Mary Poppins star Julie Andrews turns 80

(AGI) Rome, Oct 1 - A few short days after Disney decided tofilm a sequel to Mary Poppins after 51 years, the cinematicworld celebrated the 80th birthday of the unforgettable JulieAndrews, who won an Oscar for her timeless role. Disney isreportedly thinking of a plot based on the life of the Banksfamily 20 years later during a post-1929 Depression era London.The movie will be based on one of the seven books by Australianwriter Pamela Lyndon Travers. Rob Marshall, an expert inmusicals with films such as "Chicago" and "Nine", has alreadybeen chosen as director, while the main actress is still be todecided; the names of Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt havecirculated as potential Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews, nee' JuliaElizabeth Wells, was born in Walton-on-Thames near London onOctober 1, 1935. Widely considered a living legend, she has wonall the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry,including an Oscar, five Golden Globes, two Emmys, threeGrammys, two BAFTAs, one People's Choice Award, a Screen ActorsGuild award, a David di Donatello, three Tony nominations (ofwhich one was refused), and was made Dame Commander of theOrder of the British Empire, as well receiving the KennedyCenter Honor. An actress, singer, writer, and director, Andrewshas her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A child prodigyin Britain's musical circles in the 1940s, she made her debuton Broadway as a teenager with "The Boy Friend" and thenstarred in theatre classics such as "My Fair Lady" (1957) and"Camelot". She was 27 when she acted in her first film, "MaryPoppins", and immediately won an Academy Award for BestActress. She then acted in other masterpieces, receivinganother Oscar nomination for "The Sound of Music", making herthe most sought-after actress of the 1960s. She subsequentlybegan her new career as an author of children's books,garnering numerous bestsellers and her own series at HarperCollins. She successfully returned to cinema in the 1980s withmovies such as "10", "S.O.B.", and especially"Victor/Victoria", all directed by her second husband, BlakeEdwards. She was praised in the 1990s for her performances innumerous Broadway musicals, till an operation in 1997 damagedher vocal chords, leaving her unable to sing. She then revivedher cinematic career once again, starring in hit familycomedies such as "The Princess Diaries" and lending her voiceto animated blockbusters, including "Shrek 2" and "DespicableMe". Andrews announced that she will bring the musical "My FairLady" to the Sydney Opera House in 2016, this time asdirector.. .