For more than seven decades, Julie Andrews has embodied poise, grace, and quiet strength for generations of moviegoers. Now, at age 90, she says she is ready to retire from on-screen acting.
The legendary actress revealed her decision while explaining why she declined an invitation to reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries 3.
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (1964), Walt Disney Productions
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“I think I probably passed—” Andrews told InStyle before reconsidering her wording. “I think I’m retired, really, would be about the best description for that.”
According to Andrews, the movie’s creative team spent much of last year attempting to persuade her to return. However, she ultimately decided that the sequel should move forward without Queen Clarisse.
“It was very, very hard to say ‘no,’ but I did because I thought I had a wonderful ride, and this one I felt would flourish very well and wouldn’t need Granny going in there at my age,” she explained.
Julie Andrews Will Not Return for The Princess Diaries 3
Andrews offered a similar explanation during an interview with Today, confirming that she will not appear in the long-awaited sequel.
“I’m not going to be in it,” she said. “I think the story is slightly different, and I’m not quite sure how they’re dealing with that. But it’s too late for me to do it.”
Andrews portrayed Queen Clarisse, the grandmother of Anne Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis, in 2001’s The Princess Diaries and its 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
Julie Andrews in The Princess Diaries – Walt Disney Pictures
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She believes the third installment should remain focused on Hathaway’s character, who became queen of the fictional nation of Genovia at the conclusion of the second movie.
“I think the story has to continue in Princess Mia,” Andrews said. “It’s her story. It’s not really mine.”
Many fans have expressed disappointment online. Some suggested that Andrews might have been willing to complete the trilogy if the final installment had entered production sooner.
Andrews Will Continue Working Behind the Microphone
Although Andrews considers herself retired from on-screen acting, she has not completely withdrawn from the entertainment industry.
She continues to voice Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s Bridgerton and narrates the Jane Austen Stories podcast. Her grandson helped construct a recording studio inside her closet, allowing her to complete voice-over work without leaving home.
Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music – Rodgers & Hammerstein, YouTube
“I do it mostly to keep my brain alive,” Andrews told InStyle.
She also continues writing children’s books with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Their latest collaboration, Shy, is the 35th book they have written together.
Meanwhile, Disney+ is preparing to release an untitled documentary about Andrews in 2027. Directed by R.J. Cutler, the film will trace her journey from British vaudeville to international stardom through previously unseen archival footage and new interviews.
Anne Hathaway Responds to Andrews’ Absence
Hathaway told Entertainment Weekly that she respects Andrews’ decision, although her former co-star’s presence will be deeply missed.
“She’s so warm and she’s so gracious and she’s so funny,” Hathaway said. “She brings magic with her wherever she goes.”
While Andrews will not return to Genovia, her performances in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and The Princess Diaries have ensured that her extraordinary acting legacy will endure for generations.
How do you feel about the news that Julie Andrews has retired? Sound off and let us know!
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