After Anne Hathaway successfully brought back one of her most beloved characters through The Devil Wears Prada 2, I’ve been curious about what’s been going on with The Princess Diaries 3. Thankfully, Meg Cabot, the author behind The Princess Diaries books, just shared a really exciting update about one of my most-anticipated upcoming Disney movies.

Anne Hathaway officially announced The Princess Diaries 3 was happening back in 2024 (via Instagram), but the actress and producer has also been busier than ever lately, between leading five films on the 2026 movie schedule and announcing that she's pregnant with her third child. Luckily, the book's author has an update about a return to Genovia, as she said:

Shut up! This makes me so happy to hear. Since The Princess Diaries 3 was announced, it sounds like there’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make the movie the best it can be before cameras start rolling. I appreciate the care going into the movie, and what Meg Cabot told THR has me more excited that the film is finally shaping up.

She also said that she’s seen several versions of the sequel since it's been in development, and it’s now gotten to the point where she’s completely satisfied with where the script is now. In her words:

The Princess Diaries 3 is set to be directed by Adele Lim, who previously helmed the 2023 comedy Joy Ride and co-wrote both Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon. In the director’s latest update from last month, she said that it's been taking so long because she and the other producers are committed to “make the story right” since the franchise is “so beloved by so many people.”

Lim also hinted that the movie will be a rare wish-fulfillment movie about a queen, a “woman in her full power.” She also said they are planning to shoot the movie in Europe to “really show the audience Genovia in its full glory,” and fans of the first two movies can expect “a lot of fun returns.”

When it comes to who’s returning, aside from Anne Hathaway, I have a lot of questions and hopes. The main person I want to see back is Julie Andrews, who has previously said she’d be “happy” to do another one, but the 90-year-old hasn’t been doing much acting lately aside from voice work.

Considering everything on Anne Hathaway’s plate right now, I don’t see this movie fully taking off until next year, but Meg Cabot’s comments definitely have me anticipating the movie even more now.

Spoilers for Bridgerton Season 4 are ahead! Read with caution, and stream the series with a Netflix subscription.

Well, Bridgerton certainly ended its run on Netflix’s 2026 schedule with a bang. Between John’s death and Sophie and Benedict navigating their love and the class divide, the characters really were put through major challenges this season. However, arguably, the biggest reveal of the season came when everyone found out that a new person had taken over the Lady Whistledown mantel. So, obviously, I asked the showrunner about this new mystery.

In Season 4 of Bridgerton, Penelope is out as Lady Whistledown, and she struggles with maintaining that mantle. So, by the end, she decides to put down her quill. However, right as the season comes to a close, a new Whistledown comes into the spotlight. Now, we really don’t know who is keeping the ton informed on all the latest gossip, so when I interviewed showrunner Jess Brownell, I had to ask about this new mystery. In response, she threw it back to Penelope and Colin’s season, telling me:

She’s right. Whistledown was not nearly as powerful this season as she has been in the past, and Penelope even addresses that with the queen on the show. Overall, she’s simply done with that chapter of her life, and she came to that conclusion after “wrestling with how to deal with people knowing [she’s] writing about [them],” as Brownell put it.

So, it was time for Penelope to retire as Whistledown, to be blunt. However, it was not time to fully retire the gossip columnist; in fact, it was time to revamp her, as the showrunner told me:

As Brownell noted, this book-to-screen adaptation is really going away from its source material with this plotpoint, because in Julia Quinn’s novels, Penelope is the only Whistledown. So, for every single fan of Bridgerton, there’s a new mystery for us all to look forward to.

With that in mind, I asked the showrunner if this new gossip girl would be a friend or foe to the Bridgerton family. In response, she said:

Well, consider me intrigued! Personally, I cannot wait to watch Seasons 5 and 6 of Bridgerton with this new mystery on my mind. Whether this new voice is supportive or critical of the titular family, I’m sure she’ll have something wild to say that will rile up the ton, and I cannot wait to see it all.

Plus, while we wait, we can theorize about who the Lady Whistledown is, because if there’s one thing this writer loves, it’s a dash of mystery with my romance.

Now that Freakier Friday successfully gave me the 2000s Disney childhood nostalgia I was craving, I especially cannot wait for the release of The Princess Diaries 3, which is officially in the works by the House of Mouse. Anne Hathaway made the announcement back in October 2024 when Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim got on board to direct. Now that we’ve learned a bit more about what to expect from the sequel, the questions are flowing out of me.

Recently, Lim (who also helmed the underrated comedy Joy Ride and co-wrote Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon, put out an open casting call on her Instagram, in search of the new young lead of the Princess Diaries 3. The Disney production is looking for a 15-year-old mixed race actor to play the role of Olivia Robinson, who is described as “smart, sarcastic, armored and observant” along with revealing details that the new lead will be dealing with the loss of her mother by creating a “prickly exterior,” but is ultimately a “natural born leader.” With these details in mind, I want to talk about what’s on my mind next as a longtime fan of these movies.

What Will Be Olivia's Connection To The Original Movies?

At first, I became rather stumped about who Olivia Robinson is. But, then I did some digging and I learned that in the 11th book of the Princess Diaries book series by Meg Cabot, the character was introduced. In the novel titled The Princess Diaries, Volume XI: Royal Wedding, Mia finds out that she has a 12-year-old half sister of that name whom she attempts to bring into the family. That would explain Olivia’s connection to the story, but if you follow book adaptations like I do, you know that novels and movies can sometimes have little in common.

For example, in the same book, Mia is also in the middle of planning a royal wedding with longtime boyfriend Michael Moskowitz, who, as you might recall, was her crush in the first movie, but was nowhere to be found in the sequel. I don’t necessarily expect a straight adaptation where Mia does wed her best friend’s brother Michael, because that relationship wasn’t explored past the first movie.

However, I do think it would make a lot of sense for the Princess Diaries sequel to follow some of the beats of the original with a teen finding out she’s a princess, but this time a teen princess finding out about her roots from a long lost sister rather than grandmother. And, since Olivia has just lost her own mother, finding a family with Mia would be a really sweet way to see the series progress.

Will Mia Be Mentoring Olivia To Become Princess Of Genovia?

Of course I want to know how Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis will fit into the whole thing. Will she be a lead with Olivia or take more of a backseat? Because Hathaway is involved in the movie, I can’t imagine her not being a lead, but who knows. Either way, I would imagine there would be some funny moments in there about Olivia finding out she’s a princess and trying to prepare for all the formalities should she decide to officially become part of the royal family.

My big question is whether Mia will be mentoring Olivia to be the next Queen of Genovia or simply remain a princess without a path to a larger role? We don’t know if Mia has children of her own or what she’s been up to since she decided not to marry but still take the crown. With over two decades between the last Princess Diaries movie, the sky is really the limit regarding her life.

Did Mia Marry Chris Pine's Nicholas From Princess Diaries 2?

After Princess Diaries 2 came out and in the years following, Chris Pine’s Nicholas Devereaux has remained a fan-favorite love interest for Mia, given how much chemistry Hathaway and Pine had in the 2004 movie. Pine has been asked about it a ton over the years, with the actor saying he’s “here for it,” because it was his very first movie. Given all the love for Mia and Nicholas, I hope the writers get the hint and have them as a couple all these years later, but hey maybe she’s met someone else, rekindled things with Michael or you know, has had better things to do with her time than be a married woman and queen at the same time.

I could also see the third movie bringing Pine into the fold, but having them rekindle after a prior breakup years ago. Now, that would make my heart flutter, too. Pine’s part in the second movie is very memorable, and it feels like fans are eager for this to happen, so I’m hoping the writers are listening.

Will Julie Andrews Be Involved?

That brings me to one more burning question that I think is perhaps the biggest curiosity I have about the next movie. Will Julie Andrews reprise her role? When she talked about it in early 2024, she said she’d been asked “so many times” but “sometimes it’s best to leave a good thing alone” before saying she’d be “very happy” if they did another one but didn’t “expect” to.

The iconic actress is currently 89 years old (she'll be 90 in October 2025), and hasn’t necessarily retired. She’s been doing a lot of voice work, such as for Bridgerton and the Despicable Me movies. Given all the love for her character, I would imagine she’d return, but I am curious to what level she could be in the movie. I really hope that she isn’t just written out or that her character doesn't die in the movie. As a big fan, I’d be happy with a couple of scenes between Hathaway and Andrews, but we’ll have to see. I know I’ll be pretty disappointed if she doesn’t appear at all, but I also completely respect Andrews if she feels like her on-screen acting days are behind her.

There’s no release date for Princess Diaries 3 right now as they are in the casting process, but I can’t wait to see who they pick and see pictures once production gets underway.

It’s been over two decades since Reese Witherspoon and the cast of Legally Blonde pierced the pop culture zeitgeist. But that doesn’t mean the film’s lead doesn’t have a few mementos to remind her of her time playing Elle Woods in that 2001 film. During a talk show appearance, Witherspoon actually revealed just how many Jimmy Choos she negotiated to keep from the film. Jennifer Aniston and Julie Andrews were present when the information was divulged, and their faces were just priceless!

Reese Witherspoon has proven time and time again that Elle Woods has not left her heart. We’ve seen her rock the iconic bedazzled bikini when announcing Legally Blonde 3 and go pink with a fall coat that would make the Harvard Law student proud. Turns out that The Morning Show actress once revealed on The Graham Norton Show that she got to keep Elle Woods' entire wardrobe. If you’re curious how many Jimmy Choos belonging to her iconic character that she owns, here’s the shocking answer (as revealed via an Instagram video):

To say that’s a lot of shoes would be an understatement! Now, I’m curious how big that walk-in closet is. While the reveal of that exact number is surprising, it's the the looks on Jennifer Aniston and Julie Andrews’ faces that really make this moment so great. I can’t say I blame them, considering that number of footwear can fit an entire boutique. See their expressions (which I can't stop replaying) down below:

It's particularly humorous to see Dame Julie Andrews lose composure for a brief second. The actress rarely ever seems rattled in public, so it's definitely refreshing to see that here. And, of course, Jennifer Aniston's expression is perfect as well.

There's a lot to appreciate about Elle Woods and, while her brains are certainly among those attributes, her style is also A+. The really snazzy dresser of a character has an outfit for every occasion, with matching accessories and hairstyles to go with it. Those fits included pink power suits, chic berets, and even a bunny costume that would make Regina George jealous. With so many fashion ensembles, you can understand why Reese Witherspoon needed to be the proud owner of those costumes.

Since Legally Blonde has become a cultural touchstone, many fans have since been inspired to dress up like Elle Woods, too. The early 2000s hit produces hot Halloween costume ideas, as Elle-inspired rectangular sunglasses, purses, coats and skirts are still all the rage.

Even a number of celebrities appreciate Elle Woods. Florence Pugh went all pink on LB's 20th anniversary. Also, Kerry Washington recreated the infamous pool scene while wearing a blue bedazzled bikini. Even Mindy Kaling, who's co-writing the third entry in the legal comedy franchise, followed suit (pardon the pun) with her own pool post.

Considering that Reese Witherspoon owns 77 of her character’s shoes, I’d say that’s enough footwear to last the Sweet Home Alabama star for a lifetime. Then again, with the actress’s love of fashion, I wouldn’t be surprised if she continued to fill her closet with other costumes from her movies. I'm sure Jennifer Aniston and Julie Andrews would be among those surprised if she did.

If you’d like to see Elle Woods and her many shoes make an appearance, Legally Blonde is streamable with a Prime Video subscription. That same membership will eventually also allow you access to the upcoming Elle Woods prequel series.

The Academy Award for Best Actress has been handed out every year since 1929 — it was initially awarded to star Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 79 actresses. Winning that coveted statuette is unsurprisingly a dream come true for many a big-screen performer, but the award does come with added attention on the actress's next projects. Will whatever they work on next be as critically acclaimed or commercially successful? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actresses did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Emma Stone

The whole La La Land Oscars brouhaha at the 2018 ceremony was quite memorable, but clearly so was star Emma Stone's performance as aspiring actress Mia Dolen opposite Ryan Gosling's jazz pianist Seb Wilder. One of Stone's best movies, the role earned the star her first Best Actress win (she would strike gold yet again with her 2024 victory for Poor Things). Her next performance also stirred up awards buzz: she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for portraying tennis legend Billie Jean King in the sports drama Battle of the Sexes.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's history with the Academy Awards is long and legendary: over her decades-spanning career, she's been nominated for a record 21 Oscar nominations, winning thrice. After taking home the Supporting Actress statuette for Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep got her first big Best Actress win for one of her most iconic performances: as the titular character of the devastating 1982 drama Sophie's Choice. Her next role was just as haunting: as Karen Silkwood in the 1983 thriller Silkwood, for which she earned yet another Best Actress nod.

Michelle Yeoh

Along with kicking major butt, Michelle Yeoh made history with her starring role as Evelyn Quan Wang in the 2022 action-dramedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, for she became the first Asian performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Following that notable win in 2023, the Wicked star lent her voice to the sci-fi flick Transformers: Rise of the Beasts as Airazor, a Maximal warrior who transforms into a peregrine falcon. That title earned largely mixed reviews, and it currently sports a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jessica Chastain

After losing out on the Oscar for Zero Dark Thirty, Jessica Chastain took the Best Actress trophy home for her transformative role as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in the 2022 bio-drama The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Her next project was far less successful with awards bodies — the action-spy thriller The 355 was both a critical and commercial bomb, reportedly losing Universal an estimated $93 million. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Despite the strong cast, this is the film equivalent of a corn-syrup-based fizzy drink being passed off as chic in taller, slimmer cans."

Frances McDormand

Three-time Best Actress winner Frances McDormand took home her first Oscar in 1997 for her instantly iconic performance as Minnesota police chief Marge Gunderson in the classic Coen Brothers dark comedy Fargo. Later that year, the acclaimed performer joined a heavyweight lineup of actresses — including Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle — in the World War II drama Paradise Road. However, despite that acting clout, the film received mixed reviews, with its approval rating at a lowly 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Brie Larson

Child actor turned Marvel superhero Brie Larson took her career to a whole new level with her performance as kidnapping victim Joy "Ma" Newsome in the 2015 survival drama Room, for which she swept the subsequent awards season and took home the Best Actress Oscar. In 2016, the Lessons in Chemistry lead starred in another survival drama, this time the Ben Wheatley-directed action-comedy Free Fire. CinemaBlend's own Gregory Wakeman wrote of the film: "Free Fire has enough gun blasts and violence to entertain, but ultimately lacks the requisite surprises or savvy to be anything more than a frivolous diversion."

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman's Best Actress win for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the black-comedy period piece The Favourite was a deserved yet delightfully shocking moment at the 2019 Oscars. Her next role was equally strange, but less acclaimed: she appeared alongside Kaitlyn Dever, Jim Gaffigan and Walton Goggins as snake-handling fundamentalists in the horror mystery Them That Follow. Though it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, it earned mixed reviews from critics.

Cate Blanchett

One of the most versatile actors in the industry — she's played Queen Elizabeth I and Bob Dylan, for crying out loud! — eight-time Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett secured her first Best Actress win in 2014 playing a neurotic former socialite in the Woody Allen-directed dramedy Blue Jasmine. And speaking of versatility, the Aussie star followed that awards win with a voice role in the animated fantasy sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2, which got its own Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature.

Sandra Bullock

Rom-com queen Sandra Bullock received her first Best Actress nomination and win in 2010 for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the biographical football drama The Blind Side. Her next film credit was the Stephen Daldry-directed 2011 drama Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which did manage to score a Best Picture nod but not without controversy. Chris Krapek of The Huffington Post called the film "not only the worst reviewed Best Picture nominee of the last 10 years, [but] easily the worst film of 2011."

Katharine Hepburn

Hollywood icon Katherine Hepburn earned four Academy Awards for Best Actress out of 12 nominations across her illustrious film career—a record for any performer. The leading lady's first Oscar win was in 1934 for the Pre-Code drama Morning Glory (the rest would come later in the star's life), which she followed up with John Cromwell's Spitfire. Some viewers found Hepburn miscast as "hillbilly" faith healer Trigger Hicks — the film has a 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman didn't win the Best Actress Oscar for one of her most beloved performances, as cabaret star Satine in Moulin Rouge! but she instead secured the big win only a year later for playing English writer Virginia Woolf in The Hours. The Babygirl star's first post-award project was the 2003 avant-garde thriller Dogville, written and directed by Lars von Trier. Though the film prompted quite a polarizing response from critics at the time of release, it did end up on several best-of-the-decade roundups, including The Guardian and Paste.

Jennifer Lawrence

If they didn't already love her from her work in the David O. Russell dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, the world certainly fell for Jennifer Lawrence when she charmingly tripped up the stairs to accept her Best Actress statuette in 2013. That fall, she would reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in the second Mockingjay movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is widely considered the best installment of The Hunger Games film series (it's got a solid 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating) and earned Lawrence a Critics' Choice nod.

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren is a regal onscreen presence no matter what the role, but her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 docudrama The Queen welcomed her among the Hollywood royalty known as Oscar winners. However, despite the film title, she didn't strike gold with her next project: the Nicolas Cage-led adventure flick National Treasure: Book of Secrets, alongside Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Per Rotten Tomatoes, critic consensus said of the 35% "Rotten" movie: "A talented cast goes to waste in the improbable National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

Jodie Foster

One of Hollywood's most acclaimed child stars — she was only 12 years old when she starred opposite Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver, earning her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress — Jodie Foster successfully segued into more adult fare with the 1988 legal drama The Accused. As an assault survivor Sarah Tobias, Foster received a Best Actress win—it wouldn't be her last, with the star winning the same award for her next film release, one of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Silence of the Lambs.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry made Oscar history when she became the first African-American woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance as a struggling widow in 2001's Monster's Ball. After becoming an Oscar winner, Berry became a Bond Girl — bikini-sporting NSA agent Jinx, to be exact — in the 2002 spy flick Die Another Day, opposite Pierce Brosnan as 007. However, the latter is widely considered to be the worst entry in James Bond's canon.

Julie Andrews

A legendary performer across both screen and stage, Julie Andrews won her Best Actress Oscar in 1964 for a truly iconic role: as the titular nanny extraordinaire in Mary Poppins. And she didn't stop there — the very next year, she would get yet another Academy Award nomination for an equally beloved character, as The Sound of Music's Maria, the sweet, singing governess to the Von Trapp family. Talk about an epic filmography!

Kathy Bates

One of the best Kathy Bates performances, as obsessive superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 Stephen King thriller Misery, earned the talented actress her first Academy Award nomination and win. (She would have three more Oscar nods across her decades-spanning career.) Bates' next film role was in the South African drama The Road to Mecca, based on the Athol Fugard play of the same name — the performer was praised for both her acting and her accent work.

Hilary Swank

Before there were transgender characters like Emilia Pérez (Emilia Pérez), Sin-Dee Rella (Tangerine), or Raymond Rayon (Dallas Buyers Club), there was Brandon Teena, the real-life trans man at the center of the 1999 drama Boys Don't Cry. Hilary Swank's harrowing, career-making performance as Teena earned the star her first Best Actress award, with critics like Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman calling the actress a "revelation" in the film. Reactions to her next movie, the 2000 supernatural thriller The Gift, were far more mixed. A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by [director Sam] Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."

Renée Zellweger

After prior Best Actress nominations for two of her best movies, Bridget Jones' Diary and Chicago — plus a Best Supporting Actress win for Cold Mountain — Renée Zellweger finally got her big Best Actress win for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's Judy. After taking a multi-year break from acting, Zellweger's much-anticipated next film credit will be a return to a beloved role, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was so convincing as a troubled ballerina in the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan that she thought the film was a docudrama while making it. So, it's no surprise, then, that her tour-de-force performance garnered the star an Academy Award for Best Actress. Ever one to keep you guessing genre-wise, Portman's next role was in the 2011 stoner fantasy-comedy Your Highness, which sadly was a box office bomb and received largely negative reviews from critics.

