Julie Andrews

This was also the year that the stage version of Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria opened on Broadway and was also snubbed big time by the Tony awards. On the day the nominations came out, Julie Andrews was so upset that her fellow cast members did not receive acting nominations, she actually made a speech at the next curtain call. She told the audience that she felt the show and its cast truly deserved Tony nods, so she had decided not to accept her nomination. On the day of the Tony awards telecast, David Merrick took an ad out in the New York Times. It was maybe five by seven inches and all it said was:

Julie, Dinner At 9?
David

All this backstage brouhaha served as great material for that year's host, Nathan Lane. In fact, he made his first entrance dressed as Ms. Andrews in Victor/Victoria drag and made biting comments about both Andrews and Merrick.

From Talkin' Broadway.

Julie Andrews interview with Larry King here:

     KING:  Did you like the film of "My Fair Lady?"

     ANDREWS:  Yes, I did.  I thought -- you know, Audrey was a great friend of mine.

     KING:  What a lady. 

ANDREWS: But such a lovely lady, and we got on very, very well together. She once said to me, she said, Julie, she said, You should have done it, but I didn't have the guts to turn it down.

     KING:  Did they ask you to sing for it?

     ANDREWS:  No.  No they didn't.

     KING:  Someone else sang for it. 

     ANDREWS:  Yes, Marny Nixon (ph). 

     KING:  Great voice, but no one ever sees. 

     ANDREWS:  I know, and she does have the most beautiful voice.