Julie Andrews was devastated when she lost the use of her singing voice, but the actress recently shared the important lesson it taught her about change.
“Losing my singing voice was, of course, a very difficult time in my life,” the MARY POPPINS actress told Parade. “Singing had been such an enormous part of who I was and how I communicated with the world.”
Andrews’ vocal cords were permanently damaged after a botched surgical procedure to remove nodules in 1997. However, instead of retreating from the world of performing, Andrews learned new ways to share her voice.
“I have always loved to write, and writing became a new kind of voice for me — a different way of sharing stories, ideas and hopefully a little joy,” she explained. “I learned that our gifts don’t disappear; they often evolve. We just might have to be patient and brave enough to discover what new form they want to take.”
The PRINCESS DIARIES star has written several books over the years, and is now preparing for the publication of another — Shy, co-written with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. The mother-daughter duo have authored over 35 books together.
An official synopsis of Shy reads, “Inspired by Julie Andrews’s real-life ‘singing’ dog, this uplifting picture book invites readers to find their voice and share their talents with the world.”
Related: Her ‘Singing’ Dog Inspired Julie Andrews’ Latest Venture
“Working with Emma has been one of the great joys of my life,” Andrews said. “We’ve developed a wonderful shorthand and a deep trust in each other’s instincts. We challenge one another, make each other laugh, and bring different strengths to the table.”
In a 2025 interview with PEOPLE, Hamilton said, “We literally write out loud — tag team back and forth, you know, what the next line should be, and I’m typing as we go.”
“Bless her heart, she does [the typing] for me. Otherwise, we’d be here on the first book still,” Andrews joked.
The pair are passionate about instilling a love of reading in young children, with Hamilton explaining, “It is proven that children who read for pleasure — specifically for pleasure — succeed in life in so many ways beyond those who don’t.”
“Reading creates empathy. It gives us a window on the world, and it creates empathy for other people,” she continued. “It’s so, so, so important to preserve the joy of reading for kids.”
Shy hits bookstores Aug. 11 and is currently available for preorder.
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