Cher

The "Goddess of Pop" Cher officially added the title of "Oscar winner" to her already legendary showbiz career with her 1988 Best Actress triumph for one of her best movies, the acclaimed rom-com Moonstruck. Her next movie role came two years later as Rachel Flax, the saucy single mom to young Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci in the 1990 dramedy Mermaids. The heartfelt title has been dubbed an "underappreciated 1990s coming-of-age gem" by The Guardian, which singled out Cher's performance as "nothing short of magical."

Kate Winslet

One of the greatest performers of her generation, it took Kate Winslet a whopping six Oscar nominations before she finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actress, for playing a former Nazi camp guard in 2008's The Reader. Her next onscreen role was in the 2011 black comedy Carnage, by disgraced director Roman Polanski. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, including Winslet's — she earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Motional Picture Musical or Comedy.

Julia Roberts

After a decade that solidified her as rom-com royalty, Julia Roberts proved her dramatic bonafides by winning the Best Actress Oscar for playing the title role in the 2000 legal drama Erin Brockovich, one of her best movies. America's Sweetheart returned to her romantic comedy roots with her next film, fittingly entitled America's Sweethearts, though critics weren't too sweet on the movie. It only holds a 33% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus reading: "Despite its famous cast, the movie lacks sympathetic characters and is only funny in spurts."

Susan Sarandon

After Oscar nominations for Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo's Oil and The Client, Susan Sarandon was finally named Best Actress by the Academy for playing Sister Helen Prejean in 1995's Dead Man Walking. Her next film was the decidedly lighter kids' flick James and the Giant Peach, in which Sarandon voiced the character of Miss Spider. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Randy Newman's score earning an Oscar nod; however, the film was a box office failure, grossing $300,000 less than its budget.

Marion Cotillard

French movie star Marion Cotillard became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a French-language performance for her transformative turn as legendary singer Édith Piaf in the 2007 music biopic La Vie en Rose. Her next film credit was another biographical drama — this time, the Michael Mann-directed gangster film Public Enemies, alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Though many critics praised the leading performances, reviews were mixed, with the title holding a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin's acting debut in 1986's Children of a Lesser God saw the actress making Oscar history not once but twice: she became the first deaf performer to ever win an Academy Award, as well as the youngest winner in the Best Actress category. The CODA star followed up that momentous victory with the 1987 Western Walker, starring Ed Harris, Richard Masur and Peter Boyle. The historical drama was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival but received very polarized reviews and was a failure at the box office.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Fun fact: Gwyneth Paltrow wasn't initially supposed to star as Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 Bard-inspired romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love — Julia Roberts was. But Gwyn is no doubt grateful the latter ultimately left the production, as the role won her a Best Actress Oscar. Her next project was equally acclaimed: 1999's Anthony Minghella-helmed thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley scored five Academy Award nominations.

Audrey Hepburn

Screen legend Audrey Hepburn won her first Oscar in 1953 for her debut starring role, as Princess Ann in the classic black-and-white comedy Roman Holiday. The British beauty would later be nominated four more times for films like her first post-award project, the 1954 Billy Wilder-directed dramedy Sabrina, as well as The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Wait Until Dark.

Sally Field

The Academy likes her, they really like her — yes, Sally Field has won not one but two Best Actress statuettes, the first being for her inspiring performance in 1979's Norma Rae and the second five years later for another one of her best films, Places in the Heart. Following her first win, Field reprised her role as Carrie, or "Frog," in 1980's Smoky and the Bandit II opposite her real-life love Burt Reynolds. Though the sequel was a box office success, prompting a third film, it received almost entirely negative reviews from critics.

Charlize Theron

One of the best Charlize Theron roles was also the star's most remarkably unrecognizable: the South African-born actress earned a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of real-life prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 crime drama Monster. Her next big-screen performance was the 2004 war drama Head in the Clouds, which saw Theron acting opposite her then-romantic partner Stuart Townsend. The film was a critical and box office failure; in the San Francisco Chronicle, Walter Addiego wrote: "If not for the presence of Charlize Theron, it's hard to imagine this film would have attracted anywhere near the kind of attention it's gotten."

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon proved she was more than just a musical sidekick with her Oscar-winning performance as June Carter Cash in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. The Legally Blonde star was next seen in the harrowing 2007 political thriller Rendition opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Peter Sarsgaard. However, "the impressive cast cannot rescue Rendition, which explores complex issues in woefully simplified terms," reads the critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, with the film at a paltry 47% approval rating.

Elizabeth Taylor

Through much of the mid-20th century, celluloid icon Elizabeth Taylor was one of MGM's most bankable stars. In fact, her final film for the studio — 1960's Butterfield 8, playing glamorous call girl Gloria Wandrous — earned the movie star her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Her next performance was just as iconic: as the titular Egyptian queen in the 1963 historical epic Cleopatra, which received nine Oscar nominations and four wins, though, alas, none for Taylor specifically.

Sometimes an actor just explodes on the scene with their first movie. Many of the people on this list have even been nominated and won awards for their first roles. Most, of course, have gone on to have long, successful careers, so let's look back at these actors who absolutely crushed it in their first roles. 

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years A Slave

It didn't take long for Kenyan native Lupita Nyong'o to make a huge splash in Hollywood. After a little time working on movie sets behind the camera, she studied acting at Yale and landed her seminal role in 12 Years A Slave almost immediately after graduating. The performance speaks for itself, and Nyong'o deservingly took home an Oscar for it. Amazingly, three years later, she won a Tony in her Broadway debut in Eclipsed.

Sean Penn - Taps

Sean Penn has had a long, storied career and while many may assume his breakout role came as the stoner Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but a year before cracking up audiences in that cult classic, he played a very different role as a would-be soldier at a military academy in Taps. Notably, Tom Cruise also made his breakthrough role in the movie alongside Penn. 

Reese Witherspoon - The Man In The Moon

Over the last 4 decades or so, Reese Witherspoon has not only become one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood, but a major force behind the scenes as a producer. It all started for the Nashville native with her debut in The Man In The Moon in 1991. It's always impressive when a newcomer can lead a personal film like this, and Witherspoon showed early how good she is by doing so. 

Natalie Portman - Leon: The Professional

There are a few actors in Hollywood who broke big when they were very young. From the moment you see Natalie Portman on screen in her first role as Mathilda in Leon: The Professional, you know she's going to be big. Yeah, it's an uncomfortable movie to watch for obvious reasons - Portman was just 13 - but seeing how brave she was to take on a complicated role like that, it was clear she was destined for greatness. 

Edward Norton - Primal Fear

Has there ever been a more terrifying and convincing debut performance from an actor than Edward Norton in Primal Fear? It's one of the all-time great grifter films and Norton's performance is the major reason why. He's scary, both in character and in talent. 

Florence Pugh - The Falling

It's hard to believe Florence Pugh made her debut in The Falling in 2014. It seems like the actress has been around forever as she keeps picking amazing roles and crushing the performances, just like her first. 

Kevin Bacon - National Lampoon's Animal House

Every actor in Hollywood is connected to Kevin Bacon, as the game claims, and that's because for more than five decades he's been giving amazing performance and amazing performance. His first movie, the classic comedy National Lampoon's Animal House is certainly no exception as he plays a snobby, snarky, frat boy to perfection. There is nothing he can't do.  

Halle Berry - Jungle Fever

In 2001 Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Best Picture Oscar for Monster's Ball. That was just 10 short years after she made he incredible debut in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. The former beauty pageant contestant has been one of the most reliably great stars in the years since, starring in some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood including the X-Men, James Bond, John Wick, and much more. 

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

After finishing seventh in the third season of American Idol, we all knew Jennifer Hudson could sing. When she was cast as Aretha Frankin-like Effie White in Dreamgirls, it didn't surprise anyone. At least, we weren't surprised until we all saw just how her powerful voice was matched by her powerful acting. She took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her big-screen debut. 

Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs.

By the time Eddie Murphy starred in 48 Hrs. alongside Nick Nolte in 1982, he was already a bonafide TV star from his time on SNL. Known for his great characters and hilarious lines on SNL, it wasn't clear if he could carry a movie. 48 Hrs. settled that, he definitely could and he's been leading them ever since. 

Marlee Matlin - Children Of A Lesser God

Marlee Matlin has been breaking down barriers since the very beginning of her career. Deaf from the time she was a small child, there must have been many people who told her she could pursue her dreams. Instead, she became not only the deaf actor to win an Oscar in his debut movie, Children Of A Lesser God, but the youngest woman to take home the statue as well. 

Anne Hathaway - The Princess Diaries

From the very beginning, Anne Hathaway has been wowing audiences. Her first movie is still one of her most beloved, The Princess Diaries. She even got to star alongside true film royalty. Julie Andrews. She didn't seem intimidated then, and she never has been since. 

Tim Curry - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tim Curry's first movie has become the dictionary definition of a cult classic. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a flop when it was released, but in the decades since, it's become one of the most popular movies of all time with a fanbase that is not just dedicated, but rabid in its love for the movie and for Curry's character, Frank-N-Furter.

Emma Stone - Superbad

Superbad is one of those comedies that very really gets old, especially if you grew up with it as a staple of your DVD rotation. Emma Stone's character Jules is not the kind of character you'd expect to be as funny as she is, which makes Stone pretty much perfect for the role, as she is as effortlessly funny as she is effortlessly beautiful. She's gone on to tackle some characters with incredible depth, but she set the foundation in Superbad. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

There is really nothing Oprah Winfrey can't accomplish. She was already on her way to becoming the biggest daytime talk show in history by the time she landed a role in Steven Speilberg's classic The Color Purple. It turns out Winfrey can do a whole more than coax the most out of guests on her talk show, she can act really act, earning an Oscar nomination in her film debut. 

Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

It's really hard to believe that Julie Andrews didn't make her true film debut until she was nearly 30 years old, when she appeared as the legendary Mary Poppins in the film of the same name. Of course, Andrews was well-established as a stage actor at that point, but still, it was the golden age of Hollywood, you'd think she would have been cast in something well before Mary Poppins. At least we can be grateful she was cast here. 

Alan Rickman - Die Hard

Hans Gruber in Die Hard is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains of the 1980s. Knowing that it was the film debut of the incredible Alan Rickman makes it all that more impressive. He plays the role with such confidence and panache, that it's almost too much to believe it was his first movie role, but it was. 

Anna Paquin - The Piano

Anna Paquin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Piano. She was just 11 years old! Anyone who does that deserves a spot on any list like that. She's the second youngest ever to win an Oscar and in the years since she's continued to wow us with her work. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis basically invented the modern scream queen in horror movies in her debut in Halloween. It's a genre she's only returned to a few times in her long, impressive career, but we're sure glad it's where she got her start. 

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

It's a little remarkable how many young girls pop up on a list like this. One of the most recent examples of a teenager just crushing her film debut is Hailee Steinfeld. Not only did she have the pressure of playing a beloved literary character like Mattie Ross in True Grit, but she also had to act alongside legends like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. She doesn't just hold her own, either, she steals the movie. She rightly received an Oscar nomination for her work.  

Glenn Close - The World According To Garp

Glenn Close burst on the scene with award-winning performances on Broadway before transitioning to film with her debut on the silver screen in The World According To Garp where she picked up where she left off on the stage, getting nominated for an Oscar. She would earn Oscar nominations (but sadly no wins) for her next two movies as well, The Big Chill and The Natural. 

Robert Duvall - To Kill A Mockingbird

Robert Duvall's career goes all the way back to the 1950s, when he first appeared as Boo Radley in one of the most beloved movies about the American South, To Kill A Mockingbird. He only has a small role, as the character with an outsized effect on the plot who is only seen at the end, but he embodies the character so many kids learn to love when they first read the book in high school. 

John Malkovich - Places In The Heart

There is no question that John Malkovich is one of the finest actors of his generation. He's completely fearless in all the roles he plays and that's true going all the way back to his first role as a blind World War I vet in the Depression-era film Places in the Heart alongside Sally Field, Danny Glover, and Ed Harris. 

Lily Tomlin - Nashville

Though she was already a comedic legend on TV, having appeared on Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, Lily Tomlin showed what range she really had as a gospel singer and mother to two in Nashville. She's continued to show those skills over and over in the decades since. 

Gal Gadot - Fast & Furious

Gal Gadot is best known as Wonder Woman these days, but she made her debut in another giant Hollywood franchise when she appeared in Fast & Furious, the fourth installment of the Fast And Furious series. The ex-Israeli army veteran has impressed fans of the movies in each of her 3 appearances by performing most of her own stunts.  

Kerry Washington - Our Song

Our Song is an underrated movie that is everything great about independent filmmaking. It's an intensely personal story about a unique moment in time for the characters and the audience. Kerry Washington simply blows audiences out of the water with her powerful and heartfelt performance. It's incredible how good she was in her first movie. 

Dustin Hoffman - The Graduate

So, technically Dustin Hoffman had already had a small role in a film before The Graduate (a movie called The Tiger Makes Out). For all intents and purposes, he introduced himself to the world with an Oscar-nominated performance in one of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history, The Graduate. It's a movie people still love talking about and lauding, even nearly 60 years later. 

John Cazale - The Godfather

The incredible and tragic story of actor John Cazale is well-known among movie buffs. Cazale only starred in five movies before he died of cancer at just age 42. All five of those movies won the Oscar for Best Picture The first, his first, was, of course, The Godfather. Though his character, Fredo, would play a larger role in the sequel, he still established himself as one of the greatest of his generation before we all lost him too soon.  

Gabrielle Union - She's All That

Actor Gabrielle Union has definitely made her mark not only on Hollywood but on the world with her stellar performances and her charity work outside of film. HE burst onto the scene in She's All That and she's never slowed down since. 

James Dean - East Of Eden

The great James Dean is one of the biggest "what ifs" in Hollywood history. Though he did have some uncredited roles in a few movies, the young actor starred in just three movies, including his first East Of Eden. For that role, he would receive an Oscar nomination, though he wouldn't live to see it, as he was killed in a car crash before being nominated. A feat that would be repeated the next year with Giant.

Jason Schwartzman - Rushmore

Though Jason Schwartzman comes from a prominent Hollywood family, that didn't guarantee success. Instead, he went out in his first movie role, in Rushmore, and absolutely embodied his character of Max. It's every bit as impressive as anything his mom Talia Shire has done, and that is no small feat. 

Keisha Castle-Hughes - The Whale Rider

When Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar at just 12 years old for The Whale Rider, you knew she was one to watch for. She was, at the time, the second-youngest person nominated for an Oscar and not only was the nomination well-deserved, but she's continued to justify the voters' confidence in her with her roles over the last couple of decades. 

The days of sleepovers and wearing pink pajamas while projecting a DVD of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement feel like they were just yesterday. Unfortunately, they definitely weren't, as you could probably tell by the reference to DVDs. Anne Hathaway also reminded us all of this when she shouted out The Princess Diaries sequel on social media to celebrate its 20th anniversary. As someone who was raised on the best 2000s films and watched The Princess Diaries movies during my formative years, I’ve never felt older.

After celebrating the anniversary of the first Princess Diaries in 2021, Hathaway commemorated the sequel in a new Instagram post, writing:

The Interstellar star shared photos of some familiar faces that made The Princess Diaries 2 so special. She featured pictures with Chris Pine and Callum Blue, who played two of her love interests in the sequel film. The Oscar winner also shared a photo with director Garry Marshall and an adorable snap with Julie Andrews. One of the highlights, however, was a snippet from the song “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson, which was written for the film, and has since become an iconic song of the 2000s.

The Princess Diaries movies were perfect for my generation of young girls. They featured a charming, relatable performance by Hathaway, whose character Mia is just trying to get through the teen drama of high school when she is told by her grandmother (played by Andrews) that she’s actually royalty. She is also in line for the throne in the fictional European country of Genovia. Young Mia is in over her head, and she goes to princess lessons with her grandmother. They develop a bond, and Mia teaches the Queen how to be young again.

The sequel focuses less on high school drama, and more on the pressure on Mia to get married so she can inherit the throne. It’s fun to watch her date a number of goofy royal men, and eventually get swept off her feet by the supposed villain of the story played by Pine. However, the core story is more about independent womanhood. Mia decides not to marry anyone and rule as a single woman, just as her grandmother did. In the age of trad-wives on TikTok and dating app pressure taking over, seeing such a message of independence feels rare, and makes me nostalgic for this era of media directed at young girls.

This post also reminded me how many mainstream movies are no longer made for that demographic. The success of Anyone But You signaled that rom-coms are making a comeback, but that is an R-rated comedy that's definitely not appropriate for children. Barbie felt like a model for positive messaging geared at girls, but even that movie is PG-13.

Where are the sleepover movies? Where are the Cheetah Girls? The Parent Trap? Freaky Friday? The Princess Diaries movies now feel like a relic of a bygone era of girl power, and I think it’s about time we bring them back. Maybe if The Princess Diaries 3 finally heads to the big screen, the genre will have a renaissance.

You can revisit Anne Hathaway in both Princess Diaries movies with a Disney+ subscription. For more information on other great films available on the streamer, make sure to check out our feature on the best movies on Disney+ right now.

While I was born more than a decade after The Sound of Music hit theaters in 1965, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer was one of my favorites as a child. Rather, I should say the first half was. The political plotline involving the Third Reich’s annexation of Austria flew right over my young head like the absurd little bird the von Trapp children sing about. So I decided to rewatch the classic as an adult to enjoy both the sweet singing family and the more serious subject matter. Here are 32 thoughts I had while doing so. 

Maria's Entrance Is Nothing Short Of Epic 

That gorgeous helicopter footage of the Alps never fails to impress during The Sound of Music’s opening credits. Maria is merely an ant against the vast backdrop as she appears on the hill, with the camera zooming all the way in before she sings the titular song. Iconic! Apparently that scene was super hard to film, but totally worth it, in my opinion. 

How Far Was The Abbey From Maria’s Mountain? 

I didn’t see any abbeys in those aerial views of Maria’s mountain, so when the bells started ringing, just how far did Maria have to run to get back? I hope Julie Andrews didn’t have to do too many takes. 

Some Of The Nuns’ Complaints Seem Awfully Petty 

I’m not arguing that there were some legitimate concerns regarding Maria becoming a nun, but some of those sisters were unnecessarily harsh. “She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee.” Really, that makes her an actual demon?  

Is The Sound Of Music The Best Sing-Along Movie Ever? 

From beginning to end, I joined in on all of the tunes, which were all gorgeously performed by the cast. If there’s a better sing-along movie, I certainly can’t think of it after that experience. 

Maria Pretending She’s At A Ball Is So Relatable 

Maria’s used to a life of minimalism, so of course the first thing she does after being shown to the ballroom of Georg von Trapp’s large estate is pretend she’s at a lavish affair, bowing fancily to other imaginary partygoers.  

Julie Andrews And Christopher Plummer’s Chemistry Is Electric In Their First Exchange 

Georg is steely but clever. Maria is sassy but well-meaning. I’m obsessed with every bit of this first meeting, from her dead-panning that “the poor didn’t want this one” when asked about her dress to blowing her whistle at him to say she didn’t know his signal. 

Did Captain Von Trapp Really Have A Whistle Call For Each Of His Children? 

Maria was right when she said the captain using a whistle to call her and the children was “humiliating.” This movie is, of course, based on a real-life family, so was the whistle a fictionalized detail or did Georg really do this? I think I need to read Maria von Trapp’s memoir. 

