“Often I am asked how I felt about not landing the role of Eliza in the film version of My Fair Lady. I know Alan hoped that Warner Bros. would cast me but eventually the role was given to Audrey Hepburn. At the time, I completely understood their choice. Warner Bros. needed a big name for the marquee, and although I had starred on Broadway, that was a very small pond compared to the rest of America and the world. In later years, I did wish that I had been able to record my performance somehow, somewhere for posterity - or at least for my grandchildren. Audrey and I became good friends, and one day she said to me, ‘Julie, you should have done the role… but I didn’t have the guts to turn it down.’”
- Julie Andrews; an excerpt from Home: A Memoir of My Early Years.
Maggie: Carol, Carol, Carol dear, Carol! You never told me why you wanted to learn Cockney, why?
Carol: Well there’s this movie. [Maggie: Flick.] Flick about a girl. [Maggie:No, bird.] Bird who sells flowers. [Maggie: flawrs] Flawrs. Who meets a guy. [Maggie: Bloke] Bloke who teaches her how [Maggie: ‘ow!] ‘Ow to talk like a lady. [Maggie: Lie-dy!] Lie-dy!
Maggie: Carol… Carol, they made that film. My Fair Lady.
Carol: I know. But Maggie, they also made Godfather part 2. So when they make My Fair Lady Part 2, I’m ready.
Maggie: Tha- that makes two of us.
Carol: I knew I shouldn’t have told you!
01 Jul 1956 Original caption: Julie Andrews Transformation. A Cup of Tea? Julie is charming and poised as her natural self. But, talented actress, she makes a bit of a mess of it-pouring the tea into the basket that’s a prop in her flower girl role.
Julie keeps up a steady flow of correspondence with her folks and friends back in England. Here, as is evident, it would be quite a strain in the Cockney role. But Julie manges quite well. © Bettmann/CORBIS
The finished painting of me as the flower girl is wonderful. Annigoni captured the essence of Eliza. What is rather extraordinary is that in the background there is a half-hidden poster with the words The Sound of… How prophetic! - Julie Andrews (Home A Memoir of My Early Years)
Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady opened on Broadway on March 15th 1956.
Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady opened on Broadway on March 15th 1956.
My Fair Lady opened on March 15, 1965. After more tech rehearsals we had had one paid preview only, which the audience received enthusiastically. On opening night Moss gathered the company onstage before the curtain went up. He gave a short, charming speech telling us that we were all wonderful and if the audience didn’t love the show - well, what did they know!
The audience did love us. The reaction at the end of the performance was as phenomenal as any I can remember. People rose from their seats, seeming to want to storm the stage in their excitement. There were repeated bravos and many curtain calls. The reviews the following morning were ecstatic. Broadway embraced us and took us to its heart. - Julie Andrews (Home A Memoir of My Early Years)
Julie Andrews The Sound of Music & My Fair Lady medley <3
I used to watch both of these movies 3 times a day when I was younger! no joke.
Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady.
