked about her gender preference, it was obvious from her past relationships that she was straight.