Rolfe Is So Much Trouble 

I may be biased against Rolfe since I know how the movie ends, but only a 17-year-old boy could think he’s so much wiser about the ways of the world than 16-year-old Liesl, or anyone else for that matter.  

Liesl And Rolfe’s Gazebo Dance Is No Joke 

I never fully appreciated the choreography of Liesl and Rolfe’s dance in the gazebo during the rainstorm, twirling together and stepping up and down on the benches. Even the hopping from bench to bench as they ran around the circle looked so graceful. 

The Curtain Clothes Are Still Adorable 

I was always strangely jealous of the green, patterned play clothes Maria made for the von Trapp children from the old curtains in her bedroom. No two outfits were the same, either. This nun-turned-governess really has so many skills. (Those outfits ended up being worth a small fortune, and I can’t say I’m surprised.) 

The Do-Re-Mi Song Really Oversimplifies Learning To Sing 

I can sing all of those words in that order, but no pneumonic device in this world is good enough to make the right note come out of my mouth. 

Standing Ovation For The Do-Re-Mi Choreography 

When you think of The Sound of Music, you think of “Do-Re-Mi.” It’s iconic, and the choreography should be part of the reason why. Just look at what these eight actors are being asked to do. They are doing choreography while riding bikes, pedaling faster or slower to change formation (I’m not surprised the young Gretl actress rode on the back of Julie Andrews’ bike). Then, at the end, the staircase portion includes the kids jumping backward to the steps below on cue without looking, before running up and down and ultimately lining up at the top of the stairs. 

Georg Von Trapp And The Baroness Are Kind Of Cute Together

After seeing how strict the captain was with Maria and the children, I love how much he loosened up around his pal Max and especially the Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. They are actually kind of cute together, Georg looking all smitten. I love that dichotomy from Christopher Plummer.

What’s Up With Max And The Baroness? 

I never picked up on it before, but Max and Elsa seemed to be thick as thieves when Georg wasn’t around, scheming to get Georg and Elsa engaged and joking about her fortune. I love the fun and flirty repartee, but am I missing something more? 

When Von Trapp Calls Maria ‘Captain’ 

Captain von Trapp got so flustered during his heated argument with Maria that when she said, “I am not finished yet, Captain,” he replied, “Oh yes you are, Captain … fraulein.” The looks they exchanged afterward were priceless, as she looked shocked and he was so embarrassed.

Von Trapp’s Face When He Hears His Children Singing Is Sob-Worthy 

All the fury from Capt. Von Trapp's argument with Maria was instantly dissolved when he heard his children’s angelic voices singing to Max and the Baroness. I swear in that moment his grief for his wife was palpable, as was the regret of how he he'd treated his kids. That moment instantly changed him forever.  

I’m Convinced Maria Is A Robot 

There is nothing this woman can’t do. She instantly won over children who had run off a billion nannies before her, made all of their clothes from scratch, taught them to sing and then turned them into a whole musical act, and then got their father to completely change his parenting style. I’m supposed to buy all that, AND believe she put together that marionette show? She’s definitely not a human woman. 

The Baroness Is So Deliciously Evil 

I love how you can see the Baroness watching all of Georg and Maria’s interactions with such a knowing eye. The differences between her and Maria are never more obvious than at the party, when she follows Maria into her bedroom. The baroness is in her expensive gown and Maria in just her undergarments as Elsa casually mentions that she can tell Maria and von Trapp love each other, knowing that will drive the governess away. So cruel yet so brilliant. 

‘Only Grown-Up Men Are Scared Of Women’ 

Wise words from Kurt when Louisa said he only thought the women at the party looked ugly because he was scared of them. 

Intermission, AKA, When Younger Me Used To Turn The Movie Off 

Maria’s gone, the Nazis are coming and the best songs have been sung. But let’s be honest, what really kept me from watching the second half of The Sound of Music more often than not was having to get up to change the VHS to the second cassette. I know, I’m dating myself and making myself look lazy, but facts are facts. 

Ouch, Not The Reaction You Want When You Tell The Kids They’re Getting A New Mother 

I’ve never seen seven sadder cheek kisses than the ones the von Trapp children give the Baroness when her engagement to their father is announced. And they didn’t even hear her say she was shipping them off to boarding school! 

The Plot Moves So Fast In This Movie 

For a three-hour movie, the plot really rolls along at a lightning quick pace. No time is wasted convincing the children to love Maria at the beginning; they just do. The captain is instantly on board with raising the kids musically, and sure, Maria went back to the abbey, but the Reverend Mother didn’t exactly have to twist her arm to get her to return to von Trapp. 

‘It’s No Use, You And I’ 

As soon as Maria comes back, it’s all over for Georg. He can’t even hide his love anymore, and I loved this breakup scene between him and Elsa, with him telling her, “It’s no use, you and I.” Her acknowledgement of his love for Maria was also amazing and elicited the best reaction from Georg after she said, “And somewhere out there is a young lady who I think will never be a nun.” 

They Got Engaged On The Same Night?! 

I know I said things happened quickly in this movie, but this is wild. Georg had been single for all of 20 minutes before he not only professed his love for Maria but asked her to marry him! He broke off an engagement, then got re-engaged in the same night! 

Are The Nuns Really Singing ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?’ At Her Wedding? 

Maria is shown walking down the aisle in one of the most gorgeous movie weddings of all time, to the tune of an entire choir singing, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” Show me a bride who wants to be called a "problem" on their wedding day! If you can’t sing something nice, just go with “Here Comes the Bride.” These are truly some salty sisters. 

It Feels Like The Movie Should End Here 

Maria found her home with the von Trapps, the Baroness is no longer in the picture, the seven children have a loving mother and father again. And they all lived happily ever after. Right? Nope, bring on the Nazis. 

Georg And Maria Honeymooned For A Month? 

Not only did Georg and Maria leave the seven children for a whole month to celebrate their newlyweddedness, but they left Max in charge? What are his child-rearing qualifications? Did Georg really think if he were left to his own devices for that long that Max WASN’T going to enter the children into the music festival? 

What A Terrible Welcome Home Gift 

I guess it’s a good thing they honeymooned for a month, because Georg and Maria returned to news that he was being made to join the navy of the Third Reich the next day. He instead made the choice to pack up the whole family and make a run for it. What a test for their young marriage. 

Exactly How Big Is Max’s Music Festival? 

Max talked a fair amount about his music festival and finding the best acts for it, but I never realized what a huge deal it was until he announced the winner as “the highest honor in all of Austria.” That seems hyperbolic. 

How Did We Get Here? 

Remember when we were skipping across the fields in the Alps, wearing our curtain outfits, pretending to drink tea? It was a simpler time. It’s hard to believe that was the same movie as where we are now — in a dark cemetery with 17-year-old Rolfe pointing a gun at Captain von Trapp. 

The Nuns Sabotaged The Nazis’ Cars! 

We always knew these nuns were feisty. I guess they decided there are worse things than girls who are always late for everything (except for every meal). 

I Can’t Believe The Von Trapp Family Is Actually Hoofing It Over The Mountain To Get To Freedom 

With the borders closed, the von Trapp party of nine escaped Austria on foot, actually climbing through the Alps to reach Switzerland. That’s pretty extreme, and I love how the movie ends how it began, with Maria on the mountain. But she's no longer alone.

It’s easy to see why The Sound of Music won five Academy Awards and why it remains a favorite so many decades later. It’s certainly one of Julie Andrews’ best movies, even if Christopher Plummer admitted to hating the film for being “so awful and sentimental and gooey.” Forgive me, Captain, but I’d have to disagree. 

We all have that celebrity that, were we to meet them, we’d probably have a hard time keeping ourselves together. I got to interview Dwayne Johnson once and I still haven't recovered.  We may often forget that other celebrities also have that celebrity that can make them lose control. We saw Brie Larson lose her cool meeting JLo not that long ago. For Jennifer Garner, it appears that the person who causes her to freak out is Julie Andrews. Honestly, same.

Jennifer Garner celebrated a birthday recently and just what do you get for the woman who probably has everything? If you’re Katie Couric, you apparently get her a birthday phone call from her idol. Couric posted a video to TikTok that shows the conversation between Andrews and Garner, and it’s adorable how Garner just goes complete fangirl. Check out the full exchange below.

Jennifer Garner wears her emotions on her sleeve. She once broke down in tears watching the end of The Office, but this is next level. Garner shows that she is a serious Julie Andrews fan. Not only does she bring up her Oscar-winning role in Mary Poppins and her stage role in My Fair Lady that made her a star, but she also wants to talk about the children’s books Andrews has written, which isn’t something that everybody would even know about. You can see Andrews light up a bit when Garner mentions the books, as she probably isn’t asked about that nearly as often.

There are probably more than a few people in the comments of the video who would fangirl a bit if they met Jennifer Garner, but those fans love watching her get that way talking to Julie Andrews. Comments include…

• I would absolutely hyperventilate if Julie Andrews called me -Not Yanny
• The most relatable Jennifer Garner has ever been. I too would break into a sweat if I got to talk to Julie Andrews. -Brooke Collins
• Jen crawling out of her skin is killing me 😂 -myrandamora88
• The world doesn’t deserve Julie or Jen ✨-Kathleen Bishnoi
• Jen’s reactions reminded me so much of her character on 13 Going on 30!! -Waiteup

Jennifer Garner says that she has raised her kids on Julie Andrews, just as she was raised on the actress, and that’s probably the case for a lot of people. Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music alone were a big part of childhood for many of us of a certain age. Certainly, if I found myself talking to Julie Andrews, I would be reacting much like Garner does here.

Julie Andrews ends their call by promising to meet up with Jennifer Garner in person at some point in the future, and oh to be a fly on the wall during that lunch date if it ever happens. I can't even imagine how Garner will react to meeting Julie Andrews in person. I can only hope there will be video. 

It’s been 23 years (I can’t believe it either) since The Princess Diaries hit theaters and audiences fell in love with Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis and Dame Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Rinaldi of Genovia. Because the movie and its sequel, Royal Engagement, have been a huge part of many childhoods, fans have been waiting anxiously for news of a third rendition. While there have been some rumors regarding how soon it might happen, Andrews has now provided some honest thoughts on the possibility, and they may be disappointing to many.

The House of Mouse is definitely no stranger to sequels, and a few of them are among the upcoming Disney movies releasing this year. With that, one would think that the studio would be eager to revive one of its most popular IPs of the 21st century. Yet Julie Andrews, who has never been one to sugarcoat topics in her interviews, got honest about the chances of it happening while speaking to Today. When discussing the matter, which she's been asked about "so many times," she had the following to say:

Well, that's definitely a bummer. These comments come several years after the hopeful update Anne Hathaway gave back in 2019. She talked about how “there is a script for the third movie” and that she, Julie Andrews and their producer all want it to happen, but that it has to be perfect. And, in 2022, it was reported that The Princess Diaries 3 would likely be happening. It was also shared that Andrews wasn’t tied to the movie at that time, and it’s still unclear if the two stars would be involved at all if a sequel does come to fruition.

The Mary Poppins icon did provide more insight to this, giving her opinion on what might happen in the future should the franchise continue. And, based on what she said, continuing with a third movie may not be the only option that would be considered. She said:

If there were to be a new version, that means there's an opportunity to build an even bigger fanbase around an entirely new cast and storyline. But, if creators continued with the original franchise, which many consider to be two of the best Disney movies, they’d be able to show how Mia’s life turned out after she took the throne as Queen of Genovia. Theoretically, there could also be updates on relationship with Lord Nicholas Devereaux, what happened with the children’s home she opened and more. It’s a tough toss up but, as the future is unclear, we can only wait to see what ends up happening.

While this does seem like a step backwards from previous news, just the fact that Dame Julie Andrews and other members of the Princess Diaries cast would be down to make a sequel is enough for me to keep my fingers crossed. In the meantime, all we can do is be patient and keep believing that miracles happen once in a while.

You can watch both Princess Diaries movies with a Disney+ subscription. With it, you can also catch both Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in other movies featured on the platform.

Sometimes, if you love a movie enough, you might want to try and own a piece of it. However, the buying movie props business can get to be an expensive one. Here are some of the most expensive pieces of memorabilia ever sold.

 The Spy Who Loved Me's Submarine Car 

Sold For:  $864,600 

James Bond has had some of the coolest cars in all of movie history, but none are quite as wild as the car that transformed into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. The vehicle driven by Roger Moore was a white Lotus Esprit and while multiple cars were used in the film, only one was given the submarine transformation. The vehicle sold for 550,000 pounds at auction in 2013.

Steve McQueen's Le Mans Suit 

Sold For: $336,000

Most of the most expensive movie props ever sold are from major blockbuster movie franchises, but sometimes they're just worn by the coolest people to walk the earth. In 2017 the racing suit worn by Steve McQueen for the racing movie Le Mans sold for $300,000.

Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's Dress 

Sold For: $800,000

Somebody was a big Breakfast at Tiffany's fan in 2007, because they paid $800,000 for the dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the classic film. The price blew away the early estimates of what the dress would sell for. It was good news for a lot impoverished children, as the dress was sold for charity. 

Darth Vader's Empire Strikes Back Helmet 

Sold For: $898,420

Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains in film history, so it's no surprise that his equally iconic helmet would be a prized possession. Specifically, the helmet from The Empire Strikes Back sold in 2017 for 1 million British pounds, or just short of $900,000 dollars.

 Saturday Night Fever's Dance Floor  

Sold For: $1,200,000

Most movie props are something you can put on a shelf and display. It's unclear how the person who spent over $1 million on the Saturday Night Fever dance floor planned to show it off. You don't let people walk on something that costs that much, do you?

Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz Dress 

Sold For: $1,560,000

The Wizard of Oz is one of the most popular films ever made, and Judy Garland one of the most beloved movie stars ever. There are probably a lot of people who would spend more than $1.5 million on Garland's Dorothy dress, assuming of course they had the cash.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Sold For: $805,000

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang wasn't exactly a high-performance automobile in the Dick Van Dyke musical, but it certainly sold like one, as the car sold for over $800,000 back in 2011. While it's one of the most expensive movie props ever purchased at auction, it was actually expected to go for a lot more.

R2-D2 From Star Wars

Sold For: $2,760,000

These days looking at R2-D2 on screen is as likely to be a CGI creation as it is a physical prop. Perhaps that's why one of the original R2-D2 creations for Star Wars: A New Hope sold for well over $2 million in 2017. There simply may not be as many of them in the future.

Casablanca's Piano 

Sold For: $3,400,000

"Play it, Sam." One of the most famous lines in movie history is often misquoted, but however you say it, you can play "As Time Goes By" on the actual piano used in Casablanca, or at least one person who had $3.4 million to purchase the piano can. Assuming they can play the piano at all.

The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers

Sold For: $2,000,000

There are multiple pairs of Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz in the world that have all gone for significant sums. The most expensive was sold for $2 million in 2012 by a group that was buying them to add to the collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences museum.

The Maltese Falcon

Sold For:  $4,085,000

The Maltese Falcon is a movie about a lot of people who are willing to do, or pay, anything, to get their hands on a small statue of a falcon. It's fitting then that when the actual statue from the film was put up for sale, it sold for over $4 million, a record sum for a movie prop at the time.

Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady Dress 

Sold For:  $4,551,000

My Fair Lady won eight Oscars in 1965 and one of them was for the film's costume design. Audrey Hepburn's "Ascot" dress is probably the most well-remembered outfit in the film. The incredible dress that Eliza Doolittle wore for her coming out would sell for over $4.5 million in 2011. 

The Wizard of Oz's Cowardly Lion Costume

Sold For:  $3,077,000

Sometimes you don't know what you have. The Cowardly Lion costume was reportedly going to be thrown away by MGM before somebody saved it. Many years later the costume, which is made of real lion fur, sold for over $3 million. It makes one wonder what other valuable props may be lost forever.

Marilyn Monroe's The Seven Year Itch Dress 

Sold For:  $4.6 million 

Few pieces of clothing in the world are as famous as the white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch. The dress was previously owned by actress Debbie Reynolds, for a museum project that never happened. The dress sold for $4.6 million, before the $1 million fee the auction house took home.

Robby the Robot From Forbidden Planet

Sold For:  $5.375 million 

Forbidden Planet was a groundbreaking science fiction film that influenced nearly every movie in the genre that came after it. Today the film is likely best known for Robby the Robot, a completely unique design for a robot character at the time. When Robbie sold for over $5 million in 2017 he became the most valuable movie prop ever sold.

 James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 From No Time To Die

Sold: For:  $3.5 million 

Few movie cars are as iconic as James Bond's Aston Martin. Actors from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig have driven different versions of the classic vehicle. Many replicas have been built and sold over the years but one vehicle that was actually used for stunts in Craig's final outing No Time to Die, sold in 2022 for £2,922,000, or about $3.5 million.

The Ax From The Shining

Sold For: $175,000

Stephen King famously didn't love The Shining from Stanley Kubrick, but millions of movie fans certainly feel otherwise. One apparently loved the movie so much, they dropped six figures on the ax Jack Nicholson swung into doors in the film, spending more than double what the weapon had gone for at a previous auction.

Marty McFly’s Hoverboard From Back To The Future Part II

Sold For:  $501,200

Ever since Back to the Future Part II came out, we've been waiting for hoverboards to become real. We're still waiting for that, so we'll have to make do with the props from the film. One of which, sold in 2021 for over a half million dollars. There were two added features that helped boost the sale, it was autographed by stars Michael J. Fox and Tom Wilson.

 Han Solo’s Blaster From Star Wars

Sold For: $1,057,500

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side. That blaster, however, can get expensive. The last remaining Han Solo DL-44 blaster -- three were originally designed -- from the original Star Wars sold for just over $1 million in the summer of 2022. 

Indy's Hat From Raiders Of The Lost Ark And Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Sold For: $500,000 (and $300,000)

Harrison Ford has created more than one iconic character in film history, but none look as good in a hat as Indiana Jones. Different hats worn by Ford for different movies have all been sold for high prices. A Raiders of the Lost Ark hat has the record at $500,000, but one from Temple of Doom did almost as well selling for $300,000

 Charlie Chaplin's Cane And Hat  

Sold For:  $139,250

Charlie Chaplin was one of the first true movie stars, and his Tramp was one of the first movie franchise characters. Recognizable by his bowler hat and twirling cane, several sets have been auctioned off in the past, with a set in 2006 selling for almost $140,000.

 Superman Costume From Superman: The Movie

Sold For: $350,112

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and before the endless iterations of Batman, there was Superman. Christopher Reeve made us believe a man could fly in 1978's Superman, a full set of Reeve's hero costume from the movie sold at auction for $350,000

 The Sound of Music Costumes 

Sold For:  $1.3 million

In The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews' Maria Von Trapp makes the children some play clothes out of curtains. If only she knew they would become so valuable. A collection of the costumes including the childrens' costumes and one of Andrews' dresses, sold for $1.3 million in 2013.

 2001: A Space Odyssey Space Suit 

Sold For: $370,000

2001: A Space Odyssey is considered one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, so its little shock props from the movie would be in demand. One of the movie's spacesuits sold for $370,000 in 2020.

 Gandalf's Staff From The Lord Of The Rings

Sold For: $390,000

When Gandalf's white staff from The Lord of the Rings went up for auction in 2017, it was expected to sell for around $25,000. Instead, the piece sold for over 10 times that amount. 

The Seventh Seal Chess Set 

Sold For:  $143,300 

Even if you've never seen Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal you likely know of the game of chess against death that has been referenced and parodied countless times. Bergman held on to the actual chess set used in the film, and it was sold after his death for 1 million Swedish crowns or a little under $150,000.

Chris Pratt's Guardians Of The Galaxy Helmet 

Sold For: $160,000

With so much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe being created by digital effects, there may be a minimum, of physical props to actually own. However, Star-Lord's helmet from Guardians of the Galaxy is very real, and it sold for six figures in 2017. 

