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A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 16 June 2022
Julie Andrews at AFI honor: 'I've been the most lucky lady'

By MIKE CIDONI LENNOX that eventually resulted in
Associated Press Stefani's 2006 hit "Wind it
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Julie Up." The tune ended up in-
Andrews was honored by corporating elements of a
the American Film Institute key "Sound of Music" song,
last week for a Hollywood "The Lonely Goatherd,"
career that couldn't have which didn't thrill Williams.
started more supercali- "Obviously, I had to fight
fragilisticexpialidocious-ly with Pharrell to get that in
— with an Oscar-winning there," Stefani recalled.
performance in a film that "And it was a big fantasy
would become an instant of mine to be able to have
classic: "Mary Poppins." that incredible sample in
Before the AFI Life Achieve- my song — it made the
ment ceremony, which airs song. And it's a dream
Thursday night at 8 p.m. come true. So, I've always
Eastern on TNT, the 86-year- been way too nervous to
old Andrews recalled land- meet my idol. But tonight's
ing her first major movie the night and I'm ready.
gig. I am beyond honored. I
"Walt Disney gave me can't believe this is hap-
my first big chance and I pening."
learned so much on that Actor Julie Andrews accepts the 48th AFI Life Achievement Award during a gala honoring her, The special includes guests
film. It was a wonder- Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. representing chapters of
ful film to learn the craft Associated Press Andrews' careers through
of moviemaking on be- the decades, includ-
cause there were so many car nominations including stay in cinemas for more tors and people that I've ing longtime friend and
special effects, so much best picture, and won in than four years. And while worked with and just learn- TV partner Carol Burnett,
waiting around, so many five categories, including the critics weren't nearly ing my craft and learning whose 1971 "Julie and Car-
complicated things to do best actress for Andrews. as kind to it as they were what it's all about. I never ol at Lincoln Center" won
because it was animated Just six months after "Pop- to "Poppins," the academy expected it to be like that." them Emmys; actor Hec-
as well," Andrews told The pins" hit big screens, along again showed its love, with Fortunately, the celebrity tor Elizondo, her co-star in
Associated Press." It was a came what would be not 10 nominations and five guests inside the AFI trib- the two "Princess Diaries"
wonderful learning film to only Andrews' biggest hit — wins. There was no statu- ute made it clear that "The films (2001, 2004); Steve
start my career with." but one of the all-time box- ette for Andrews, but win- Sound of Music" and An- Carell, who worked with
A musical adaptation in- office successes: the adap- ning best picture was a drews are among their fa- Andrews on the upcoming
spired by the beloved P.L. tation of Rodgers & Ham- great consolation. vorite things. animated "Minions: The Rise
Travers children's novels merstein's stage smash "The On both the arrivals line Viewers will discover re- of Gru," and Bo Derek who
about a magical nanny, it Sound of Music." Andrews and at the ceremony, An- cording artist Gwen Stefani portrayed the titular per-
first hit theaters in late Au- played the real-life Maria drews spoke of "Sound of says she idolized Andrews fect "10" in the 1979 come-
gust 1964. Quickly, "Mary von Trapp, the nun-turned- Music," but only in general since childhood, after see- dy written and directed by
Poppins" was a commercial schoolteacher-turned- terms. "I've been the most ing "The Sound of Music" at Andrews' late husband and
and critical smash, becom- stepmother and matriarch lucky lady, because hap- the cinema with her par- frequent collaborator Blake
ing the year's highest-gross- of the Trapp Family Singers. pening to be in the right ents. Decades later, Stefani Edwards. He and Andrews
ing film released in North Originally released in early place at the right time and was in a studio writing with were married for 41 years,
America . It earned 13 Os- March 1965, the film would having the wonderful direc- Pharrell Williams, in a session until his death in 2010.q

Dolly Parton gives $1M to infectious disease research, again

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — new therapies to both treat cer program, has already
Dolly Parton is donating $1 COVID-19 and prevent in- saved countless lives," said
million to pediatric infec- fection. Dr. Jeff Balser, president
tious disease research at Parton's new gift will sup- and CEO of Vanderbilt Uni-
Vanderbilt University Medi- port a variety of ongoing re- versity Medical Center and
cal Center in Nashville, the search at the medical cen- dean of the Vanderbilt Uni-
organization announced ter, including understand- versity School of Medicine.
on Wednesday. ing how viruses and bac- "This new gift will bolster
The new gift is one of sev- teria cause disease, under- our defenses against future
eral Parton has made to standing and preventing threats to the safety of this
the center over the years, antibiotic resistance, pre- region and society as a
including a $1 million gift venting and treating infec- whole."
in April 2020 for COVID tions, diagnosing and treat- Parton said she supports
vaccine research. That ing infections in children the work because she loves
gift helped Vanderbilt re- with cancer, and gauging children.
searchers test an array of the impact of childhood "No child should ever have
drugs aimed at reducing infections throughout the to suffer," Parton said in a
Dolly Parton performs at Austin City Limits Live during Blockchain the life-threatening symp- world, according to the news release. "I'm willing
Creative Labs' Dollyverse event during the South by Southwest toms associated with CO- news release. to do my part to try and
Music Festival on March 18, 2022, in Austin, Texas. VID-19, the center said in a "Dolly's previous support to keep as many of them as I
Associated Press news release. Researchers infectious disease research, can as healthy and safe as
are also looking at entirely and also our pediatric can- possible."q