Julie Andrews

Background

Julia Elizabeth Wells was born in Surrey, England. Her mother’s name was Barbara Ward Wells (1910–1984) and her foster father was Edward Charles Wells a.k.a. Ted (1908–1984). He worked as a metalwork and woodwork teacher. Andrews was born as a result of an affair her mother had outside their marriage. This information was not publicly disclosed until her 2008 autobiography. Barbara and Edward divorced when World War II started. They both remarried years later — Barbara to Ted Andrews and Edward to Winifred Maud Birkhead.

Andrews lived briefly with Edward Wells and her brother in Surrey. In 1940, Edward sent her to live with her mother and stepfather, believing that Barbara could better provide for her daughter. The family lived in a bad slum area of London. According to Andrews, the war was a very dark period in her life. Her stepfather was violent and an alcoholic.

As the war ended, their family could afford a better living environment. They first moved to Beckenham and later to Hersham. Andrews’ stepfather sponsored her talent lessons, first at the Cone-Ripman School (ArtsEd), and thereafter with voice instructor Madame Lilian Stiles-Allen. Several months later, her stepfather introduced her to managing director Val Parnell. Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome on October 22, 1947.