 Prince's Purple Rain Costume 

Sold For:  $192,000

The death of Prince in 2016 was a shock to fans around the world, but it may be the reason that an auction of two items from his Purple Rain wardrobe a few months later ended up selling for $96,000 each, much more than had been expected. 

Back To The Future's DeLorean   

Sold For:   $541,200

There were seven DeLorean cars used in the original Back to the Future, but today only three are believed to exist, so of course they are quite valuable. One of the remaining models sold for over a half million dollars in 2011, with a portion of the funds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber From Star Wars

Sold For:  $240,000

There may be no more iconic weapon in movie history than the lightsaber, and while the "real" one has no blade, one of the models Mark Hamill used in the first two Star Wars movies sold for nearly a quarter million dollars in 2008. Another item was listed for sale in 2018, but it was pulled after Hamill himself questioned its authenticity. 

Aragorn's Sword From The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Sold For:  $437,000

Andúril was reforged from the shards of Narsil in the Elvish enclave at Rivendell. With a lineage like that, it's no shock that the blade of Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sold for over $400,000. 

 Poltergeist Clown Doll 

Sold For:  $656,250

Why somebody would spend $650,000 on a scary clown doll is a real question. Yes, it's from Poltergeist, an iconic horror movie, but now you have a scary clown doll in your house. Why would you do that? 

Harrison Ford's Blade Runner Costume

Sold For:  $287,500 

Blade Runner wasn't a box office hit in its day, but the film has become a cult classic and a defining part of Harrison Ford's career. His Deckard costume from the original film sold in 2023 for almost $300,000.

And those are just some of the many iconic movie props that sold for a huge sum of money.

When it comes to Hollywood, plenty of actresses, singers, and more have taken the world by storm. It could be from their legendary acting, brilliant singing, or even how they walk the runway, but one way or another, they become Hollywood it girls, the ones that everyone looks up to and wants to be. Today, we'll review more than 30 Hollywood It girls, their time in the spotlight, and where they are now. 

Audrey Hepburn

We need to mention Audrey Hepburn if we're talking about Hollywood it girls. The actress became a major it girl in 1960s for her roles in iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and several other classic films. She won an Academy Award for acting in Roman Holiday alongside Gregory Peck and is considered one of the most iconic faces in Hollywood history. The actress passed away in January 1993 at 63. 

Angelina Jolie 

Angelina Jolie really started building a name for herself in the '90s, then gained fame for her role in Girl, Interrupted earlier in the 2000s, and only continued to grow in popularity. Her starring roles in movies such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Wanted, Salt, and more in the early to mid-2000s garnered her the coveted Hollywood it girl status. She also won an Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted. There are so many great Angelina Jolie movies to watch. 

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno danced onto the scene as a Hollywood it girl 1962 with her starring role in the classic movie musical West Side Story, where she won an Academy Award for playing Anita. She continued to star in various films after in the 1960s and '70s. In recent years, she played Valentina in the new Steven Spielberg reboot of West Side Story and appeared in other films like 80 for Brady, Fast X, and more. 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Elizabeth Taylor became a Hollywood it girl around the time Cleopatra released in the 1960s. She would also star in films such as Father of Bride, A Place in the Sun, Ivanhoe, and many more. She also won the Academy Award for Butterfield 8, and starred in several films with her on-again-off-again husband, Richard Burton. Taylor passed away in 2011 at the age of 79. 

Drew Barrymore

Though she's been acting since childhood, Drew Barrymore was the Hollywood it girl in the 1990s, especially from her part in The Wedding Singer. Her small role in the Scream franchise was another big moment during the decade. Aside from that, she appeared in films like Charlie's Angels, Boys on the Side, Batman Forever, and more. In recent years, she became a host of her own syndicated talk show called The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews' best movies exemplify how she became a Hollywood it girl. Andrews is primarily known for two of her roles in the 1960s that shot her up to It girl stardom – The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (for which she won an Academy Award), two highly iconic musical films where she showed off her acting talent and brilliant pipes. She continues to act to this day and often leads her iconic voices to several franchises. 

Dolly Parton 

When I think of Hollywood it girls, I often think of Dolly Parton. This country star has become a staple in the world of music and shot up to Hollywood it girl status in the 1980s, with a combination of her iconic music and her roles in films like 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Diana Ross 

Diana Ross is an incredible singer who became a Hollywood it girl as the lead vocalist from the Motown girl group, The Supremes, back in the 1960s. But from there, she had a solo career that expanded decades. To this day, Ross continues to perform and make music. She also won several awards for her role in Lady Sings the Blues. 

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was another iconic voice from the late 1960s and became an even bigger star in the latter half of the decade, becoming one of the biggest Hollywood it girls out there. Some of her songs that you might recognize include "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "I Say A Little Prayer" and more. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 76.  

Brooke Shields

Back in the early 1980s, all anyone could talk about was Brooke Shields. The actress became big at a young age for her modeling, and then began to star in films such as The Blue Lagoon, Endless Love, and more, which truly cemented her status. She played Van in Holiday Harmony in 2022. 

Judy Garland 

You can't get more Hollywood it girl than Judy Garland, someone who starred in one of the most iconic movies ever, The Wizard of Oz, and became a well-known Hollywood it girl from the 1930s onward. Garland primarily became known for her role as Dorothy, but she did star in several other movies (such as Easter Parade, Summer Stock, A Star Is Born) and more before she died in 1969 when she was 47. 

Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald was the Hollywood it girl in the mid-1980s, appearing in several major coming-of-age teen films that I'm sure most of us know today. Some of these that really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl were The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and more. Ringwald still acts, both on TV and in movies. For a few years she played Archie's mother in the hit CW show Riverdale. 

Cher

Cher is a singer who became known for her deep voice and style, and also her acting. Cher has been around since the 1960s, and has been a Hollywood it girl for several decades. The late '80s was where we got several songs synonymous with Cher today that really cemented her place in the music industry, like "I Found Someone" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." Today, Cher still works on music. 

Barbra Streisand

Barbara Streisand is a singer who also became a prominent voice of the late 1960s. Specifically, her role in Funny Girl made her stand out even more, a part that she won an Academy Award for, and from there she only grew in stardom and it-girl status.  Streisand still works on music and has achieved EGOT status over her time in Hollywood. 

Goldie Hawn 

Goldie Hawn gained fame for her role in the sketch comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-On but blew up even more after her time in the 1960s film Cactus Flower, which really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl. She appeared in several other movies, such as Shampoo, The Sugarland Express, Private Benjamin, and more. She's been the partner of Kurt Russell for many years and even appeared alongside him in Overboard, and more recently, The Christmas Chronicles 2. 

Tina Turner

Tina Turner is a legend in the world of music, becoming super famous in the early 1970s, especially with her release of "What's Love Got To Do With It." The singer is known as the "Queen of Rock and Roll" and has released such well-known tunes as "Better Be Good To Me," "The Best" and many more. Tina Turner unfortunately passed in 2023 at the age of 83. 

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts’ best movies are mainly from the 1980s and 1990s, making her the Hollywood it girl of the time. Pretty Woman was one of Roberts' best movies that cemented her status as an it-girl, but she appeared in several films throughout the 1990s, like My Best Friend's Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, and more, and even won an Academy Award for Erin Brockovich in 2000. She appeared in Ticket to Paradise in 2022. 

Liza Minnelli

The daughter of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, is known for her work as an actor, singer, and dancer, and for also achieving EGOT status. Minnelli's status as it girl really started to appear in her part in Cabaret in 1972, but she also starred in other movies like Arthur and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, as well as many others. The actress most recently had a cameo appearance in Halston in 2021. 

Carly Simon 

The iconic Carly Simon has worked in music for many years and became a major it girl in the early 1970s. She released songs such as "Haven't Got Time For Pain," "You're So Vain," "Mockingbird," and more. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Donna Summer (1975) 

Donna Summer, a disco legend, released music such as "Love to Love You Baby" and "I Feel Love," among many other iconic music from that time in the mid-1970s. Both songs were huge hits among the rest of her discography. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 63. 

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet primarily gained fame from her role on The Cosby Show in the 1980s, which she reprised in the college-set spinoff A Different World. Aside from that, she also starred in movies like Angel Heart, which further cemented her status as a leading lady. She held a recurring role in Ray Donavan in 2016. 

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is known for numerous roles, going back to 1970s, and was a great Hollywood it girl, specifically beginning from her time in The Godfather movies. She also appeared in films such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleep, Love and Death, and Annie Hall, which won her an Academy Award. Keaton was in Book Club: The Next Chapter in 2023. 

Olivia Newton-John

You couldn't go anywhere in the 1970s without hearing about Olivia Newton-John. Not only was the actress known for her role in Grease in 1978, but she also had an excellent singing career, releasing hits like "I Honestly Love You" and "Physical," which only further showed just how much of an it girl she was. Newton-John passed away in 2022. 

Pam Grier

Pam Grier has appeared in several memorable action films. Coffy in 1973 was really what brought her to stardom, but she continued to shine in films like Foxy Brown, The Big Doll House, Women in Cages, The Big Bird Cage, The Arena, Sheba Baby, and many more. Years later, she also starred in Jackie Brown, one of Quentin Tarantino's films. She appeared in Pet Sematary: Bloodlines in 2023. 

Meryl Streep 

While I will always consider Streep an it girl all the time, she became well-known at the end of the 1970s and '80s for her starring roles in movies like Kramer vs. Kramer (which won her an Academy Award), The Deer Hunter, and Sophie's Choice. In 2023, held a recurring role on the great Hulu TV series Only Murders in the Building. 

Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett was an actress known not only for her beautiful and luxurious hair, but for her acting in the series Charlie's Angels from 1976 to 1981. She also appeared in Harry O and The Six Million Dollar Man. She unfortunately passed away in 2009 at the age of 62. 

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals rose to fame from her role in Flashdance in 1983 and continued appearing in other significant movies, including Vampire's Kiss, Devil in Blue Dress, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Cycle, and more. Today, she still acts and appeared in the 2022 film Luckiest Girl Alive and was a part of the guest cast of the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Book of Boba Fett. 

Winona Ryder

While many people remember her well for her role in Beetlejuice, she began to appear in several films in the late 1980s and 1990s. Her biggest one in my opinion was Edward Scissorhands in 1990, which really showed off her acting prowess and made her an it girl, but she also appeared in films such as Heathers, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Age of Innocence, and Little Women, among others. She has a starring role in the hit Netflix binge-able series Stranger Things.

Janet Jackson

While Michael Jackson was a Hollywood it guy, his sister Janet was undoubtedly a Hollywood it girl. Janet Jackson is a legendary voice in the music genre and released hits during the 1980s like "Nasty" and "Rhythm Nation," among others. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Naomi Campbell 

Naomi Campbell was a massive influence in the modern-day fashion industry, becoming the first-ever Black woman to headline the covers of both Vogue France and Time in the late 1980s. Aside from modeling, Campbell also worked in acting and music. She more recently appeared in Black is King in 2020 and was a part of the docu-series The Super Models. 

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston rose to fame in the late 1980s for her songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Greatest Love of All," but later starred in The Bodyguard in 1992, which included several hit songs on its soundtrack, including her iconic version of "I Will Always Love You." She also starred in several other films like The Preacher's Wife and Waiting to Exhale, further showing her Hollywood it girl status. Houston passed away in 2012. 

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon gained a lot of fame for her roles in movies in the late 1990s, such as Cruel Intentions and Election, but became huge with her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in 2001, which is genuinely one of Reese Witherspoon's best movies, and has since appeared in several other films. She even won an Academy Award for her co-starring role in Walk the Line. She has a co-starring role in the Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show, alongside Jennifer Anniston. 

There are so many amazing Hollywood it girls out there that we could talk about, but these are just some that have taken the world by storm. Who knows who is going to end up becoming the next Hollywood star that tops this list? 

When it comes to the Hollywood Chrises discourse, my allegiances have long aligned with Mr. Chris Pine. The man helped revitalize Star Trek with his amazing Captain Kirk, was an A+ love interest for Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and proved to be an all-around movie star with his career decisions over the years. I mean, we have a singing Spider-Man thanks to him and he’a sure to be a great bard in the Dungeons & Dragons movie. Somehow I forget I’ve been watching his movies just about all my life, starting with Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which I recently rewatched for the first time in forever. 

So, when I was in kindergarten, I got invited to see the first Princess Diaries movie during a friends’ birthday party, where us kids were taken to the El Capitan in Los Angeles to see it. It was the fanciest experience to me of all time. Little me was awestruck by seeing the costumes in person before seeing Mary Poppins’ Julie Andrews play opposite newcomer Anne Hathaway in a story about an everyday teen who learns she is a princess. As someone who was really big into Disney Princesses at the time, seeing a non-animated young girl in contemporary times becoming a princess was the best thing ever. Three years later came the sequel, 2004’s Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which I watched a ton as a kid, but recently revisited with some friends. We were living for it, and here are some of my thoughts about it now. 

I Can’t Believe This Was Chris Pine’s First Movie!?!? Iconic!

Nearly 20 years later, everyone knows Chris Pine’s name, but what I didn’t realize off the top of my head is that Princess Diaries 2 was actually Chris Pine’s first movie ever. Pine was 24 when the movie came out and while, on its own, it didn’t make him as famous as he would become a few years later with Star Trek, he certainly became the man of many young girl’s dreams with this early role. And you know what? I still get it. 

It’s honestly a slam dunk of a first role for Pine, as it introduced his lasting charm to the world. Not to mention the man got to act against eventual Oscar winner Anne Hathaway, the incomparable Julie Andrews and work with Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall with his first go on the big screen. He won and we won. 

The Hair… I Need To Talk About Nicholas’ Hair

The first thing that caught my attention is how big and puffy Pine’s hair is in the Princess Diaries sequel. The actor has certainly gone through a ton of hairstyles over the years, but I wouldn’t say that Nicholas Devereaux has the best one. It’s kind of glorious and makes sense for his character, but my goodness. Pine was actually asked about being down for Princess Diaries 3 while promoting Dungeons & Dragons recently, and he said he would be into it, but would be keeping his “helmet very close” in regards to his hair cut. So, even he knows what I’m talking about. 

Also, His Accent Is Weird But He’s Somehow Still Very Charming

In the sequel, Pine plays Lord Devereaux, the next male heir to the throne of Genovia who threatens Mia’s coronation, as she must obey a law to marry before she can become queen. Pine is from Los Angeles, so I get he couldn’t use his own accent to play a Lord of a nondescript European country, but what’s up with his accent? It’s just, like, “prince voice.” But while I find it weird, the guy still manages to sell it. Pine just has it I guess? 

It’s Really The Enemies-To-Lovers Of It All That Got Us Good

Now that I’m in my twenties and have become a huge film fan who has watched a ton of classic romantic comedies and reevaluated a few favorite Disney movies of my childhood, part of me thought rewatching Princess Diaries 2 would be a painful experience, but honestly, it still has a hold on me. Sure, there are a few comedic bits that are corny and meant for a younger audience, but the moments between Mia and Nicholas are a great use of the enemies-to-lovers trope that you can’t help but be enraptured by. 

The fountain kiss after they say how much they “loathe” each other? The part when he throws rocks at her window and they dance in the park at night to Norah Jones’ “Love Me Tender”...Excuse me? This movie knew what it was doing, and did it well.  

Its Ending Was Very Empowering For 2004 

Also, rather than Mia simply realizing she’s falling in love with Nicholas and marrying him, rather than Andew Jacoby (who wasn't a bad second choice for her, not going to lie), she decides to take action to abolish the law where women like her have to be married before becoming queen. By the end of the movie, she decides she’s simply not ready to get married yet, but is ready to rule. While Disney movies were starting to improve their messages at the time, I still find that storyline to be a great message about not letting outside pressure make you do something your heart is not into. 

10/10 would show this movie to the next generation. 

Julie Andrews Is The Most Charming Of Them All

While Pine is incredible alongside Hathaway in Princess Diaries 2, Julie Andrews absolutely steals the movie, especially with her sweet, second chance romance with Hector Elizondo ‘s Joe throughout the sequel. On top of the movie being empowering for Mia, it forwards the story of her grandma by showing that it’s never too late to fall in love and defy tradition. Andrews has so many great scenes throughout, but her being in those blue pajamas singing “Your Crowning Glory” with Raven Symoné is an all-time great movie moment from my childhood. 

I Want, But Don’t Need, Princess Diaries 3

This brings me to all this talk of a Princess Diaries 3, which has been coming and going for years, including word that a writer has been hired to pen a new movie for the franchise. Hathaway has shared that she’s passionate about making it happen, whilst Andrews is less optimistic. After rewatching the sequel, part of me wants to see an older Mia and Nicholas, perhaps after being married for sometime, and see much of this magnificent cast come together again. But another part of me is totally fine with leaving it be, especially knowing the late Garry Marshall was a major element in making these movies as magical as they are. 

You can watch Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement with a Disney+ subscription and see Chris Pine in Dungeons & Dragons, in theaters on March 31. 

Well, catch a falling star and put it in our pockets, because The Princess Diaries is not over yet after all. The modern Disney Princess story that charmed our hearts in the early ‘00s is reportedly set to get a third film that will continue the story that started with a teen Mia Thermopolis all these years later. The biggest question is whether the Genovian Queens, Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, will lead the upcoming Disney movie. 

The latest news is that Scorpion and Supergirl writer Aadrita Mukerji has been hired to pen a new Princess Diaries movie for Walt Disney Studios. However, per The Hollywood Reporter, Anne Hathaway has not signed a deal to return to the franchise, yet, hopefully. 

According to the report, the movie is being developed with “the hope” she would return as Mia Thermopolis. Julie Andrews is not currently attached to the movie at the moment. The Princess Diaries 3 is in the early script stage, so while Disney is certainly pursuing the continuation of the beloved franchise, there’s many more elements of the production that will have to come together first.

What will certainly determine the return of Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews must be the strength of the script, though we’re certainly curious what pitch and direction Aadrita Mukerji is taking with her script that is in the works. The key reason why The Princess Diaries has not continued before now is likely due to the death of both of the movies' director, Garry Marshall, back in 2016. 

From what we’ve known about what’s going on with Princess Diaries 3 in the past, Marshall was reportedly working on something associated with the franchise before his passing. Hathaway has also shown clear interest in pursuing a third Princess Diaries, sharing back in 2019 that there was a script, but they would hold off unless it was “perfect.” 

Andrews was part of cheerleading the idea in 2020, but in June of this year, she shared that she thought it “be too late” to do the planned Princess Diaries sequel. Among other cast members associated with The Princess Diaries, Heather Matarazzo, who played Mia’s best friend Lilly Moscovitz, Mandy Moore, who played the high school meanie Lana Thomas, and Chris Pine, who played Mia’s love interest in the 2004 sequel, have all shared their interest in returning to play their now nostalgic roles. 

When The Princess Diaries’ 20th anniversary passed last summer, Anne Hathaway shared behind the scenes photos with the cast to a flood of fans asking about whether a sequel was happening. There’s most definitely energy here between both parties among much of the cast, but will all the stars align? 

The Princess Diaries was Anne Hathaway’s first movie ever, and predated her subsequently massive Hollywood career, including her 2013 Oscar win. Similarly, Amy Adams, who played live-action Disney Princess Giselle, has returned for Disenchanted 15 years after first debuting the role in Enchanted and the witches of Hocus Pocus reprise their iconic roles for a recent and record-breaking sequel. 

For now, this news means it’s more possible than ever we could see the Queens of Genovia back together for Princess Diaries 3, but we’ll have to be patient for a bit longer regarding the details of the upcoming sequel. 

