Remember the first time you ever stepped into the spotlight? For Jennifer Edwards, it was landing her first lead role in Heidi at just 10 years old. Her father, the legendary director Blake Edwards, had plenty of advice for her, but her stepmom, the one and only Julie Andrews, kept it simple and sweet. “I remember her saying, ‘Have fun,’ as I was getting on the plane,” Jennifer shares with Closer in an exclusive interview. “And then again, ‘Don’t forget to have fun.’ I thought that was just perfect. Life’s too short to take things too seriously.”
It’s hard to imagine a childhood without Julie Andrews being the ultimate friend and confidante. Generations have grown up watching her in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, wishing she could be part of their lives. For Jennifer, now 67, that dream became a reality. As the daughter of Blake Edwards and his first wife, costume designer Patricia Walker, Jennifer grew up with Julie as a central figure in her family. “My stepmother, Julie, was the rock for all of us,” Jennifer reflects. “We have a bond that’s unbreakable. We love each other so much.”
It all started with a chance encounter outside a therapist’s office. Julie and Blake were brought together to work on the 1970 musical Darling Lili, and the rest is history. Jennifer remembers the first time she met Julie at her dad’s house. “I had watched Mary Poppins at least five times,” she recalls. But as a child of Hollywood, Jennifer wasn’t easily starstruck. “I could walk down the stairs to see Audrey Hepburn or Tony Curtis hanging out in the living room,” she explains with a laugh. Still, she was curious about the nature of her father’s relationship with Julie. “He was introducing me to her, so I was wondering, ‘Is he really serious about her?’”
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Turns out, he was! Julie and Blake, both divorced with kids, tied the knot in 1969 and formed a blended family. “We were so young, it wasn’t hard to adjust,” Jennifer says. “Julie’s biological daughter, Emma, was around 3. My brother was 5, and I was 7. It all just clicked.”
Life With Julie Andrews: A Blend of Fun and Structure
Jennifer spent much of her childhood in London with her mother but visited her dad and Julie for several months every year. “Julie believed I should have quality time with my dad,” Jennifer says. “If we went out to dinner, she would make sure I was seated next to him. She was always mindful of making me feel included and never jealous of her.”
Despite their fame, the family’s home life in Malibu, California, and Gstaad, Switzerland, was surprisingly ordinary. “It was like living in a real-life version of Ozzie and Harriet,” Jennifer explains. “Family dinners were sacred. We would gather around the table every evening and share our day. In the evenings, we’d play charades, work on puzzles, and Julie would read to us before bed.”
One of Jennifer’s favorite memories is performing ballet with Julie. “She played the prince, and I played the swan in Swan Lake. It was hilarious,” Jennifer recalls with a laugh. “She would lift me and do all these crazy ballet moves. We performed it for my dad, brother, and sisters, and they all laughed. It was such a special family moment.”
Julie could be firm about manners and tidiness, but always in a loving way. “She wasn’t aggressive about it,” Jennifer says. “She was incredibly fair. She once got the kids to promise to clean up after themselves, and in return, she promised to stop swearing. Believe it or not, she has a potty mouth!” Jennifer adds with a chuckle. “If she slipped and cursed, she would ask what her punishment should be. I told her, ‘I need you to write me a story.’ That story became her 1971 children’s book, Mandy. She even dedicated it to me.”
Growing Up Surrounded by Storytellers
Living with Julie and Blake nurtured Jennifer’s love for storytelling. Beyond her acting career, Jennifer published her first novel, When Angels Cry, in 2014, which is available on Amazon. She’s currently working on her second book and credits her family for inspiring her passion for writing and reading. “They made me fall in love with words,” she says.
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Julie Andrews: The Heart of the Family
Julie and Blake’s 41-year marriage was a testament to their deep connection. “They agreed early on that if my dad was making a movie, Julie would stay home,” Jennifer says. “And if Julie was performing, he wouldn’t work. They always made sure one parent was always there for us.”
Losing Blake in 2010 was heartbreaking for everyone. “Their love story was magical,” Julie reflects. “They took it one day at a time, and 41 years later, they were still together.”
