2020-01-01_InStyle_Australia

(Jacob Rumans) #1
“I’ve always absorbed my characters from the outside in. Some
were more challenging to take in than others. But in hindsight

it’s been fascinating to realise how much I’ve been influenced
by the costumes, hair and make-up that’ve helped me come as

close to my characters as possible. I got my start in the theatre,
and when I arrived on Broadway to play Eliza Doolittle in
My Fair Lady, all the clothes were so much more detailed

and beautifully made than I’d ever expected. The costumes
were designed by the great Sir Cecil Beaton, and though we
had to make some adaptations, his knowledge of the period

[the Edwardian era] was extraordinary. It wasn’t until I had
Eliza’s shawl on my shoulders and her silly broken hat

on my head that I knew how I was supposed to act.
My first time on live television was in
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production of

Cinderella, and I quickly learned you have a
lot less time to embrace your costumes than
in the theatre. I did get to wear actual glass

slippers, though [laughs]. It was all very
hectic, especially when it came to Cinderella’s
big transformation ahead of the ball. As I

changed from rags to riches, the camera
was travelling up my body while I was

throwing my clothes on and flinging a
different hairpiece on my head. I knew that if
anything went wrong, I’d only have one shot.

Soon after, I landed the role of Mary
Poppins. When Walt Disney offered me
the part of Mary, he also offered my then-

husband [Tony Walton] the job designing
the costumes and principal sets. I was happy
to have someone I could trust so completely

next to me. Through the wardrobe, Tony gave
me so much of the character. He said to me,

‘I like to think that Mary has a little bit of a
secret life.’ And so, whenever one of her
very formal jackets was open or if her skirt

kicked up, he wanted it to reveal a scarlet
lining or lemon-lime flash of silk or some
other little thing that would turn her on.

Her clothes gave me that extra magical
spark I needed to become Mary Poppins.
Though, to tell you the truth, her wigs

were uncomfortable to wear [laughs].
The only piece of wardrobe I’ve ever asked

for on a film was Mary’s shoes from the


MY


FAVOURITE


THINGS


Star!
(1968)

WITH A NEW MEMOIR ABOUT


HER HOLLYWOOD YEARS,


JULIE ANDREWS REFLECTS ON


A LIFE OF PLAYING DRESS UP

Free download pdf