They’re back and they’re better than ever! Minions: The Rise of Gru has arrived in theaters as part of the 2022 movie releases, telling the beginning of everyone’s favorite villain, Gru, and how he came to use the Minions - ya know, those little yellow monsters - as his personal henchman.

But, with any Despicable Me movie, and especially with Minions 2, whether that be a main entry or a spinoff such as Minions: The Rise of Gru, there is always a star-studded cast, and that is the case with this film as well. Here is where you might have seen - or heard - the cast of Minions: The Rise of Gru before. 

Steve Carell (Gru) 

I’m sure it’s no surprise that Steve Carell, the man, the myth, the legend himself, has returned to voice the impeccable Gru - this time, in younger form for Minions: The Rise of Gru. But of course, you’ve seen Steve Carell in plenty of other places before, in both movies and television. 

Carell is probably known the most for his iconic portrayal of Michael Scott in the critically acclaimed The Office, but the actor has done plenty more in television since then, including the leading role on the Netflix original comedy, Space Force, a main role in the great Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show, a leading role in Angie Tribeca, and plenty of guest spots on many TV shows. 

However, Carell has also been plenty active in movies as well. You might have seen in comedies such as Evan Almighty, Date Night, Crazy, Stupid Love, or maybe even Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy. He's also done so much in drama as well, with appearances in critically acclaimed films such as Foxcatcher, Little Miss Sunshine, Battle of the Sexes, Beautiful Boy, and more. 

Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom)

Another fantastic talent on this list is Taraji P. Henson, who voices Belle Bottom in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This amazing actress has been around for some time and appeared in many movies and TV shows, with one of her biggest being Empire, where she portrayed Cookie Lyon, and received critical acclaim. 

She also has had several guest roles on many television shows, and was a part of the Annie Live! cast, where she got to show off her singing skills. 

Henson has also had a great run in movies as well, appearing in huge hits such as Hidden Figures, Hustle & Flow, Proud Mary, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Best of Enemies and so many more. 

Michelle Yeoh (Master Chow)

Another iconic actress that is added to the cast list of Minions: The Rise of Gru is Michelle Yeoh, who voices Master Chow, a kung-fu master. Most recently in 2022, Michelle Yeoh has been making headlines for her incredible performance in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, but Yeoh has been active in the film industry for decades. 

She's appeared in many movies, such as the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians, Last Christmas, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and so many others. 

Yeoh has also made her mark in television, with a role as Phillipa Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+, as well as a role in the Netflix original series, Marco Polo. She’s also going to be in the upcoming The Witcher spinoff, The Witcher: Blood Origin. 

Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jean Clawed)

Playing Jean Clawed in Minions: The Rise of Gru is none other than action star himself, Jean-Clause Van Damme. This Belgian actor has made his name in Hollywood and appeared in a variety of movies and TV, showing off his skills as not only a fighter but as an actor. 

Some of his highlights in the film industry include the crime drama JCVD, Sudden Death, Maximum Risk, Double Impact, Cyborg, The Expendables series, the Kung Fu Panda franchise, the Kickboxer series, The Last Mercenary, and many more. 

Damme has made his mark on television as well, although it’s usually through guest appearances or hosting his own shows, such as Jean Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors, Ramez Movie Star or other series. 

Lucy Lawless (Nunchuck)

You ever wonder what a nun with nunchucks would look like? That’s what Nunchuck, who is voiced by Lucy Lawless, answers in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This iconic actress made a name for herself back in the ‘90s in the series, Xena: Warrior Princess, and has only continued to grow as a star. 

Some of her biggest roles in the film industry have been Boogeyman, Justice League: The New Frontier, Bedtime Stories, and more. Lawless has lent more of her talents to television, with roles in several big-time shows after her time as Xena, including Battlestar Galactica, Sapartcaus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Spartacus: Vengeance, Parks and Recreation, Ash vs. Evil Dead, My Life is Murder, and more. 

Dolph Lundgren (Svengeance)

Next up, we have Dolph Lundgren, who voices Svengeance in Minions: The Rise of Gru, and he came to fame primarily for portraying Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Since then, he has appeared in a variety of movies and television shows. 

He portrayed the iconic He-Man in Masters of the Universe, and had big roles in films such as The Punisher, Showdown in Little Tokyo, Castle Falls, Wanted Man, Silent Trigger, and more. He also had a big role in The Expendables series, reprised his role as Ivan in Creed II, and was a part of the Aquaman cast. 

Lundgren has also had some time in the spotlight in regards to television, appearing in a recurring role in the CW's Arrowverse, on the flagship show, Arrow, as well as a main role in the series SAF3. 

Danny Trejo (Stronghold)

Let me tell you - Danny Trejo has been everywhere in Hollywood and is a badass, and it’s no surprise that he’s voicing Stronghold in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This man has way more credits than other actors. Seriously, just look him up, he’s all over. But, for the sake of the length of this article, we’ll go over some of his best. 

In terms of film, Trejo has appeared in many great ones, including Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk ‘Till Dawn series, Machete, Grindhouse, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Reindeer Games, and so many others. 

Trejo has also had a prominent career in television, with some of his biggest roles being a recurring voice part on King of the Hill, a role on the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, and a role in the TV series based on From Dusk ‘Till Dawn - along with many guest roles. 

Russell Brand (Young Dr. Nefario)

Russell Brand has been around for some time in the business and he’s a great choice for voicing young Dr. Nefario, Gru’s partner, in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Originally, Brand became well known for hosting Big Brother’s Big Mouth, but continued to lend his talents higher profile projects. 

He starred in movies such as Get Him To The Greek, Hop, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Rock of Ages, Trolls, Arthur, and most recently, was a part of the Death on the Nile cast in 2022. He’s also had some parts on television as well, with most having been guest appearances or for his own shows, such as Brand X with Russell Brand. However, he did have an acting role as Lance on the HBO series, Ballers. 

Julie Andrews (Gru’s Mother)

Julie Andrews is straight up the love of my life and that’s because I adore Julie Andrews and her movies so much, and I am so happy that she’s back for Minions: The Rise of Gru to continue voicing Gru’s mother. 

Andrews is an icon in Hollywood. While she hasn’t participated that much in television, aside from a few guest roles and her work as Lady Whistledown on the Netflix show, Bridgerton, she has been huge in movies for decades now, appearing in so many legendary films that I’m sure you’ve heard of. 

Some of her highlights include, but are not limited to, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Victor/Victoria, My Fair Lady, The Princess Diaries franchise, The Tamarind Seed, Torn Curtain, the Eloise at the Plaza series, and the Shrek series. 

Alan Arkin (Wild Knuckles)

Next up, we have Alan Arkin, who voices Wild Knuckles in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Alan Arkin has been active in Hollywood for a very long time, and has been nominated for many awards for his performances, so it’s no surprise that he’s adding  a voice-acting role to his already impressive resume.

Some of his biggest films have been The Russians Are Coming, Wait Until Dark, The In-Laws, Little Miss Sunshine (which he won an Academy Award for), Argo, Slums of Beverly Hills, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Million Dollar Arm, and more. 

He’s also appeared in a few projects on television, such as Escape from Sobibor, as well as The Kominsky Method. 

RZA  

Last but not least, we have RZA, an actor and a music artist, who is in Minions: The Rise of Gru. As an artist, who originally got his start as part of the Wu-Tang Clan, he has scored many films that you might recognize the music from, such as the Kill Bill duology, Blade: Trinity, The Man with the Iron Fists, and more. 

But, as an actor, he’s appeared in many movies and TV shows as well. Some of his biggest films were American Gangster, Nobody, The Dead Don’t Die, and Life in a Year, alongside many other roles. He’s also guest-starred on shows such as Outlaw, Gang Related, The Simpsons, and more. 

With so many big stars, it’s not surprising to see that the cast of Minions: The Rise of Gru have done so many incredible things. I for one can’t wait to see what they do next - that is, after having a run at those pesky little minions.  

Julie Andrews is a true icon. Over the years, she's entertained us with her outstanding acting and voiceover roles in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and the Shrek movies. Of course, she's also known for playing Queen Clarisse alongside Anne Hathaway's Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries and its sequel, The Royal Engagement. The original movie turned 20 last year and, now more than ever, fans are wondering if a third film can still happen. Well, just recently, Andrews shares her honest thoughts on whether the proposed project is still in the cards.

This past week, the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious actress won an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award. It was at the Dolby Theatre, where she accepted the award, that she was asked about the possibility of a Princess Diaries 3. And when responding to The Hollywood Reporter's query, the 86-year-old star gave an answer that may disappoint some fans:

That’s a real shame, but it’s understandable. It’s been 18 years since the franchise's last installment. And in that film, Queen Clarisse’s story was wrapped up nicely, as she married her confidante, Joe, and saw granddaughter Mia carry on the royal line as queen. And even if the movie somehow does happen and the British actress opts not to return, I doubt Disney would recast her beloved role.

It’s been hard to know what exactly has been going on with The Princess Diaries 3. Anne Hathaway, who played the awkward princess-turned-queen, shared a hopeful update in 2019. Unfortunately, the death of franchise director Garry Marshall seemingly put those plans on hold. One can understand why the studio may not have wanted move forward without him given how instrumental he was in crafting the series.

Still, it would be great to see the return of Mia Thermopolis and get a feel for how she's handling the Genovian throne. I'd also like to check in with her activist friend, Lily, who would likely still be her top confidante. And why not bring back Chris Pine while we're at it? After all, he and Anne Hathaway had great chemistry in the 2004 sequel. Let's hope that the cast does get to reunite once more and that such a production will somehow involve Julie Andrews as well.

But like her Princess Diaries castmates, Julie Andrews remains busy. She currently voices Lady Whistledown on Netflix’s Bridgerton and is set to voice Gru’s mother in Minions: The Rise of Gru. But if you're nostalgic for her performance as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, you can stream the two movies with a Disney+ subscription.

There are some iconic faces in Hollywood that I think anyone could recognize, like maybe George Clooney or Audrey Hepburn, but one that always pops up for me is Dame Julie Andrews. This actress, whose career has spanned decades, basically shaped my childhood, starring in several of my favorite films, and only continues to do so now.

From Disney hits like Mary Poppins to amazing soundtracks like The Sound of Music, many of the best Julie Andrews movies are available to stream right now. Here are some of her most notable, and how you can watch them as soon as possible.

The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 (2001, 2004)

In this adaptation of the novel of the same name, The Princess Diaries follows Mia Thermopolis, a shy teenager from America who suddenly learns that she is heir to a European kingdom. Now, with her grandmother’s help, Mia has to figure out if she wants to abandon her life for a throne, or stay a normal teenager and renounce her title.

I remember, this was actually the first film I ever saw Julie Andrews in, ironically. I’m not entirely sure why it wasn’t Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music, but I wouldn't want it any other way. The Princess Diaries cast is full of talent, but Julie Andrews is truly one of the standouts among the rest. Besides that, it’s a great coming of age story with a royal twist.

The second one isn’t as monumental as the first, with more of a focus on love rather than royalty. But Julie Andrews also surfs down the stairs in that one, and who doesn’t want to watch that?

Stream The Princess Diaries on Disney+.

Stream The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on Disney+.

Rent The Princess Diaries on Amazon.

Rent The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on Amazon.

Mary Poppins (1964)

In this classic Disney musical, Mary Poppins tells the story of the titular character, played by Julie Andrews, who is a sweet and kind supernanny with magical powers, who is able to fly with her umbrella, and helps Jane and Michael Banks with their children, taking them on a great adventure.

Mary Poppins is definitely one of Julie Andrews most iconic roles, and most likely one of the many that you know her from. Her character is beloved by all for her kind nature and beautiful singing voice. The whole Mary Poppins cast has plenty of shining stars, including the lovely Dick Van Dyke who appeared in Mary Poppins Returns, and the plot is filled with magical moments, beautiful scenery, and awesomely animated dancing penguins. It’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I mean, Andrews even won an Academy Award for her performance - that’s how you know it’s good.

Stream Mary Poppins on Disney+.

Rent Mary Poppins on Amazon.

The Tamarind Seed (1974)

In this featured film drama, The Tamarind Seed follows Judith Farrow (Julie Andrews), a British Home Office assistant, who meets a handsome Soviet Colonel Sverdlov while on vacation in Barbados, but their relationship doesn’t go unnoticed by the British, and their surveillance teams.

If you’re looking for a romantic drama with a bit of a twist, try The Tamarind Seed, especially if you’re a fan of Julie Andrews. There’s plenty of twists and turns, but it’s still filled with lots of sweet moments between two lovers in a forbidden romance with a bit of a thriller added onto it.

Stream The Tamarind Seed on Tubi.

Rent The Tamarind Seed on Amazon.

The Sound Of Music (1965)

The hills are alive with the sound of music.

I mean, if you haven’t heard that lyric, I’m quite sure you’ve been living under a rock. In this popular musical, The Sound of Music follows Maria (Julie Andrews), who takes a job as a governess to a large family, while she decides whether to become a nun or not, falling in love with the family and their patriarch.

The Sound of Music has pretty much become one of the biggest classic musicals of all time. The music is beautiful, the acting is great, the love story is believable, and everything else molds together so beautifully. Julie Andrews was nominated for another Academy Award for her performance as Maria in this film, so she’s outstanding, along with the rest of The Sound of Music cast. For fans of musicals, it’s definitely a must-watch, but even if you’re not, the story is enough to make your heart warm.

Stream The Sound of Music on Disney+.

Rent The Sound of Music on Amazon.

Victor/Victoria (1982)

In another musical/comedy, Victor/Victoria tells the story of a down on her luck British soprano, named Victoria (Julie Andrews), who is struggling to find work in the nightclubs of Paris in the 1930s. While she is trying to scam her way out of paying for a meal, she meets Toddy, a cabaret performer, who gives her an idea that might change everything.

Julie Andrews actually received another Academy Award nomination for her role in Victor/Victoria, and it was rightfully earned. Her voice in this film, I feel, even outshines her singing abilities in the last two musicals we’ve talked about. The film is also hilarious as well, with plenty of moments that will make you snort and chuckle, especially in one of the beginning scenes. Let’s just say a cockroach is involved.

Stream Victor/Victoria on HBO Max.

Rent Victor/Victoria on Amazon.

Shrek 2 (2004)

In this popular sequel to the first film, Shrek 2 follows the titular green ogre, Shrek, his ogre wife, Fiona, and their donkey (named Donkey), as they travel to meet Fiona’s parents for the first time. When Fiona’s family is less than pleased at Shrek being an ogre, he makes a hasty decision with a sketchy fairy that might change the course of their lives forever.

Shrek is definitely one of the most known animated characters of all time, in my opinion, and Shrek 2 is the best sequel to the original film. Julie Andrews plays Queen Lillian, Fiona’s mother, in this film, but the whole Shrek cast is outstanding. Mike Myers is always amazing as Shrek, Eddie Murphy is awesome as Donkey, Cameron Diaz is wonderful as Fiona - and the star, I believe, of this film (next to Julie Andrews, of course), is Jennifer Saunders as the Fairy Godmother. She’s amazing. She can sing “I Need A Hero” to me any day.

Andrews also reprises her role in both Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, but I personally will always love her role the most in Shrek 2.

Stream Shrek 2 on Hulu.

Rent Shrek 2 on Amazon.

Eloise At The Plaza (2003)

In this made-for-television film, Eloise at the Plaza is based on the children’s book of the same name, telling the story of Eloise, an impressionable young six-year-old girl who lives at the penthouse at the top of the Plaza Hotel in New York City with her nanny.

Eloise at the Plaza is adorable. I’m usually not one for kids movies to watch on any given day, but this film is one I would willingly watch if I was feeling down or sad about something. It’s so ridiculously sweet, and the chemistry that Julie Andrews (who plays the nanny) has with Eloise (played by Sofia Vassilieva), makes me smile every time. They also did a film not that long after called Eloise at Christmastime, featuring the two of them again, and it’s just as cute, if not with a holiday twist. This one is great for the whole family, folks.

Stream Eloise at the Plaza on Amazon Prime.

The Americanization Of Emily (1964)

In this dark romantic comedy, The Americanization of Emily tells the story of an American Naval officer, who has a talent of living the good life in wartime, and is challenged when he falls in love and is sent on a dangerous mission.

On first watch, this definitely wasn’t my favorite film that Andrews had ever done, just because I had never been a huge fan of war films. I liked to escape into different world and realities and war felt too real. But luckily, The Americanization of Emily doesn't focus too much on the war and really centers in on the main couple, played by Julie Andrews and fellow classic Hollywood actor, James Garner. And their chemistry together works wonders.

Rent The Americanization of Emily on Amazon.

Hawaii (1966)

In this epic drama film, Hawaii tells the story of a Yale University divinity student, who, accompanied by his new bride, becomes a missionary for the Calvinist in the Hawaiian islands in the 1800s.

I know at first that this sounds like a strange premise, but Hawaii is actually a really interesting film with a lot of themes behind it, including do unto others what you would do unto yourself. It’s a great exploration in the world of helping one another, and trying to fight for what is right. Both Julie Andrews and Max von Sydow, who plays her husband, were amazing in their roles, and the music was fantastic as well.

Rent Hawaii on Amazon.

Despicable Me (2010)

Last but not least, we take a look at Despicable Me. In this popular animated film, Steve Carrel stars as Gru, a hardworking villain who wants to be the best bad guy of all time by stealing the moon. However, when his plan ends up involving three little orphan girls that he slowly grows attached to, he starts to wonder - is being bad really that good?

Okay, say what you want about how this series has blown up a ridiculous amount, or how the Minions have become oversaturated in the media - the first Despicable Me film is unmatched and freaking adorable. Gru and his girls are amazing, and the story of him trying to adapt to actually becoming a father and learning to love is surprisingly heartwarming with a lot of depth.

Julie Andrews plays Marlena Gru, his mother, and let’s just say she has some of the funniest moments in this film, by far, but the whole movie itself is a worthy watch any day of the week. Honestly one of the best movies on Amazon Prime right now.

Rent Despicable Me on Amazon.

Honorable Mention: Bridgerton

Bridgerton is all about who is courting who - and the drama that enfolds while Lady Whistledown documents everything in her newsletter that she releases to the public all the time, telling the secrets of everyone to the world.

While this is a TV series, and Julie Andrews doesn't physically appear in the show, she is the narrator of Lady Whistledown and performs the role perfectly. Vague Bridgerton spoiler alert: We find out who Lady Whistledown actually is by the end of the first season, but no-one can deny how amazing her voice fits the character. With Season 2 coming out soon hopefully, I pray we get to hear her wonderful voice again on the Netflix hit.

Stream Bridgerton on Netflix.

From musicals to comedies to dramas, there's truly so much that Julie Andrews can do. You really can't go wrong with any film that you pick from this talented actress. Now it’s my turn to figure out how to surf down a flight of stairs on a mattress - wish me luck.

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It's the movie that turned Anne Hathaway into a superstar. It's the film that rejuvenated Julie Andrews' career. And it's the Disney picture that introduced Garry Marshall to a new generation of comedy lovers. That's right, we're talking about The Princess Diaries, one of 2001's most profitable movies and a well-beloved family film for, gosh, 20 years.

Though it received mixed reviews upon release, this endearing, entertaining coming-of-age farce spawned a sequel (maybe even a threequel someday) and it cemented Anne Hathaway as one of our next great talents. Now that two decades have passed since this royal movie premiered in theaters, it's fair to ask, what's The Princess Diaries cast, including Mandy Moore and Sandra Oh, working on now? Let's take this time to find out!

