Many other actors auditioned for Mary and Bert. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke weren't the only ones in the running for their Mary Poppins characters. Other big-name stars were also considered, including Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, and Cary Grant.
And finally, Walt Disney originally considered Angela Lansbury for the role of Mary Poppins before Julie Andrews was cast. Angela Lansbury recently appeared in Mary Poppins Returns.
The film's songwriter, Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman, who co-wrote the songs for the film told us, “Originally Walt wanted to cast Bette Davis for the part of Mary Poppins. Davis was (Mary Poppins books author) Pamela Travers' first choice, too.
Despite the many callbacks to the original Mary Poppins, the sequel still lacked Andrews' presence. Director Rob Marshall recalled to Variety how quickly Andrews turned down the offer to appear in Mary Poppins Returns. Marshall stated Andrews felt the film was "Emily's show" and didn't want to hog the spotlight.
Mary Poppins Dazzling Audition That Surprises Even Simon Cowell! | Britain's Got Talent 2022
What did Julie Andrews think of Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins?
“Mary Poppins” tells the story of a magical nanny who offers music and adventure to two neglected children in hopes of bringing them closer to their father. “I admire her enormously,” the 82-year-old told Closer Weekly Thursday of Blunt.
I've LOVED Mary Poppins since I was little. The magical nanny in the great story brings me so much joy. The music is by two of my favorite composers, the Sherman brothers, and is great fun to listen to and play on the piano.
He made a particularly wise choice back in 2009, when he turned down the role of Green Lantern, which Ryan Reynolds then said yes to. Unfortunately for the Deadpool actor, Green Lantern wasn't exactly a smash hit and the actor himself has even admitted it's not his finest work.
He is a long time friend of Mary Poppins, though their relationship is noted to be strictly platonic (but there are hints to suggest a more romantic interest between them).
Matthew Adam Garber (25 March 1956 – 13 June 1977) was a British child actor most notable as Michael Banks in the 1964 film Mary Poppins. His other screen credits include The Three Lives of Thomasina and The Gnome-Mobile, appearing alongside actress Karen Dotrice in all three films they made for Walt Disney Pictures.
After Marshall was approached by Disney to do a sequel to Mary Poppins, he says casting the iconic part was actually an easy decision. “I could only think of one person who could do all the things that, that I felt we needed Mary Poppins to be, and that was Emily Blunt,” he said.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, lyricist Alan Jay Lerner had his eye on Andrews for My Fair Lady's film adaptation. "I so wanted you to do it, Julie, but they wanted a name," Lerner shared. This was in reference to Hepburn's status in the film industry compared to Andrew's.
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, with a chorus of lamplighters, in Mary Poppins Returns. 4. Jack the Lamplighter and Bert the Chimney Sweep are connected in the great circle of Disney. Bert the Chimney Sweep, played by Dick Van Dyke in the original, does not appear in Mary Poppins Returns — he's out traveling the world.
In a minute-long speech interupted by cheers and applause from the standing audience at the curtain call of the May 8 matinee, Andrews said "I have searched my conscience and my heart and find that I cannot accept this nomination, and prefer instead to stand with the egregiously overlooked --" At that point she was ...
Singer and actress Julie Andrews has long been famed for her perfect pitch and impressive vocal range. From her 1954 Broadway debut as Polly in “The Boy Friend,” she has received rave reviews from critics and lasting devotion from music fans.
During her two-year run in Camelot, Andrews was approached by Walt Disney to star in a film musical of the children's book Mary Poppins. At the time, she was expecting her first child, but Disney was willing to wait until after her child was born to begin production.
Mary Poppins and Mrs. Banks never speak to each other in the film. Julie Andrews provided the whistling for the animatronic Robin during the song "A Spoonful of Sugar". Julie Andrews was determined to nail the lullaby "Stay Awake".
Mary Poppins is a story of redemption. We see how a bad parent, caught by the trappings of his work and the stress of everyday life loses sight of the one thing that matters, his family. It's a great character arc.
But, she did retain her acting career—the movie The Princess Diaries was made after her surgery. She has done a lot of film work since the surgery, she just doesn't sing any longer. She had repeated surgeries to try to restore her voice, but they didn't take. Julie Andrews reportedly had nodes on her vocal cords.
