Hollywood icon Julie Andrews has made a rare public appearance at the age of 90, delivering an emotional message in support of Parkinson’s disease awareness and research.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The legendary actress, best known for timeless classics including Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, appeared in a video shown during the seventh annual World Parkinson’s Congress conference in Phoenix, Arizona over the weekend.
It marked Andrews’ first public appearance in three years and immediately sparked an emotional reaction from fans who were delighted to see the Oscar-winning star back in the spotlight.
In the short video message, Andrews addressed attendees directly while supporting the organisation’s ongoing efforts to combat Parkinson’s disease.
“Your participation is invaluable as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease,” Andrews said.
The actress also opened up about the devastating impact Parkinson’s can have on people and families. “I know well how devastating it can be,” she added.
Ending the message on a hopeful note, Andrews urged supporters to continue spreading awareness and compassion through the organisation’s Red Thread Project initiative.
“May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks,” she said. “Count me in as a red thread. Thank you.”
The Red Thread Project aims to connect people living with Parkinson’s disease, along with their families, carers and wider support networks.
Andrews appeared seated on a couch in front of a large window during the video, wearing a grey crewneck sweatshirt layered over a white turtleneck, accessorised with gold jewellery.
Although she rarely appears publicly these days, the actress has remained quietly active behind the scenes in recent years.
She continues to provide the voice of Lady Whistledown in Netflix hit series Bridgerton and has also voiced characters in films including Minions: The Rise of Gru and Aquaman.
Her last in-person public appearance came in March 2023 during the taping of Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, a celebration honouring her longtime friend Carol Burnett.
The pair, who have been friends for more than six decades, posed together at the event, with Andrews wearing a navy jacket covered in black-and-white beads and sequins while Burnett opted for a bright pink blazer.
Speaking about their friendship in 2023, Andrews said, per Page Six: “From day one, we both seem to know and understand where each one of us is coming from.”
She continued: “Although we come from different countries, we recognized in each other things that were of mutual understanding. We both had tough beginnings and we both kind of bonded [for] that reason. It was instant the day we met.”
Away from acting, Andrews has also focused heavily on writing projects with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.
The mother-daughter duo have written dozens of children’s books together and are preparing to release another picture book titled Shy, which follows a puppy discovering the magic of music after finding a new home.
The project was reportedly inspired by Andrews’ own “singing” dog.
Last year, Andrews and Hamilton also appeared together on CBS News Sunday Morning to promote their audiobook Waiting in the Wings.
During the interview, Andrews reflected on the devastating impact a 1997 throat surgery had on her career after complications caused her to lose her singing voice.
“One day I was bemoaning my fate and missing very much the fact that I couldn’t sing because the surgery went awry and took away my ability to do what I love to do, and Emma said, ‘No, mom, you’ve just found another way of sharing your voice,” Andrews recalled.
“The ‘Mary Poppins’ star added, “It hit me so hard what she said, and I’ve never really bemoaned it since.”
Despite largely stepping away from public life, Andrews remains one of the most beloved figures in entertainment history, with fans continuing to celebrate every rare appearance from the screen legend.
Featured image credit: YouTube/World Parkinson’s Congress (screenshots)
