SJM_People Julie Andrews_0426_layout 4 / 21 / 26 4 : 04 PM Page 2 main beloved family traditions . A New Role lution will come . ” “ I think they are basically stories about In recent years , Andrews has lent her un - Anotherfavorite lesson : turn things up - love and making children realize that mistakablevoice to Lady Whistledown , the sidedown . Look at a situation from the op - they’re very important , ” Andrews says . “ The narrator of Netflix’s hit historical Regency positeperspective . Sound of Music is about love — for family , dramaBridgerton . Hamiltonremembers that if someone for the arts , for one’s homeland . ” Recording the narration for four sea - treatedher unkindly , her mother would en - As for Mary Poppins , Andrews believes sons has become another family collabo - courageempathy . “ I remember her saying , children respond to the character’s balance ration.Hamilton’s 29 - year - old son , Sam , is ‘ Perhaps that person had a bad day . Per - of firmness and warmth . “ Although she’s a asound engineer who built a recording stu - hapssomeone had been unkind to them . ’ little strict , she’s actually full of goodwill dio in Andrews ’ home — transforming a It was a gentle way of teaching compas - and a good heart . She makes the children roominto a sound booth lined with carpets , sion . ” feel like they matter . ” drapes , cushions and blankets . After decades on stage , Andrews still “ I just walk into my ridiculous closet , ” The Legacy of Joy feels the same thrill every time the house Andrewssays with a laugh , “ and there’s the Looking back on her remarkable career — lights start to dim . “ There’s nothing like that microphoneand my grandson . We work so and forward to what’s ahead — Andrews moment when the lights go down , and welltogether . He’s a wonderful director . ” treasurestime above all . “ There are so many there’s a hush over the audience . The or - She also uses the booth to record au - things I still want to do , ” she affirms . “ There chestra begins — and when it’s good , it’s diobooks , including a recent release of Jane are books I still want to write and experi - pure magic . ” Austen’sPride and Prejudice , which she de - ences I still want to have . ” Today , she worries about the challenges scribedas a monumental task . Butultimately , the legacy she hopes to facing live theater in a post - pandemic leave is simple : joy . world . Budget pressures and shifting pri - Timeless Advice “ Tohave made someone smile , to have orities make producing theater increasingly Over the years , Andrews has offered her enlightenedsomeone through a book or a difficult . daughters simple but steadying motherly performance — that’s the best legacy I can “ I so badly want future generations to advice that they have held close to their hope for , ” says Andrews . “ My life has been feel the same way about theater and Broad - hearts . “ When in doubt , stand still , ” she about a lifetime of realizing what talent is way , ” says Andrews . “ It’s so important to would tell them . “ Don’t panic . Don’t rush thereand what it means to people who are share this enthusiasm . I’m fortunate to have forward recklessly . Don’t get into a tizzy workinghard . a daughter , and grandchildren , who share aboutthings until you have thought about With characteristic grace , she sums it my passion . ” it for a while . Stand still and wait — the so - upin two words : “ Lucky me ! ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 23 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 61
