Julie Andrews is 90. Let that sink in for a second. The woman who taught us all how to sing "Do-Re-Mi" and convinced us that a spoonful of sugar really could solve most of life’s problems has entered her tenth decade, and honestly? She’s still outperforming people half her age.
But if you think Julie Andrews now is just sitting around in a rocking chair in the English countryside, you haven't been paying attention. While the soaring four-octave soprano that defined a generation of cinema is gone—a casualty of that infamous 1997 throat surgery—Andrews has pivoted into a sort of cultural grandmother-in-chief. She's busy. She’s productive. And in 2026, she is specifically focused on legacy.
The Return to the Director's Chair: My Fair Lady 2026
Most people remember Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle on the Broadway stage, even if Audrey Hepburn got the movie part (a snub Julie famously handled with the kind of class that would make a saint look petty). Fast forward to September 2026, and Julie is returning to that world in a big way.
She isn't acting in it this time. She’s the boss.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the show's debut, Andrews is guiding a massive production of My Fair Lady at the Sydney Opera House. It’s a full-circle moment. She directed a record-breaking version there for the 60th anniversary back in 2016, and apparently, the Australian audiences (and Opera Australia) couldn't get enough. Working alongside co-director Karen Johnson Mortimer, Julie is proving that her "eye" for theater is just as sharp as her "ear" used to be. It’s sort of poetic, isn’t it? The woman who originated the role in 1956 is now the one teaching a new generation how to pronounce "The rain in Spain."
The Voice That Won’t Quit (Even Without the Singing)
We have to talk about the voice. It's the elephant in the room whenever anyone brings up Julie Andrews now.
She has been incredibly candid about the "depression" she fell into after the surgery that scarred her vocal cords. She lost her identity. For years, she worked with Dr. Steven Zeitels, a rockstar of vocal surgery, trying to get the range back. While they never quite got the high notes to return, the voice we hear today—the one narrating Bridgerton as Lady Whistledown—is deep, velvety, and arguably more authoritative than ever.
In 2026, her voice is her primary tool. She's still the narrator for Bridgerton, and her collaboration with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, has produced over 30 books. They just re-released The Great American Mousical with a fresh look.
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Julie doesn't type, by the way. She and Emma "write out loud," bouncing lines back and forth while Emma types away. It’s a creative partnership that basically saved Julie’s career when the singing stopped. Without those books, she’s said she would have been "a very sad lady."
What she’s doing differently these days:
- Prioritizing Isolation: She’s been open about the fact that at her age, she prefers a quieter life. She recently mentioned she's "still pretty much isolated" by choice.
- Selective Public Appearances: When she does show up, like at her 90th birthday celebration or recent AFI honors, she’s usually seen with a walking stick. She looks elegant, but she’s not pretending she’s 50 anymore.
- Legacy Projects: Everything right now is about the "Julie Andrews Collection." It’s about ensuring the stories she wants to tell—stories about kindness and the arts—stay in print.
The Princess Diaries 3 Rumors
Look, every year since about 2015, people have been asking about The Princess Diaries 3. Anne Hathaway is down for it. The fans are desperate for it. But Julie’s stance has been a bit of a "we'll see" mixed with "I might be too old for this."
However, in the world of 2026, where nostalgia is the most valuable currency in Hollywood, the door isn't shut. If it happens, it won't be Julie running around Genovia; it'll be a passing of the torch. She’s very aware of her physical limits. She’s not going to do something that looks "silly" just for a paycheck.
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How Julie Andrews Redefined Aging in Hollywood
What makes Julie Andrews now so fascinating is that she didn't try to freeze time. She didn't disappear into a cloud of plastic surgery or try to sing songs she could no longer reach.
She adapted.
When she couldn't be the ingénue, she became the Queen. When she couldn't be the Queen, she became the voice of the town gossip. When she couldn't sing, she wrote. It’s a masterclass in professional pivot. Honestly, it’s probably why her "brand" (if you can call a Dame a brand) is stronger now than it was in the 80s.
She remains a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women. She still supports the Voice Health Institute. She isn't just a legend from the past; she's an active participant in the present, even if she's doing it from her living room or a rehearsal hall in Sydney.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to keep up with what Julie Andrews is actually doing right now without falling for the "death hoaxes" that occasionally plague the internet, here is where to look:
- Check the Books: Her most frequent "new" content is through her book series with Emma Walton Hamilton. The Julie Andrews Collection is the most reliable source of her current creative voice.
- Watch the Credits: She is increasingly moving into producing and directing rather than being in front of the camera. If you see her name on a playbill in Australia or a TV credit, it’s likely in a "guided by" or "executive producer" capacity.
- Respect the Pace: She doesn't do a lot of live interviews anymore. If you see a "breaking" interview, verify it through a legitimate source like The Hollywood Reporter or Variety. Most of what circulates on social media is recycled footage from her 2019 memoir tour.
Julie Andrews isn't just a survivor of a changing industry; she’s the one who set the standard for how to grow old with your dignity—and your wit—completely intact.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to dive deeper into her current work, you can explore the Julie's Library podcast archives where she reads children's books, or look into the 2026 My Fair Lady production details if you're planning a trip to Sydney. Regardless, the best way to honor her legacy is to support the arts education initiatives she continues to champion today.