Anne Hathaway (Mia Thermopolis)

As Mia Thermopolis, a gawky, ineloquent high school student who's stunned to learn that she's the new heir to a royal throne, Anne Hathaway played our titular princess in Garry Marshall's The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Most notably, Anne Hathaway won an Oscar for her supporting turn in Les Miserables following her previous nomination for Rachel Getting Married. Her other starring roles include The Devil Wears Prada, Colossal, Love & Other Drugs, Havoc, Ella Enchanted, Bride Wars, Get Smart, The Intern, Serenity, and The Witches. Hathaway also reunited with Marshall for Valentine's Day. Furthermore, the actress can be seen in Brokeback Mountain, The Dark Knight Rises, Alice in Wonderland, Interstellar, Ocean's 8, and Dark Waters. Most recently, Hathaway starred in HBO Max's Locked Down. She also guest-starred in Amazon Prime's Solos. Currently, Hathaway is filming WeCrashed for Apple TV+. She'll star in Sesame Street, She Came to Me, Bum's Rush, and Armageddon Time.

Julie Andrews (Clarisse Renaldi)

In the role of Clarisse Renaldi, Mia's absent grandmother and the Queen of Genovia, Julie Andrews provided an autocratic part in The Princess Diaries and its sequel. Most famously, Andrews won an Oscar for Mary Poppins. The actress was also nominated for The Sound of Music and Victor Victoria. Additionally, Andrews starred in Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Americanization of Emily, 10, S.O.B., That's Life!, and The Tamarind Seed. Furthermore, she's heard in Despicable Me 1 & 3, Aquaman, Enchanted, and the Shrek sequels. Moreover, Andrews can be seen in Tooth Fairy and the Eloise movies.

Additionally, on television, Julie Andrews co-created and hosted Netflix's Julie's Greenroom, for which she was Emmy-nominated. She also won Emmys for The Julie Andrews Hour and Broadway: The American Musical. Most recently, the actress was heard in Netflix's Bridgerton. Next, Andrews lends her voice to Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Heather Matarazzo (Lilly Moscovitz)

Playing the part of Lilly Moscovitz, Mia's eccentric and socially awkward best friend, Heather Matarazzo was an outspoken supporting character in Disney's The Princess Diaries movies. Most notably, the former child actress is known for her breakout role in Welcome to the Dollhouse. Matarazzo's other film credits include The Devil's Advocate, Scream 3, Hostel: Part II, Saved!, Sorority Boys, 54, Sisters, Company Man, and Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Furthermore, she starred in and produced Magnus!

Additionally, on television, Heather Matarazzo frontlined CBS's Now and Again. She's also seen in Roseanne, The L Word, Grey's Anatomy, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Townies, Exes and Ohs, ER, Law & Order, Life on Mars, and Raymond & Lane. The actress also wrote an episode for the latter show. Last year, Matarazzo played Phyllis Lyon in HBO Max's Equal. Next, she'll appear in The Estate and Generation Wrecks.

Hector Elizondo (Joe)

As Joe, Clarisse's head of security-turned-Mia's limousine driver, Hector Elizondo played a dryly funny character in The Princess Diaries. He also returned for the sequel, though the character actor has appeared in every Garry Marshall movie, including Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Overboard, Beaches, Young Doctors in Love, The Flamingo Kid, Nothing in Common, The Other Sister, Frankie and Johnny, Georgia Rule, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day. Additionally, Elizondo is seen or heard in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, American Gigolo, Beverly Hills Cop III, The Landlord, How High, Tortilla Soup, Diary of the Dead, Being Human, The Book of Life, and The LEGO Batman Movie.

Furthermore, on TV, Hector Elizondo won an Emmy for CBS's Chicago Hope. He also played Ed Alzate in ABC/Fox's Last Man Standing. This year, Elizondo starred in Music.

Mandy Moore (Lana Thomas)

In the role of Lana Thomas, a preppy, popular cheerleader who often bullies Mia, Mandy Moore played a rare antagonist in Garry Marshall's The Princess Diaries. Most notably, Moore is Emmy-nominated for her starring role in NBC's This Is Us. She also voiced Rapunzel in Disney's Tangled. Additionally, Moore starred in A Walk to Remember, Chasing Liberty, Saved!, Because I Said So, 47 Meters Down, How to Deal, All I Want, Dedication, and License to Wed. Her other film credits include Southland Tales, American Dreamz, Romance & Cigarettes, Midway, and Love, Wedding, Marriage. Furthermore, Moore was heard in Dr. Dolittle 2, Racing Stripes, and Brother Bear 2.

Moreover, on TV, Mandy Moore reprised her role as Rapunzel in Disney Channel's Tangled: Before Ever After and Tangled: The Series. She also voiced Sheriff Callie in Disney Junior's Sheriff Callie's Wild West. Next, Moore will star in This Is Us Season 6.

Caroline Goodall (Helen Thermopolis)

Playing the part of Helen Thermopolis, Mia's artist mother, Caroline Goodall is the caring matriarch in The Princess Diaries and its sequel. Her other film credits include Schindler's List, Hook, Cliffhanger, Shattered Glass, and Disclosure. She's also seen in Chasing Liberty, Haven, Hotel Sorrento, Every Time We Say Goodbye, My Life in Ruins, Third Person, The Best of Me, Hunter Killer, and The Dressmaker. Additionally, Goodall wrote, produced, and acted in The Bay of Silence.

Furthermore, on TV, Caroline Goodall starred in Sky One's Bulletproof and BBC's The Moon Stallion. She also appeared in Half a World Away, A Difficult Woman, The Mists of Avalon, Mrs. Biggs, The White Queen, and The White Princess. Moreover, Goodall had a recurring role in Epix's Berlin Station. Most recently, the actress played a part in The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Next, Goodall will star in Birds of Paradise and The Islander.

Robert Schwartzman (Michael Moscovitz)

As Michael Moscovitz, Lilly's insecure older brother who has a crush on Mia, Robert Schwartzman plays a lovelorn character in Disney's The Princess Diaries. Outside of this role, the actor is best known for playing Paul Baldino in Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides. Additionally, he appeared in Somewhere, Look, It Happened in L.A., and Lost Transmissions, which he also produced. Furthermore, Schwartzman co-wrote, directed, and acted in The Unicorn. Moreover, the actor wrote, produced, and directed Dreamland (which also featured his original music) and, most recently, last year's The Argument.

Additionally, outside of acting, Robert Schwartzman produced this year's Mainstream. He's also composed Palo Alto and short films like 2012's Casino Moon and 2013's Modern/Love. Away from film, the actor is the lead vocalist of the rock band, Rooney. Schwartzman is also the co-founder of Utopia Media. Next, he'll appear in Not an Artist.

Erik Von Detten (Josh Bryant)

In the role of Josh Bryant, Mia's popular, egomaniac crush, Erik von Detten played a self-absorbed guy in The Princess Diaries. Most famously, the actor voiced Sid in Toy Story 1 and 3. He also lent his voice to the role of Erwin Lawson in ABC's Recess, as well as Recess: School's Out and several direct-to-video movies, and to the role of Flynt in Tarzan and UPN's The Legend of Tarzan. Additionally, von Detten is heard in Hercules, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Family Guy, The Wild Thornberrys, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Aaaah!!! Real Monsters. Moreover, he starred in The Pinocchio Shop, Odd Man Out, So Weird, Dinotopia, Complete Savages, and Disney Channel's hit film, Brink!

Furthermore, Erik von Detten's other film credits include Smile, National Lampoon's Barely Legal, American Girl, Top Dog, All I Want for Christmas, and Amanda. Next, the former actor will make a cameo as a fictional version of himself in The Tonopah Five.

Patrick Flueger (Jeremiah Hart)

Playing the part of Jeremiah Hart, Mia and Lilly's magician friend, Patrick Flueger was a passionate personality in Gary Marshall's The Princess Diaries, which served as his acting debut. Most notably, he's recognized for his performance as Shawn Farrell in USA Network's The 4400. Currently, Flueger plays Adam Ruzek in NBC's Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, and Chicago Med. His other TV credits include Scoundrels, Boston Public, Judging Amy, CSI: Miami, Grounded For Life, JAG, Criminal Minds, and Special Skills.

Additionally, Patrick Flueger's other film credits include Footloose (2011), Brothers, Kill Theory, The World's Fastest Indian, Spin, The Job, Loaded, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Super, and Lawless Range. He also appeared in Mother's Day, but not Garry Marshall's final film of the same name. Most recently, Flueger was seen in the web series, Beta.

Sean O’Bryan (Patrick O’Connell)

As Patrick O'Connell, Mia's English teacher who later dates her mother, Sean O'Bryan had a notable supporting turn in The Princess Diaries movies. Elsewhere, he played Ray Monroe in Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen. O'Bryan's other film credits include Crimson Tide, Chaplin, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Big Fat Liar, Deck the Halls, Yes Man, Beatriz At Dinner, and Vantage Point. Also, the actor worked with Gary Marshall on Frankie and Johnny, Exit to Eden, New Year's Eve, and Mother's Day.

Additionally, on TV, Sean O'Bryan starred in ABC's Brother's Keeper. He also had lead parts in Abby, Persons Unknown, and Pig Sty. Moreover, O'Bryan had a recurring role in ABC's The Middle. His other TV credits include Shameless, Dexter, Good Luck Charlie, Six Feet Under, and Murder, She Wrote. Most recently, O'Bryan guest-starred in Fox's 9-1-1: Lone Star and Hulu's Love, Victor. Next, he'll appear in Boy Makes Girl and Babylon.

Sandra Oh (Geraldine Gupta)

In the role of Geraldine Gupta, Mia's vice principal, Sandra Oh had a pre-fame part in Disney's The Princess Diaries. Most notably, she won Emmys for her starring roles in Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve. Likewise, Oh was Emmy nominated for co-hosting The Golden Globes and hosting Saturday Night Live. Her other TV credits include Arliss, Judging Amy, and American Crime. Additionally, Oh was heard in American Dad!, The Proud Family, Mulan II, Phineas and Ferb, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Furthermore, Sandra Oh's other film credits include Sideways, Double Happiness, The Diary of Evelyn Lau, Under the Tuscan Sun, Hard Candy, Rabbit Hole, and Dancing at the Blue Iguana. Recently, she lent her voice to Under the Moon, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Invincible. This past weekend, Oh starred in Netflix's The Chair. Next, she'll be seen in The Same Storm and Umma and heard in Turning Red and The Tiger's Apprentice.

Larry Miller (Paolo Puttanesca)

Playing the part of Paolo Puttanesca, Mia's demanding hairdresser and beautician, Larry Miller had a memorable role in The Princess Diaries movies. Previously, Miller appeared in Garry Marshall's Pretty Woman, Dear God, and Runaway Bride. The character actor later reunited with the director with Raising Helen, Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, and Mother's Day. Additionally, Miller is known for his work with Christopher Guest. Specifically, the actor appeared in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. His other film credits include The Nutty Professor movies, 10 Things I Hate About You, Max Keeble's Big Move, L.A. Story, Chairman of the Board, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, For Richer Or Poorer, Radioland Murders, and Second Act.

Furthermore, on TV, Larry Miller was seen in Mad About You, 8 Simple Rules, Monk, and Law & Order. Most recently, the comic reprised his role as Ed Slater on NCIS in 2019.

Stream The Princess Diaries on Disney+.

20 years ago, Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi was crowned princess of Genovia in The Princess Diaries, and the Anne Hathaway character has since become the reigning heir of a generation. Today is the monumental anniversary of the Disney film, and between celebrations of family comedy, fans of the movie are reminded that Princess Diaries 3 was once on the table.

The Princess Diaries was Anne Hathaway’s first movie ever and breakout role, which she took time to remember today on her Instagram with some behind-the-scenes photos of the production. But in the comments section, the conversation was filled overwhelmingly with questions to the actress about when fans might see Mia Thermopolis again.

Fans flooded the post with comments such as "Princess Diaries 3 when???," "I'M WAITING FOR PRINCESS DIARIES 3 ANNIE" and "I want a sequel so badly." Disney's latest live-action princess, Rachel Zegler, who's set to play Snow White in an upcoming movie, also called the original "the most formative experience of my childhood."

The Princess Diaries' birthday is also the birthday of Anne Hathaway’s incredible career too, so she most definitely should be sounding the horns about the release date in history that changed her life at 18. The Disney movie also starring Julie Andrews was a massive hit when it came out over the summer season and inspired an also-successful sequel in 2004.

Back in 2016, the films’ director Garry Marshall shared that he was working on another Princess Diaries film before he passed away that same year. Since then, Anne Hathaway brought hope to fans in 2019 that a script had been written and shared her and Julie Andrews’ interest in playing Genovians again if they can make a “perfect” sequel.

Chris Pine, who played Mia’s prince Nicholas Devereaux, also seemed game, along with the actress behind her best friend Heather Matarazzo’s Lilly Moscovitz. That’s a lot of green lights for a movie we’ve heard little about since 2020. But interest surrounding the anniversary post certainly shows that there’s an audience for Anne Hathaway to dust off her crown.

Another made-in-2001 icon, Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods, is already getting ready to get back into that hot pink for Legally Blonde 3, set for release in 2022. Disney’s other live-action princess, Amy Adams’ Giselle, is returning to the screen as well for Disenchanted with Patrick Dempsey and Idina Menzel. So it’s not out of Hollywood’s realm to bring back a franchise like Princess Diaries, and it'd be great to see Mia and Queen Clarisse return for one more touching film.

Anne Hathaway quoted the movie’s most popular song “Miracles Happen,” but can we also get that energy in terms of another Princess Diaries movie? It’d be interesting to see how Mia is doing 20 years after taking the throne and finding love with Chris Pine’s character. How is Genovia like now, and hey, if there is a script already written, why not let someone make it?

It’s been a big anniversary year for Anne Hathaway considering the actress also recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of The Devil Wears Prada. Coming up, she’s be part of the Sesame Street movie and a comedy called She Came To Me. Do you want to see Princess Diaries 3? Vote in our poll below.

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We just lost a legend in Christopher Plummer. He was Sound of Music’s Captain Von Trapp, Up’s villainous explorer and Best Supporting Actor winner for Beginners, along with being a husband, father, friend and collaborator to those who knew him. Following news breaking of his passing on Friday, an outpouring of tributes were penned in memory of the late actor, including from his Maria, i.e. Julie Andrews, and recent co-star Knives Out’s Chris Evans.

His most famous co-star is undoubtedly the 85-year-old Julie Andrews, who shared the screen with Christopher Plummer for the timeless Sound of Music film back in 1965. The actors remained friends for the past 65 years, and following his death, Andrews released this statement via ABC News:

When the pair were interviewed back in 2015 by Vanity Fair, their dynamic was described as something of a “well-worn patter of an old married couple” as Julie Andrews also referred to the actor as “honeybun” and they looked back on 50 years of friendship. Although it's a somber day for the Mary Poppins actress, she has a breadth of memories to look back on with Christopher Plummer, and chiefly remembered their laughs and good times together.

Christopher Plummer is survived by his wife Elaine Taylor, and his one daughter, Amanda Plummer, who he had in 1957 with his first wife, Tammy Grimes. Along with his Sound of Music co-star, Captain America’s Chris Evans took to Twitter to share these words about the late talent:

What a sweet memory! Christopher Plummer had a short-lived, but key role in the whodunnit Knives Out, which became an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay. In the 2019 movie, Plummer played the fallen patriarch to Evans’ Ransom. Knives Out’s writer/director Rian Johnson also shared this tribute:

Christopher Plummer was also an incredible character actor who never shied away from playing a great villain. Back in 1991, he played a Klingon adversary in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country to the original cast. Sulu actor George Takei said the following on Twitter about his former costar’s passing:

John Cusack also shared his condolences, describing his impressions of the Oscar winner, who he worked with on 2005’s Must Love Dogs. In his words:

Pixar Animation also collaborated with Christopher Plummer on one of the studio’s most celebrated films, Up. Pixar’s Twitter account shared a sketch of his character, Charles F. Muntz, to remember him by:

Amazon Prime Video also paid tribute to Christopher Plummer’s career with an apt quote from Knives Out that the actor uttered before his character died in the murder mystery:

Christopher Plummer will be greatly missed, and here at CinemaBlend, we offer our deepest condolences to the late actor’s family, friends and fans. Before we say so long and farewell, let’s take a moment to remember the Captain and Maria’s Sound of Music dance:

It hasn't been an easy year in Hollywood as far as losing iconic actors, but Christopher Plummer will always live through his movies such as The Sound of Music.

Shut. Up. Because The Princess Diaries 3 is finally happening!

It has been more than two decades since Anne Hathaway broke out onto the scene with her performance as Mia Thermoplis in Garry Marshall's 2001 Cinderella story The Princess Diaries, and a few years longer than that since the Academy Award winner returned to Genovia in 2004's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. And now, we know for sure that the third film is finally happening.

But who is going to star in this film? And who is going to direct it now? This is what we know so far.

What Is The Princess Diaries 3 Release Date?

At the time of updating this, in October 2024, there is no set release date for The Princess Diaries 3, which isn’t that surprising, as the movie was only just confirmed earlier this month. But that means that it’s not releasing on any 2024 movie schedule – and it’s too soon to say if there’s a chance it’ll find a spot on the 2025 movie schedule.

Even so, the fact that anything is confirmed, regardless, is great to hear, considering this is something that has been in the works for years.

The Princess Diaries 3 Cast

When it comes to The Princess Diaries 3 cast, we have some info on who is going to be back. Here’s what we know so far:

Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis

So far, there’s only one confirmed cast member for The Princess Diaries 3, and that, my friends, is Anne Hathaway, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which first broke the news of both Hathaway’s involvement, and who would direct the film. She will return as Mia Thermopolis.

In fact, Hathaway even posted about her return in a TikTok video in October 2024, celebrating her return to the world of Genova:

Honestly, Hathaway exploded onto the scene because of movies like The Princess Diaries in the early 2000s, alongside her starring roles in films like Ella Enchanted and The Devil Wears Prada (which is also getting a sequel now twenty years later). Hathaway has certainly had an incredible career since then. Anne Hathaway’s best films have included movies like The Intern, The Dark Knight Rises, and of course, Les Miserables, which earned her an Academy Award.

But the fact that we’re returning back to the movies that truly made her a star, more than two decades later, makes me grin so hard.

Who Else Will Return For Princess Diaries 3?

At the time of updating this in October 2024, there are no other cast members confirmed from either film. Here are some of the actors (and their characters) featured in the first two movies:

• Julie Andrews as Clarisse Renaldi
• Héctor Elizondo as Joe
• Heather Matarazzo as Lilly Moscovitz
• Mandy Moore as Lana Thomas
• Caroline Goodall as Helen Thermopolis
• Robert Schwartzman as Michael Moscovitz
• Erik Von Detten as Josh Bryant
• Sean O'Bryan as Patrick O'Connell
• Sandra Oh as Geraldine Gupta
• Chris Pine as Nicholas Deveraux

Some have already expressed their interest in returning to the franchise if it were to move forward. Co-star Julie Andrews, who played Mia’s grandmother (who was the former queen), has been in support of a new film, but as recently as March 2024 didn’t know if it was moving forward and believed it to be “shelved.” However, with it confirmed, who knows? We might end up seeing her back.

Chris Pine, the love interest of the second film (and also another breakout star who has had an amazing career since), has expressed interest since the announcement of the new film. He tells fans to “contact Bob Iger” and get him in the new film because he “didn’t know anything” in a new interview with The Today Show in October 2024:

Several other stars from the former two films have shown interest as well, like Sandra Oh, Mandy Moore and more. Truthfully, I’m just waiting to hear the cast announcements for this, and I for one cannot wait to see who comes back – and who will join this long-awaited sequel.

What Is The Princess Diaries 3 Going To Be About?

