‘We had recently acquired a dog, a little corgi. His pedigree name was ‘Whisper of Whey’, but Auntie, with her flair for naming everything, said, ‘Let’s call him “Hush”.’ Unfortunately, Hush was teased a lot by my brothers, who were too young to know any better, and as a result he was rather manic and snapped at people. The morning of my big [13th birthday] party, Hush saw my dress hanging on the kitchen door, jumped up, grabbed the hem and shredded it. I was devastated, but Mum, bless her, went to her sewing machine and managed to fix it just in time. ‘These things are sent to test us,’ she said, an expression she often used when life’s little problems threatened to overwhelm.’

*

‘I was given a puppy. It was golden and velvety soft, with sweet breath and pluggy feet. Sadly, this lovely creature contracted a disease which led to St. Vitus’ dance and for some reason, my step-father insisted that I go with him to the vet to have the puppy put down. I remember sitting in the car with it jumping and twitching in my lap while I lovingly tried to soothe it. I stayed in the car while Pop took the little bundle inside. I was so sad, I could hardly bear it.’

-Home, A Memoir of My Early Years: Julie Andrews

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For Julie, who has no luck with dogs.

‘Success is terrifying. Like happiness, it is often appreciated in retrospect. It’s only later that you place it in perspective. Years from now, I’ll probably look back and say, “God, wasn’t it wonderful?”’

- Julie Andrews (in 1966)

Julie in Cinderella, 1957

Julie Andrews through the years

Julie, opening her charity Operation USA in the early 1980s

Sometimes this film is just too much

Julie Andrews promoting Victor/Victoria on Broadway, 1996

Advert for The Julie Andrews Hour, 1972

Julie performing (JAH) in 1973