Julie Andrews Makes Rare Appearance to Advocate for a Good Cause

Published: May 28, 2026

By Michaela Gordoni

Julie Andrews recently made a rare public appearance for a good cause.

In a video to attendees, she spoke on behalf of the World Parkinson Congress.

“Good evening, everyone, I’m Julie Andrews, and I’m pleased to welcome you to the seventh World Parkinson’s Congress,” Andrews said in the video. “Your participation is invaluable as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease. I know well how devastating it can be.”

Though she doesn’t suffer from the disease, she strongly advocates for research, Closer reported.

She said, “May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks. Count me in as a red thread. Thank you.”

The World Parkinson Congress’ Read Thread Project connects Parkinson’s patients with a symbolic red thread. If multiple threads — people — come together, they can become strong together.

Andrews hasn’t appeared in many recent film projects but has a book coming out in August. It’s a children’s book she wrote with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, called Shy.

In March, Andrews’ Instagram page announced, “We are delighted to announce that Julie and Emma’s next picture book, Shy, illustrated by Eva Byrne and inspired by Julie’s own ‘singing’ dog, is now available for pre-sale!”

The story follows a shy puppy who gets adopted by a pianist.

Hamilton shared, “So excited to share that Shy is officially available for pre-order! Illustrated by the amazing Eva Byrne, this one was inspired by Mom’s real-life ‘singing’ dog… a valentine to both dogs AND music.”

In 2023, Andrews told Forbes, “I think I would go completely mad if I didn’t have some lovely thing to work on. I think really since I had a bad surgery on my throat, I’ve just turned to this with Emma, and it’s been such a joy. It has been very refreshing for me and reviving in a way, because of course, it was a very sad event.”

In 1997, THE SOUND OF MUSIC star had benign nodules removed from her vocal cords, but the operation left her unable to sing, Biography reported. Despite the setback, she’s grateful for her past and present opportunities.

“I mean, I’ve just been so really lucky in my career that the opportunities, the mentors — somehow being somewhere at the right moment,” Andrews continued. “None of it was really planned — and so, things don’t just land on your desk every second but surprises do, and I just think nobody has been more fortunate than I’ve been.”

While she might not be on screen as much, Andrews certainly continues to make the most of her platform.

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