Julie Andrews Celebrates Her 80th Birthday Today: Her Life In Pictures

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1/17 Julia Elizabeth Wells was born October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England.

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2/17 Julie Andrews pictured playing with her toys in 1947.

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Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome in 1947 as part of a musical revue called 'Starlight Roof'. She then went on to appear in the West End in 1948, and made her Broadway debut in a 1954 production of 'The Boy Friend' (pictured).

3/17 Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome in 1947 as part of a musical revue called 'Starlight Roof'. She then went on to appear in the West End in 1948, and made her Broadway debut in a 1954 production of 'The Boy Friend' (pictured).

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Her mother, Barbara Ward Wells, was married to Edward Charles "Ted" Wells, a teacher of metalwork and woodwork, but Andrews was conceived as a result of an affair her mother had with an unnamed family friend.

4/17 Her mother, Barbara Ward Wells, was married to Edward Charles "Ted" Wells, a teacher of metalwork and woodwork, but Andrews was conceived as a result of an affair her mother had with an unnamed family friend.

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Near the end of her 'Boy Friend' contract, Andrews was asked to audition for 'My Fair Lady' on Broadway and got the part. In 1956, she appeared in the musical as Eliza Doolittle to Rex Harrison's Henry Higgins.

5/17 Near the end of her 'Boy Friend' contract, Andrews was asked to audition for 'My Fair Lady' on Broadway and got the part. In 1956, she appeared in the musical as Eliza Doolittle to Rex Harrison's Henry Higgins.

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6/17 Andrews has been married twice, first to set designer Tony Walton from 1959 until 1967.

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7/17 The couple had a daughter Emma Katherine Walton, in 1962.

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8/17 In 1960 she was cast in a period musical 'Camelot' as Queen Guinevere with Richard Burton and newcomer Robert Goulet.

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She made her feature film debut in Disney's musical film 'Mary Poppins' in 1964. Walt Disney had seen a performance of Camelot and thought Andrews would be perfect for the role of the British nanny who is "practically perfect in every way!" Andrews initially declined because of pregnancy, but Disney politely insisted, saying, "We'll wait for you."

9/17 She made her feature film debut in Disney's musical film 'Mary Poppins' in 1964. Walt Disney had seen a performance of Camelot and thought Andrews would be perfect for the role of the British nanny who is "practically perfect in every way!" Andrews initially declined because of pregnancy, but Disney politely insisted, saying, "We'll wait for you."

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Andrews won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Actress and the 1964 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance in the role. She and her co-stars also won the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Album for Children.

10/17 Andrews won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Actress and the 1964 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance in the role. She and her co-stars also won the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Album for Children.

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Andrews famously took the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in the musical, 'The Sound of Music' of 1965. The film was a box office smash, being the highest-grossing film of the year and the biggest hit in the history of 20th Century Fox.

11/17 Andrews famously took the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in the musical, 'The Sound of Music' of 1965. The film was a box office smash, being the highest-grossing film of the year and the biggest hit in the history of 20th Century Fox.

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Between 1964 and 1967, Andrews had other box office successes with 'The Americanization of Emily', Alfred Hitchcock's 'Torn Curtain', and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', making her the most successful film star in the world at the time. She's pictured here in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

12/17 Between 1964 and 1967, Andrews had other box office successes with 'The Americanization of Emily', Alfred Hitchcock's 'Torn Curtain', and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', making her the most successful film star in the world at the time. She's pictured here in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

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In the 1970s, Andrews' film career slowed down following the commercial disappointments of 'Star!', 'Darling Lili', and 'The Tamarind Seed' of 1974 in which she's shown here.

13/17 In the 1970s, Andrews' film career slowed down following the commercial disappointments of 'Star!', 'Darling Lili', and 'The Tamarind Seed' of 1974 in which she's shown here.

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'Victor/Victoria', which opened in 1995 was her first appearance in a Broadway show in 35 years. Andrews was forced to quit the show in 1997 when she developed hoarseness in her voice. She underwent surgery to remove nodules from her throat. She emerged from the surgery with permanent damage that destroyed the purity of her singing and gave a rasp to her speaking voice. She filed a malpractice suit against the doctors who had operated on her.

14/17 'Victor/Victoria', which opened in 1995 was her first appearance in a Broadway show in 35 years. Andrews was forced to quit the show in 1997 when she developed hoarseness in her voice. She underwent surgery to remove nodules from her throat. She emerged from the surgery with permanent damage that destroyed the purity of her singing and gave a rasp to her speaking voice. She filed a malpractice suit against the doctors who had operated on her.

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In 2000, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the performing arts and is pictured here with her with her daughter Emma Walton-Hamilton and the award.

15/17 In 2000, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the performing arts and is pictured here with her with her daughter Emma Walton-Hamilton and the award.

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After her first divorce, she married director Blake Edwards from 1969 until his death in 2010. Edwards and Andrews adopted two daughters - Amy in 1974 and Joanna in 1975. Andrews is a grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to three.

16/17 After her first divorce, she married director Blake Edwards from 1969 until his death in 2010. Edwards and Andrews adopted two daughters - Amy in 1974 and Joanna in 1975. Andrews is a grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to three.

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Andrews is also an author of children's books. Here Julie Andrews is pictured with a copy of her children's book 'The Great American Musical' in 2006. In 2008 Andrews published an autobiography, 'Home: A Memoir of My Early Years', which includes memories of surviving the London Blitz.

17/17 Andrews is also an author of children's books. Here Julie Andrews is pictured with a copy of her children's book 'The Great American Musical' in 2006. In 2008 Andrews published an autobiography, 'Home: A Memoir of My Early Years', which includes memories of surviving the London Blitz.

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