So, obviously, we have no idea what The Princess Diaries 3 will be about. The first two films loosely followed the novels by Meg Cabot, but now that it’s been twenty years later, who knows what the new film would follow. The last movie ended with Mia becoming the queen of Genovia, opening a children’s home, allowing women into parliament and kissing Nicholas (Chris Pine). Who knows what the heck the new story will be about.

The original director, Gary Marshall, was working on a script back in April 2016 when he had a conversation on Larry King Now, where the director opened up about whatever he was working on regarding the story of Queen Mia:

However, the world was saddened by the death of the legendary film and television director at the age of 81 in just a few months later in July. .

Sadly, we won’t know what he was planning for the next film. According to The Hollywood Reporter article above, Melissa Stack is the latest to write the script for the new film, but no plot details have been released.

Adele Lim Will Direct

While it is devastating that Garry Marshall has passed on after previously directing the previous two installments, we do know who will be taking on the third film – and that’s Adele Lim, according to The Hollywood Reporter article above.

The director released a statement regarding her involvement, saying she’s been a “diehard fan” of the original movies and that she’s so excited to continue the story:

Lim has worked on several high-profile films over the last few years, including writing the screenplay for Crazy Rich Asians, one of the best rom-coms out there, as well as writing Raya and the Last Dragon. She also directed the 2023 comedy film, Joy Ride, so I have faith that The Princess Diaries 3 will be in good hands.

Filming Will Hopefully Begin In 2025

The last piece of news that we know from The Hollywood Reporter article is that filming for The Princess Diaries 3 is planned to begin in 2025. Hopefully, that means we’re going to be getting a lot more updates regarding not only casting, but a release timeframe.

What are you excited for the most about The Princess Diaries 3? All I know is that this is my version of Top Gun Maverick and I will be sat with my mom after waiting basically my whole life for this sequel – and it better be in theaters.

Casting a major movie like director Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street always comes with its fair share of “what if” scenarios that linger when things don’t go a certain way. And yet, in no way could anyone have predicted the following double whammy example of that very phenomenon, as not only was Julie Andrews almost cast in The Wolf of Wall Street, she had to turn the role down due to being “too stoned.”

Yes, we have an explanation, and it comes from the legend herself, as Dame Julie Andrews told this story in a recent interview:

Apparently, the drugs that Dame Julie was under the influence of did help with her recovery from ankle surgery, but it unfortunately put her in the position that she couldn’t participate in the (simulated) drug fueled bacchanalia that was the film adaptation of Jordon Belford’s life of financial fraud and debauchery. Which is a shame, as Andrews was up for a role that could have been a lot of fun to watch her act out.

You might have already guessed this, but during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Julie Andrews was revealed to be up for the role of Aunt Emma, the relative of Margot Robbie’s Naomi who helped Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan hide some of his wealth overseas in Swiss banks. Ultimately, the role was played by fellow British legend Joanna Lumley, who absolutely made it her own.

And to be fair, it might have been a bit much for some audiences to see Andrews playing a character that not only admits to her own drug use, but also Emma asks herself if Jordan is trying to sleep with her. With audiences already complaining about the film during its release, and at its’ ensuing awards contention screenings, you could imagine the negative fallout that might have dogged this alternate version of The Wolf of Wall Street.

That being said, it’s still a hell of a thing to imagine the following scene, played out by Julie Andrews in her own brand of comedic timing:

Alternate castings are fun to speculate about, but in the end, the conversation always ends in the same place. While this “What If?” is a fun question to ask, what is wins out every time. Though reality is the bedrock upon which this school of thought is built upon, it’s still fun to play one of the most popular games known to humanity. Also, it’s certainly more fun to talk about how Julie Andrews rejected The Wolf of Wall Street due to being too stoned than it is to discuss how real life financial crimes have plagued the film’s legacy to this very day.

The Wolf of Wall Street is currently available on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD; while The Princess Diaries 3 still lives on as a hope and a song in all of our hearts.

Julie Andrews was every spoonful of sugar about Mary Poppins Returns before it came out -- strongly supporting Emily Blunt, but also staying out of the way so the new Mary Poppins star could shine. But Andrews didn't say much publicly after the movie's 2018 release. What did she think about it? Did she like it?

Well, the Mary Poppins icon recently shared her reaction, and offered up an unprompted defense of Mary Poppins Returns to anyone still complaining it's #NotMyMaryPoppins.

That's what Julie Andrews said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in answer to a fan's question. Whoopi Goldberg was a fellow guest on the show, and Andy Cohen asked what she thought of the movie. Goldberg hesitated because, as she said, Julie Andrews is always going to be Mary Poppins to her. However, she appreciated that now kids can watch both movies, and in another 30 years there will be another movie. Julie Andrews really liked that idea:

So Julie Andrews loved Mary Poppins Returns and hopes we get another movie in 30 years, or whatever. Every generation gets another Mary Poppins! Why not? Fans often have knee-jerk reactions to things based on their own treasured childhood experiences -- just ask many Star Wars fans -- and that can lead to an aversion to change.

But this new generation of young'uns can watch both Julie Andrews' classic and also enjoy some of the new songs in Mary Poppins Returns. And maybe, just maybe, families can even be inspired to read the eight children's books by P.L. Travers to get a full picture of the author's version of Mary Poppins.

Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall sounded open to returning for another Mary Poppins movie, and probably sooner than 30 years from now. Emily Blunt also said she'd love to play Mary Poppins again.

However, while Mary Poppins Returns was generally well-received, it wasn't a huge blockbuster, and it remains to be seen if Disney would want to invest in another movie from the current team.

Mary Poppins Returns got mostly good reviews from critics and it has a Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score of 65% from 6,888 users. It got a CinemaScore of A- from moviegoers who were polled on opening night. The Disney movie made $349,537,494 worldwide, per Box Office Mojo, which isn't exactly a blockbuster. That money was a pretty even split between domestic and foreign and probably not quite what Disney was hoping for.

Mary Poppins Returns was expected to be one of Christmas 2018's major hits, and instead it was pretty much washed away by Aquaman -- which, ironically, co-starred Julie Andrews. Watch the full clip of her Mary Poppins discussion:

Now that almost a year has passed, what are your thoughts on Mary Poppins Returns? Would you like to see another Mary Poppins movie? If so, soon-ish, or would you rather Disney wait several years?

Grab some tissues and prepare to cry (again) through "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from Mary Poppins Returns. The nominated song will be performed at the 2019 Oscars, but not by Emily Blunt. We already knew that, and we knew the Academy teased that "a surprise special guest" would be singing the beautiful tune instead.

Many fans guessed it would be Julie Andrews, the original Mary Poppins, despite Andrews not having any connection to Mary Poppins Returns (and instead having a cameo in competitor Aquaman). Also, Andrews, who is now 83, had complications after vocal cord surgery and hasn't done as much singing since then.

Instead, the surprise special guest revealed the news herself last night:

"Wind Beneath My Wings" singer Bette Midler has won three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards. She was also nominated for the Best Actress Oscar twice -- for The Rose in 1980 and in 1992 for For the Boys. She should be able to do the Mary Poppins Returns song justice.

The Oscars has seen many controversies this year, including for the Best Original Song category. Initially, to shorten the ceremony, The Academy planned to only have two of the five nominated songs performed live -- "Shallow" from A Star is Born, and "All the Stars" from Black Panther. That was met with plenty of backlash, and the Academy reversed the decision. Now all of the five nominees will be heard -- those three, plus "I'll Fight" from RBG, and "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

"The Place Where Lost Things Go" from Mary Poppins Returns has nominations for Marc Shaiman's music, and the lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. According to Variety, Bette Midler is a longtime friend of composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman, and he's expected to accompany her on piano at the Oscars.

In CinemaBlend's ranking of Mary Poppins Returns songs, "The Place Where Lost Things Go" was picked as #1 -- for the way Emily Blunt's Mary subtly and beautifully sings of the children's loss in a lullaby.

It's a shame Emily Blunt wasn't nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and also sad that she won't be performing this song herself. There has been no explanation for why Blunt isn't performing the song -- did she say she'd prefer not to? -- but now we know the song is in the capable hands of Bette Midler.

The 91st Academy Awards will all be awarded live, and songs will be sung, on Sunday, February 24 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here's the full list of 2019 Oscar nominations. Mary Poppins Returns is expected to release on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital in March.

This Holiday Season will be fascinating in movie theaters, as the market is seemingly open for grabs. With Disney not releasing a new Star Wars movie for the first time in years, there's a chance for other properties to clean up at the box office. Of course, Disney is still making an attempt at a release with Mary Poppins Returns, following up on the 1964 original. While Emily Blunt will be taking on the role from Julie Andrews, the OG Mary does have her own movie coming out, as she has a small role in James Wan's Aquaman.

A surprise to many, it was announced a month ago that Julie Andrews would be voicing a role in Aquaman. She's playing the mythic Karathen, an undersea creature who will reportedly hold the key to Arthur Curry's ascension to the throne of Atlantis. It's a casting choice that fans didn't expect, especially since Andrews turned down a role in Mary Poppins Returns. But now we've got a better idea behind the living legend's inclusion, courtesy of Aquaman writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick:

It looks like James Wan was looking for a powerful female voice. And what's more powerful than Julie Andrews? After all, she played a queen. More than once.

David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick's comments to LA Times help illuminate the thought behind bringing Julie Andrews into the DC Universe. While there are countless actors who have been rumored for DC characters, the Mary Poppins and Sound of Music legend wasn't one of them. But James Wan has always been a director with a specific vision, and that includes making Karathen a lady monster.

Julie Andrews' role in Aquaman has given the upcoming DC blockbuster more, unexpected press. She already seems like an unlikely choice to pair with horror director James Wan, and it's even more interesting given the release of Mary Poppins Returns. Aquaman is Disney's big competition for box office supremacy this year, as action fans will likely go see the underwater adventure. So Andrews being on the other side of things makes the upcoming competition all the more interesting.

While news of Julie Andrews' role in Aquaman was announced a month ago, it's still unclear exactly how large the role is. Her character Karathen has largely been kept out of the trailers, with only a few brief glimpses of the creature shown thus far. While she's been teased to have a significant role in Arthur Curry's ascension as the King of The Sea, the size of the role if a mystery. Perhaps she has some connection to the Trident of Atlan, which is the weapon that seems to be a main macguffin of the upcoming movie.

When Mary Poppins Returns was first announced, Disney fans immediately began wondering whether or not Julie Andrews would be part of the sequel. The 1964 original was a major success story for both Disney and Andrews herself. The movie ultimately won five Oscars for the musical classic, with Andrews snatching the coveted Best Actress trophy in the process. As such, fans assumed that she'd have a role in the Rob Marshall sequel.

But the story that's been circulating for the past year is that Julie Andrews respectfully declined returning to the property for Mary Poppins Returns. It's a classy move, with the 83 year old actress reporetedly wanting Emily Blunt to have the space to occupy the character, free of comparisons. Dick Van Dyke did end up returning for a role of his own, but the Mary Poppins sequel will be void of Andrews' presence.

Smart money says Rob Marshall wanted Julie Andrews for the role of the Balloon Lady, who pops up briefly and even has her own little song. Instead, another Disney legend was approached, with Beauty and The Beast' Angela Lansbury ultimately playing the role in the upcoming sequel. Luckily for those fans of Andrews who were having FOMO about Mary Poppins Returns, she's got her unexpected role in Aquaman.

Although surprising, Julie Andrews' casting in Aquaman actually makes a great deal of sense. While she's best known for her performances on Broadway and in movie musicals like The Sound of Music, she's also had a long career as a voice actress. Andrews played a royal in the Shrek franchise, voicing Queen Lillian for three movies. She also has a recurring role in the Despicable Me franchise, while also narrating Disney's Enchanted. Andrews knows her way around a studio, so she's a great choice to bring Karathen to life on the big screen.

While Mary Poppins Returns has the pressure of following up on a classic, James Wan's Aquaman has its own type of anticipation and extremely high stakes. DC's live-action universe has had a bumpy road to theaters, with a ton of peaks and valleys during its short life in theaters. Thus far, only Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman has been a critical success, so the pressure is on for Warner Bros. to deliver another hit.

Additionally, the use of Aquaman as a leading man is relatively new concept. The underwater hero has typically been the butt of jokes throughout the years, although Jason Momoa has the hulking physicality and hulking personality to make him a bonafide badass. He had a supporting role in Justice League, but is given the chance to steal the spotlight in James Wan's blockbuster.

Luckily for DC fans, early reception for Aquaman has been very positive. James Wan's vision and past with horror have brought Atlantis to life, while also breaking new ground in regards to filming underwater scenes. Sometimes painful wirework was needed to allow the actors to "swim" during scenes, while extensive CGI is needed to make the characters' hair and clothes appear weightless underwater.

Aquaman will arrive in theaters, complete with Julie Andrews, on December 21, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

An extra spoonful of sugar, Mary? Don't mind if I do. Turns out this holiday season will feature the return of Mary Poppins starring Emily Blunt and the big screen debut of Aquaman now with Julie Andrews among the cast.

According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Julie Andrews has a previously undisclosed voice role in Aquaman as the mythic Karathen who is an undersea creature in possession of the key Arthur Curry will need in order to unite the people of land and sea. The legendary actress best known for her roles in The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Princess Diaries is now joining an impressive ensemble in the upcoming installment.

Andrews chose not to appear in Mary Poppins Returns to make way for Emily Blunt to shine instead of stand in the shadows of Andrews practically perfect iconic role. Considering Aquaman is now a box office competitor to that movie, it's a little bit weird, but she probably wasn't thinking about that when she decided to say yes to one project and no to the other.

Andrews will get her own unique moment to shine this December with her role in Aquaman, amongst an already-packed cast already introduced in the underwater superhero epic. Aquaman producer Peter Safran said they were looking for a classic British actress to take on Karathen and when they approached Andrews she was quite enthusiastic about playing her.

In the past decade, the 83-year-old actress has lent her voice to the Despicable Me films as Gru's mother and the Shrek films. Julie Andrews' last full-fledged appearance in a movie was in 2010's Tooth Fairy, but she also appeared in her Netflix children's show Julie's Greenroom last year. Considering her long and successful career at center stage, we don't blame her for being choosy on her recent projects. It will be a nice treat to see her bring her voice in Aquaman and if the movie wins big at the box office, she could potentially return as Karathen.

With the release of the final trailer for Aquaman, fans started to worry that the film was giving away too much prior to the release. Director James Wan assured them on Twitter that there's still much to be seen when it comes to theaters. The addition of Julie Andrews in Aquaman as a mythic sea creature certainly makes this point, as the news is quite the curve ball. There's a lot to be excited for about the DC superhero film, and we can add Andrews' appearance to the list.

Although Julie Andrews will not appear in Mary Poppins Returns, it does mark the return of Dick Van Dyke to screen in a rare role for himself. When Van Dyke heard of the Mary Poppins sequel, he immediately asked if he could join the cast. While Lin-Manuel Miranda is filling the spot as the lead co-star to Emily Blunt, he will make at cameo in the movie.

Mary Poppins Returns flies into theaters on December 19 alongside Aquaman making waves on December 21.

Mary Poppins Returns may technically be a sequel, but don't expect everything to be reminiscent of the original film. While the Julie Andrews performance in the original Mary Poppins will undoubtedly be felt in the new film, Emily Blunt says that when looking for her version of the character, she went back to the original books, where Mary Poppins is perhaps a bit rougher around the edges than Andrews' Oscar-winning performance. According to Blunt...

While I haven't read many of the Mary Poppins books written by P.L. Travers, I have read the first, and I can certainly concur that in that book Poppins is a bit more surly than Julie Andrews is in the film. While the actress' performance certainly portrays Mary Poppins as somebody who isn't going to explain herself to anybody, and who can be quite forceful when she wants to be, you always get the impression in the film that it's all done with love. While that may be the intention in the books as well, it doesn't come across quite as much. You never get to see Mary's face and know if she's smirking or not.

We got to see some of that in the first trailer for Mary Poppins Returns which sees Mary return to the home of the Banks children (and also their children) as if she was expected. She immediately admonishes Michael for referencing her age, and seems to absolutely deny the use of magic, even when she's witnessed performing it.

At the same time, the new movie is still a musical and that means bright, colorful and fun musical numbers, some of which we've gotten a glimpse of here and there. It's difficult for even Mary Poppins to not smile if she's singing and dancing around, so not everything about Emily Blunt's version of the character is acerbic.

Emily Blunt's version of Mary Poppins (via THR) isn't the only thing that reportedly came from the books. Lin-Manuel Miranda has said that the writers went back to the original source material to look for ideas as well. The original Mary Poppins took several different characters and adventures from many of the early books and it seems that the new movie will have done the same. While the overarching plot will follow Mary Poppins caring for the children of a widowed Michael Banks, there will certainly be several, not strictly related, adventures that our characters will go on.

The original Mary Poppins was a beloved film and the buzz surrounding the new one is equally good. The possibility for Blunt to follow Julie Andrews and get an Oscar nomination for playing the same role is certainly there.

Mary Poppins Returns hits theaters this Christmas.

There are few scenes in the history of cinema as iconic as the opening of The Sound of Music. However, according to Julie Andrews, filming the scene was not as beautiful as the scene turned out to be. Recently, Julie Andrews discussed how the scene was filmed, with a helicopter moving toward her while she moved toward it. The filming itself seemed to go ok, but when the chopper had to reset to do another take, things got a bit wild for the actress. According to Andrews...

It's mostly funny because when you look back at a classic like The Sound of Music, the movie itself has such an air of dignity to it that one just sort of assumes that the production of the movie did as well. But according to Julie Andrews' comments on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, that's apparently not the case. While the final version of the opening moments is just a beautiful vista in Austria with the swelling music of the movie's title theme, what Julie Andrews experienced was quite different. She also had to put up with what we can only assume was an immense amount of noise coming from a helicopter, which was probably doing a decent job drowning out the massive speakers hidden in trees that were playing the music Andrews was trying to lip sync to.

While the scene may have been difficult to film, it set the tone for what would go on to be one of the popular movies ever made. The Sound of Music is just one of the reasons that Julie Andrews is one of the greatest actresses that ever lived. Check out her full comments about the memorable scene, with a Tonight Show host who clearly loves the movie, in the clip below.

We're certainly glad that Julie Andrews braved the dirt and grass in order to produce one of the most memorable moments in movie history. You can tell how important a movie The Sound of Music is by virtue of the fact that nobody has even dared a theatrical remake yet.

Certain silver screen characters are inextricably linked to individual actors. Harrison Ford will always be Indiana Jones, Mark Hamill will always be Luke Skywalker and Clint Eastwood will always be Dirty Harry. For a long time, Julie Andrews' portrayal of Mary Poppins fell into that category, but that will change next year with Emily Blunt stepping into the role when Mary Poppins Returns debuts. Faced with the pressure of replacing Andrews, Blunt recently revealed that she's not looking to the original Mary Poppins for inspiration because she's going back to the original books to guide her instead. Blunt explained:

As far as inspiration goes, looking to the source material as a means to guide Emily Blunt's portrayal of Mary Poppins seems like a smart bet. This allows her to deviate from what has already been done on the silver screen, while still crafting the character from a place that feels authentic and genuine to what she's supposed to be. If she only tries to copy Julie Andrews' legendary performance, audiences will notice, and the film will suffer as a result. Blunt is instead crafting something new that will stand on its own -- drawing inspiration from the Mary Poppins books, and a dash of Hildy Johnson from His Girl Friday, per Blunt in a recent chat with EW.

