At the World Parkinson’s Congress in Phoenix, Julie Andrews—90—opened the event via video, urging audiences to help find a cure and sharing that she understands how devastating the disease can be.
Julie Andrews is used to the sound of a room filling with her voice. This time, she didn’t step on stage at all.
At 90 years old. the legendary British actress made a rare appearance via video to open the World Parkinson’s Congress. taking place between May 24 and 27 in Phoenix. Ariz. The clip was later posted to YouTube, and it began simply: “Good evening, everyone. I’m Julie Andrews and I’m pleased to welcome you to the seventh World Parkinson’s Congress.”.
She didn’t treat the moment like a formality. “Your participation is invaluable as we seek to find a cure for this terrible disease,” Andrews said. “I know well how devastating it can be.”
Her message carried a personal weight—though it’s not publicly known whether Parkinson’s has touched her through family or close friends. Andrews’ “knows well” line is the only direct admission in the public record, and it lands with unmistakable gravity.
Then she turned the focus outward, asking attendees to keep pushing. “May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks. Count me in as a red thread. Thank you.”
For years, Andrews has been one of the most recognizable voices in film and television. She’s best known for starring in Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965), later appearing in the Princess Diaries franchise, and most recently as the narrator for Netflix’s Bridgerton.
These days. though. she’s slowed down and rarely shows up in public—so even a video cameo reads like a bigger deal than it otherwise would. And it’s not just that she’s famous; it’s that her work habits are far removed from public appearances. Even with her voice work on Bridgerton—where she plays Lady Whistledown—she doesn’t have to attend the show’s set to record.
In 2022, Andrews admitted in an interview shared via COVER, “You know I’ve never met the company in person. Of course, I see them on the show sometimes. But I do all my recording far, far away from them.”
Her decision to speak up for Parkinson’s comes with another familiar celebrity parallel: Michael J. Fox.
Fox, diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease at 29 years old in 1991, is widely associated with the cause. In the years after his diagnosis. the Back to the Future star became one of the most vocal advocates for people affected by Parkinson’s and founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease in 2000. The organization focuses on working toward a cure by funding and backing research.
Fox’s advocacy is also showing up on screen. Recently, he appeared in the third season of Apple TV’s Shrinking, a show that includes a major storyline about Parkinson’s disease, with Harrison Ford playing a therapist living with it.
When Fox spoke about the possibility of returning. he told People he’d love to come back for Season 4 if asked. “Oh, absolutely. Absolutely,” he said. “I love Bill [Lawrence, co-creator and co-write of the show] and I’m so happy it’s a success. And it’s such a great time being with those actors. It’s so important to me to have that to go to. And I would absolutely do that in a heartbeat.”.
For Julie Andrews. the fight is now part of her public message in a different way—through a video opened for a congress marking its seventh year in Phoenix. The words are brief. but the stakes are clear: she’s asking people who can still hear themselves speak to help drive toward a cure. and she’s doing it with the kind of certainty that comes from experience she hasn’t detailed beyond saying she “knows well” how devastating Parkinson’s can be.
Julie Andrews Parkinson’s disease World Parkinson’s Congress Phoenix Bridgerton Lady Whistledown Michael J. Fox The Michael J. Fox Foundation Shrinking Apple TV May 24 27