There was no irony in how she regarded the children as if they were her own, nor in how she grew ashamed of her repressed feelings for their father. Ever since the musical’s Broadway debut in 1959, countless actresses have tried to capture the benevolence and uncynical beauty of Maria with varying degrees of success. It’s impossible to read this passage without being reminded of the harrowing climactic sequence in Robert Wise’s 1965 masterpiece “The Sound of Music,” where the von Trapp family holds their collective breath while hiding from the Nazis’ flashlight beams.Īndrews’ portrayal of Maria von Trapp remains my favorite performance in all of cinema. In her stunning first memoir, 2008’s Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, Andrews recalls observing the power of music when her stepfather calmed citizens huddled in the Underground Stations during the London Blitz by performing songs on his guitar. Just as the Muppets gained global popularity in the aftermath of the Vietnam war, richly satisfying audiences’ hunger for innocence and joy, Andrews’ astonishing singing voice provided much-needed comfort during the turbulent era of WWII. Few artists throughout human history have cheered up the world as exuberantly and meaningfully as these two icons. This excerpt from Jim Henson’s notes kept during production of “The Muppet Show” and published in the invaluable 1993 book, Jim Henson: The Works, affirm the late Muppet creator’s deep admiration of his frequent collaborator, Julie Andrews. She’s such a great person, always interested in people personally and very professional about her work.”

Home by Julie Andrews Edwards