Early descriptions of Blunt's version of the character have described her as a slightly meaner version of Mary (or as mean as Mary can reasonably get), which already seems to bode quite well for the upcoming sequel. Beyond that, the transition to a new version of the iconic character will be made considerably easier by the fact that this new story will take her to Depression-era London to care for a new generation of Banks children. It's a new world populated by new personalities. After all, with eight Mary Poppins novels to draw inspiration from, there's no shortage of material to adapt that has nothing to do with Andrews' performance.

Despite Emily Blunt's decision to adhere more to the book than Julie Andrews' performance in the original Mary Poppins film, it's worth mentioning that a certain degree of continuity will exist between these stories. Specifically, Mary Poppins Returns still exists in the universe of the first movie, and the sequel will include cameos from key Mary Poppins performers like Dick Van Dyke. While Mary may change ever so slightly as a new actress steps in for the role, the core DNA of a Mary Poppins movie will likely remain similar to the original.

Mary Poppins Returns will hit theaters on Christmas Day 2018. For more particulars about the rest of 2017's most highly anticipated theatrical debuts, make sure to check out CinemaBlend's comprehensive movie premiere guide!

The sequel to Mary Poppins is currently filming and it will be here in 2018. One of the actors from the original, Dick Van Dyke, will be making a cameo appearance, but the original Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews will not. It would be easy to assume that a lack of participation might indicate a lack of support for the new film or in Emily Blunt's performance in the title role. However, the truth is quite the opposite. According to the director, Andrews is staying out of the film because she doesn't want to do anything that might take away from Blunt portrayal of the magical nanny. Rob Marshall says...

It would seem that Rob Marshall tried to hint at the idea of Julie Andrews taking some sort of role in the new film, but Andrews shot it down immediately. It's an incredibly nice thing for her to do. While Mary Poppins fans would love to see Julie Andrews again, it's certainly true that as soon as the actress came on screen, all attention would shift from Emily Blunt to the woman who originated the role. By staying off the screen it will help reduce comparisons (though certainly not eliminate them) and help let Emily Blunt make the role her own.

It's clear from Rob Marshall's complete comments to Entertainment Weekly that Julie Andrews is actually over the moon that Mary Poppins Returns is happening, and even more excited that Emily Blunt will be taking the title role. The last thing Julie Andrews wants to do is steal the film's thunder.

The other lead of the original Mary Poppins Dick Van Dyke, will appear in the new film in the role of Mr. Dawes Jr., the son of one of the characters he played in the original film. He was originally done up in so much makeup that he was essentially unrecognizable. Odds are something similar will be done here, so people won't necessarily even know Van Dyke is on screen.

We have to agree with Julie Andrews that Emily Blunt feels like the perfect choice bring Mary Poppins back to the big screen. While we would have loved to see Andrews make an appearance, we can't fault her for wanting to give Blunt the best possible chance of success. Mary Poppins Returns arrives in theaters on Christmas Day of 2018.

There exist few tasks in Hollywood more difficult than recasting an iconic role. This becomes even harder when the first person to take on a given role nailed it perfectly the first time around. It's been over 50 years since we last saw beloved British nanny, Mary Poppins, and the role will soon be handed from Julie Andrews to Emily Blunt -- who clearly has big shoes to fill. There's only one question: how does Andrews feel about bequeathing such an important role to a new generation? As it turns out, she's perfectly fine with it. Blunt explained:

While speaking with EW, Emily Blunt revealed that Mary Poppins Returns' director, Rob Marshall, recently had a chance to talk to Julie Andrews about Blunt taking over the iconic role. Apparently -- like the rest of us -- Julie Andrews is a fan of Emily Blunt's body of work, and she's completely on board with the idea. The reveal of Andrews' approval reportedly served as a huge relief to Blunt, who felt much more confident in the role knowing that the original Mary Poppins supported the casting decision. After all, even the most confident and accomplished actors can still feel the pressure in situations such as this.

Recasting has become an incredibly common practice in Hollywood these days, as we live in an era defined by long-running franchises. Some characters, like Batman, get recast all of the time, and as such it has become something that we as members of the audience expect. However, certain other characters -- like Indiana Jones -- feel intrinsically linked to the performer that takes on the role. Up until recently, we very much felt that way about Julie Andrews and her portrayal of Mary Poppins, but it looks like Andrews herself has no problem with Emily Blunt filling her shoes.

That being said, the act of recasting Andrews is further helped by the fact that Mary Poppins Returns will look more to the source material than the 1964 film for inspiration. The original incarnation of the character differs from Julie Andrews' version in that Mary Poppins herself is somewhat "meaner," and as such Emily Blunt cannot completely emulate Andrews' prim and proper nanny in the evolution of the role. As a result of this, Blunt will have quite a bit more creative freedom than she would if Rob Marshall and the team behind Mary Poppins Returns had decided to do a straight remake of the original. It's a small detail, but it helps take this character in a new direction.

We will just have to wait and see what Emily Blunt brings to the role of the iconic British Nanny. Mary Poppins Returns is currently slated to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2018. Stay tuned for more details!

Sequels are a funny thing. Traditionally, these films were poor imitations of the original which were developed immediately after the success of a film. They were often produced solely to make more money, and would be released just a year or two after its predecessor. However, Hollywood has started to break the sequel mold in recent years, giving new life to projects which had long been considered completed. Tons of movies from the 90's and older have been given sequels lately, perhaps the most remarkable being Mary Poppins Returns, while will continue the story from the 1964 Disney classic.

While we were all surprised that Mary Poppins would be getting a long-awaited sequel, it was clear that some cast changes were going to be necessary. Disney hit the nail on the head by booking Emily Blunt as the titular magical nanny, as well as adding Broadway royalty and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda as a new chimney weep. But many fans have been wondering if any of the original cast would be making appearances in the long-awaited sequel. Now it appears they're in luck.

E! Online has just reported that both Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke are currently in talks to return to the world of Mary Poppins. The size and type of role the legends could play is a complete mystery, but it seems fitting that the actors who brought so many joy in their performances should return to the franchise and delight audiences again. It's also important to note that one of Julie Andrews' reps has denied any discussion occurring, but it's probably just too early to announce anything.

While the development of Mary Poppins Returns is still in its infancy, it's quickly shaping up to be an extremely exciting live-action adventure for the House of Mouse. In addition to Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the movie will also boast a performance by the legendary Meryl Streep and will be directed by Rob Marshall. Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winning composer Marc Shaiman will also be writing original music for the sequel which will apparently now feature Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Set 20 years after the events of the original film, Mary Poppins Returns will follow an adult Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael's three children. Set in a Depression-era London, we will see Mary Poppins return to help the kids find joy in their lives in the wake of a tragedy. Luckily for them, the practically perfect nanny will surely help Jane and Michael with some songs, laughter, and hopefully an animated sequence.

What role do you think Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke could have in Mary Poppins Returns? Should they be cameos, or bonafide roles? Sound off in the comments below.

If you’ve been paying attention to the world of TV and movies one thing will be clear: we’re living in a world of reboots and long-awaited sequels. Nostalgia has been ruling the world of entertainment for a while now, with 2016 being the year unexpected reboots are winning the day. With Independence Day: Resurgence and Fuller House bringing the 90’s back to the forefront of entertainment, more production companies are bringing back beloved pieces of TV and movies. Disney seems to understand this trend, and they have apparently been in talks regarding a new sequel to 2001’s The Princess Diaries.

While making an appearance on Larry King Now, The Princess Diaries director Garry Marshall opens up regarding the development of the third film in the series:

Well, they talk about it. Disney always likes to announce things, so they tell Garry, ‘Shut up, we’ll announce it. [Anne Hathaway] came to my office, she was quite pregnant…she puts her computer on the table, pushes three buttons, there’s Julie Andrews on Skype in Long Island. And we have a meeting.

This certainly seems promising. Not only is a new Princess Diaries film being discussed, but the original stars are involved in the conversation.

We’d previously reported that rumors were floating around regarding a Princess Diaries 3, but things are a bit more concrete now that director Garry Marshall has addressed the rumors. His statement also makes it seem like he perhaps wasn't supposed to tell Larry King that it’s being developed. Not that I’m complaining.

It’s a bit surprising that Anne Hathaway would step back into the clumsy shoes of Mia Thermopolis. The Academy Award winner made her big screen debut in The Princess Diaries, and has since had quite the impressive acting career. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, winning one for her performance as Fantine in Les Miserables.

Then again, Anne Hathaway does owe her career to Disney. In addition to the first Princess Diaries movie, the beginning of her career also included Disney films The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Ella Enchanted. Although she can surely take part in another Oscar season triumph, she may feel a bit of loyalty to the franchise that gave her her big break.

Perhaps most exciting is the prospect of seeing Julie Andrews return to the big screen. Andrews does most of her film work as a voice actress. In fact, the last time she was physically on a big screen was alongside The Rock in 2010’s Tooth Fairy.

Check out Garry Marshall’s Princess Diaries statement on Larry King Now below.

I’d be thrilled to see another Princess Diaries movie hit theaters sometime soon. There’s definitely money to be made by capitalizing on the nostalgia factor, and bringing back the original cast for a final film. Of course, only time will tell if the plan actually comes to fruition. Garry Marshall is getting a bit long in the tooth, and he may not want to be in the directing game forever.

We’ll continue to update you as more information becomes public.

After almost a 12 year gap, there's talk about town that The Princess Diaries 3 might actually happen. Considering the fact that the literary source material has 11 installments, the latest of which is geared towards a more mature audience, there's plenty of material to be mined if Garry Marshall's latest comments in People end up panning out. Though if Marshall and Anne Hathaway's wishes to make a third installment come true, there's five stars from the previous two installments that need to return.

Anne Hathaway

Obviously, The Princess Diaries 3 wouldn't be anything without its crown princess, Anne Hathaway. Though Garry Marshall mentions that Anne Hathaway's current pregnancy causes a slight delay in actually bringing the project to the forefront, both parties seem engaged in making it happen. And with a chance to tell the story of a more grown-up Princess Mia Thermopolis Renaldi, the third entry in the series could serve as a fitting conclusion to the saga that helped make Hathaway such a big deal.

Heather Matarazzo

If Princess Mia is returning, then she'll surely need the advice of her dear best friend, Lilly Moscovitz. Played in the original two Princess Diaries films by Heather Matarazzo, a reunion of Lilly and Mia wouldn't be complete without bringing her back into the legendary duo that fans of the previous films have come to know and love. Though her experience in last year's Sisters may prepare her for any sort of jump in tone the humor of the franchise may take.

Chris Pine

After The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement introduced a legitimate love interest for Princess Mia in the way of Lord Nicholas Devereaux, a new door seemed to have opened in terms of Mia's story. With their romance culminating with a dramatic kiss, and little else, fans will more than likely want to see how things have progressed between the royal couple. So naturally, Star Trek actor, and friend of Garry Marshall's, Chris Pine, is another previous co-star that needs to come back for round 3. Even if we have to settle for a simple cameo where Pine smiles, and makes it known that he and Mia have been together since the last flick, we'd be happy to gain that sweet closure.

Hector Elizondo

Speaking of friendly Garry Marshall collaborators, how could Genovia run without the help of the man simply known as "Joe?" Such a simple name wouldn't suggest the weight of Joe's true power in the kingdom, but when the kingdom of Genovia really needs it, he's the fierce protector that the royals truly need. Played by Marshall mainstay Hector Elizondo, we couldn't think of anyone who could replace his calm, yet stern, demeanor among his co-stars. Of course, with Joe returning, there's one crucial cast member that needs to return to complete the set.

Julie Andrews

We've got the princess, we've got her prince and her best friend, and we've even got a trusted royal adviser. So, of course, Genovia's previous queen, and Mia's grandmother, Queen Clarisse, is a much needed piece to The Princess Diaries 3's puzzle. Obviously casting anyone other than the legendary Julie Andrews in the role of Queen Clarisse would be high treason against the kingdom, and franchise fans everywhere, so if there's no Julie Andrews then The Princess Diaries 3 is going to be a tough sell indeed.

Did we forget anyone? Mention any Princess Diaries co-stars you'd like to see return in the comments below, and don't forget to get creative!

Lady Gaga is no stranger to controversy or causing divisive rifts, but her performance at the 87th Oscars, where she sang a collection of songs from The Sound of Music, certainly managed to piss off a few people. Almost a month later, she’s still catching grief, this time from Stephen Sondheim, who has some harsh words for the flamboyant pop star.

The legendary composer and lyricist, the man behind the likes of Into the Woods, Sweeny Todd, and so many more, recently spoke to Playbill about Gaga’s presentation and did not mince words. He said:

To be honest, I’m probably the last person who should be chiming in on this subject, as I’m not a fan of either Lady Gaga or The Sound of Music, but Sondheim’s words are pretty harsh. Whatever else you think of her, Gaga can sing her ass off, and the performance was fine for what it is, and a fitting way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beloved musical. Maybe she’s no Julie Andrews, but who the hell is?

It might not fit with the 84-year-old elder statesman of musical theater’s vision of what The Sound of Music should be, but the musical numbers seem to largely be viewed as the high points of the Neil Patrick Harris-hosted event. We even named the tribute as one of our five best moments of the entire broadcast, to give you an idea where we’re coming from.

But Sondheim isn’t the only one casting shadows over Gaga’s time on the Oscar stage. Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, and How To Get Away With Murder creator Shonda Rhimes publicly bashed the performance, lamenting that Idina Menzel was "right there" and that Julie Andrews had to suffer through these versions of the classic songs.

As much hate as Gaga’s rendition has received, however, she has at least that much support and adoration, including coming from where it matters most: Julie Andrews herself. Following the Academy Awards, Andrews was, of course, asked for her thoughts, which were glowing. She praised not only Gaga’s voice and delivery, but her overall demeanor as well, saying she "hit it out of the park." Lending even more credence to the show, before hand, the "Poker Face" singer reached out for, and received, Andrews’ approval and blessing. If we had to hazard a guess, we’d say that’s probably the only opinion Gaga really cares about.

Photo credit: ABC

As you may have guessed from her joyful presence at the Academy Awards last month, Julie Andrews truly adored Lady Gaga’s performance during the Sound Of Music montage during the ceremony. The iconic actress appeared on stage after the sultry singer had performed, and she’s now confirmed that she wasn’t faking the appreciation that she showered upon the pop singer at the time.

When asked for her thoughts on Lady Gaga’s tribute to The Sound Of Music during an interview with People, the actress responded enthisastically,"She hit it out of the ballpark." However, Andrews wasn’t just impressed with Gaga’s singing, but her demeanor as well. The singer/songwriter actually called Andrews to make sure that the she was okay with the rendition, and Andrews was further impressed that Gaga didn’t make a fuss about handing over the stage immediately after her performance. Said the Oscar winner,

Julie Andrews took to the stage to hand out the Best Original Score Academy Award just moments after the final note of had left Gaga’s mouth. And the pair’s warm embrace was one of the sweetest and most endearing moments of the entire extravaganza. In the hours leading up to the ceremony, there were many rumors and suggestions that Lady Gaga would be honoring both Julie Andrews and The Sound Of Music to celebrate the musical’s 50th anniversary. Those proved to be well founded, as Scarlett Johansson introduced Lady Gaga, who then effortlessly warbled her way through the film’s best-known songs. You can watch Gaga’s sublime homage below.

To think there were some people who were worried that Lady Gaga would do Andrews a disservice. And while it’s safe to say that her repertoire didn’t quite live up to Andrews’ original efforts, Gaga was still good enough to make a grown man contemplate moving to Austria and belt out a song on top of a mountain. I’m still not sure if any of her Sound Of Music renditions were quite as good as "Bad Romance" though.

I’d argue that it was only the second or maybe even the third best performance of the entire Oscars evening. Because while Gaga was awesome, she wasn’t quite "Everything Was Awesome," and John Legend and Common singing Selma’s "Glory" was so insanely powerful and emotional that it reduced most of the star-studded crowd to tears. Still, for me, Lonely Island and Tegan & Sara’s contagiously bubbly and joyful performance was the true musical highlight. It was the Batman playing guitar alongside Questlove that just cinched it.

We live in an age where the internet provides delightful mash-ups of random pop culture phenomenon on an almost daily basis. Some of them are truly inspired. Others are simply a complete waste of time. And then there are those that bring together Mary Poppins’ signature track, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and death metal so seamlessly that you’re left wondering if what you just saw was either the greatest two minutes of your life, or just single-handedly ruined your childhood in one fail swoop. Below is said clip. Proceed with caution.

Um … mommy? Please tell me I’m not the only one who suddenly feels the need for a warm embrace with my mother. This supreme incarnation of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was uploaded to YouTube via Andy Rehfeldt, while the music was record and produced by Endless Noise and Sera Hatchett belted out the vocals.

Much like the way that once bread becomes toast it can never become bread again, this has irretrievably changed both Mary Poppins and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" for me for the rest of my life. Still, you can’t help but be engrossed by Mary Poppins Sings Detal Metal. The perfect syncing up of Sara Hatchett’s "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" vocals and Julie Andrews is at first disconcerting but then becomes hypnotic. While the band’s "Um diddle diddle, diddle um, diddle ays" makes the clip even more awesome. Or hellish. I’m just not sure.

Of course, the footage for this video comes straight from Walt Disney’s 1964 classic, Mary Poppins, which told the story of the world’s most famous nanny, who had the ability to fly via her errant umbrella and actively encouraged children to guzzle down sugar by the spoonful. Despite these obvious flaws though she proved to be rather competent in her job and helped bring the Banks family together again. Audiences were so charmed by her antics that Mary Poppins is regarded as one of the most endearing films of all time, while "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is seen as its highlight, and as one of the greatest musical numbers ever created.

However, at no point did Mary Poppins ever reveal that she had a penchant for heavy metal. Which is probably because there wasn’t actually that much heavy metal floating around the wireless back in either 1910 (which is when Mary Poppins is set) or even in 1964 (when the film was actually released). I’m guessing that if she was around today, though, she’d probably dabble a bit in Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and DEATH. She just seems like the type to do so in her downtime.

Those of you whose childhoods have been ruined by watching the clip should at least be thankful that you didn’t have to spell out supercalifragilisticexpialidocious numerous times in such a short space of time.

It’s been fifty years since The Sound Of Music first hit cinemas and instantly blossomed into a classic. The Academy Awards decided to acknowledge just how integral The Sound Of Music has been to the world of cinema at the ceremony on Sunday with a stirring tribute. And they got Lady Gaga in to sing a montage of songs from the film, because – well, why the hell not? You can check out Lady Gaga in her element below.

Say what you want about Lady Gaga, but the gal simply oozes charisma and presence. Plus she also doesn’t have half a bad voice too. After being introduced by Scarlett Johansson, and accompanied by a melee of musicians on a barren stage, she was allowed to simply fill the screen and arena with her voice. Lady Gaga strolled on stage and then belted out the titular song in a rather sensational fashion. OK, she might have paled in comparison to the woman who made the film and song famous. But you really can’t hold that against her because after all there is, and always be, only one Julie Andrews.

After dropping "The Sound Of Music" in imperious fashion, Lady Gaga seamlessly went into "My Favorite Things" too and you could almost hear all of the naysayers instantly being won over. But things were able to get a whole lot more emotional. Because Julie Andrews herself then walked out on stage to share a hug with Lady Gaga, as the crowd rose to their feet in appreciation. Lady Gaga was almost overwhelmed by the appearance of the perpetually beautiful Andrews, and you could hear that her voice was wrought with emotion when she introduced her to the Oscars gathered masses.

Oh yeah, Andrews was also there to hand out the Best Original Score gong too, which went to The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Alexandre Desplat. And even though I have to admit that I was hugely disappointed not to see Hans Zimmer pick up the award for his sterling and beautiful work on Interstellar, even though the film itself is hugely flawed, seeing Julie Andrews more than made up for it. Now, let’s all go and watch The Sound Of Music and rejoice in its brilliance.