Julie Andrews raises concerns after rare video appearance

Addressing the audience, Andrews spoke emotionally about the devastating impact of the neurological condition.

But shortly after the video was released, social media users began posting vile comments about the actress’ appearance, with some claiming she looked like she had “the stretched skin of a corpse,” while others suggested she was “held together only by makeup.”

Several trolls also mocked what they claimed was a dramatic facelift, cruelly joking that Andrews’ “her eyebrows seemed to have been ‘lifted off her head'” and saying she looked like she was “on the brink of death.”

Andrews said in the clip: “Good evening everyone, I’m Julie Andrews and I’m pleased to welcome you to the seventh World Parkinson Congress.

‘Your participation is invaluable in our search for a cure for this terrible disease. I know full well how devastating this can be.

“May we all become a beacon of light to keep it on its path. Consider me a common thread. Thank you.’

Friends close to the actress said the online reaction to the clip has infuriated admirers, especially given Andrews’ decades-long contribution to film, television and charity work.

A source said: “Julie has brought generations of joy through her work and people were shocked to see her subjected to such ugly personal attacks for merely appearing in front of the camera at the age of 90.”

Another insider said supporters were particularly angry about online speculation about cosmetic procedures.

They added: “People have made horrible comments about her face and skin, when the reality is she is a 90-year-old woman who has lived an extraordinary life. The trolling crossed a line very quickly.”

Andrews gained worldwide fame after winning the Academy Award for Maria Poppins in 1965 before cementing her place in film history opposite Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music.

Andrews has remained professionally active despite devastating throat surgery in 1997, which permanently damaged her singing voice.

She shares daughter Emma Walton Hamilton with ex-husband Tony Walton and also raised daughters Amy Leigh Edwards and Joanna Lynne Edwards with her late husband Blake Edwards.

She is currently preparing a republication of the children’s book The great American musicalwhich she created together with Emma.

During his 2023 speech, Andrews reflected on how writing helped her cope with the loss of her ability to sing professionally.

She said: ‘I would go crazy if I didn’t have something beautiful to work on.

“I really think since I had major surgery on my throat, I discussed it with Emma and it was so nice.

“It has been very refreshing for me and in a way also reinvigorated, because it was of course a very sad event.”