Dame Julie Andrews made a rare public appearance on Sunday, delivering a video message to attendees of the seventh World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix, Arizona.
The 90-year-old Hollywood legend, beloved for her roles in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, used the occasion to voice her support for efforts to combat the progressive movement disorder.
The actress also backed the organisation's Red Thread Project, an initiative designed to unite communities affected by the disease.
Her appearance marked a notable return to the public eye, with her previous major outing being Carol Burnett's 90th birthday celebration in 2023.
Dame Julie Andrews made a rare appearance via video
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In her recorded address, Dame Julie spoke about the importance of collective action in tackling the condition.
"Your participation is invaluable, as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease.
"I know well how devastating it can be," she told the gathering.
"May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks."
The actress's iconic career has spanned over eight decades
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The Oscar-winning performer concluded by pledging her personal commitment to the Red Thread Project, which emphasises individual connections combine to create an unbreakable community bond.
"Count me in as a red thread. Thank you," she said.
Whilst Dame Julie has largely stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, she has maintained an active presence in the entertainment industry through her voice work.
The actress continues to narrate Netflix's hit period drama Bridgerton as the enigmatic Lady Whistledown, a role she has held since the series began.
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Julie Andrews is said to be in very good health
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Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in September 2025.
Executive producer Ms Shonda Rhimes celebrated the win on social media, describing Dame Julie as "iconic" and adding: "I'm so grateful she brought her magic to Bridgerton."
While Dame Julie's appearance at the World Parkinson Congress, the beloved star is not known to be suffering from any serious ongoing illnesses.
Insiders said the Mary Poppins actress remains "incredibly fit and healthy" for her age, dealing only with the normal aches and pains associated with later life.
The most significant known health challenge Dame Julie has faced came in the late 1990s, when a botched throat operation permanently damaged her world-famous singing voice.
While starring in the Broadway production of Victor/Victoria in 1997, she developed persistent hoarseness and was diagnosed with non-cancerous vocal nodules.
The vocalist underwent surgery at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Centre in the hope of correcting the issue.
Instead, the procedure left her with irreversible vocal cord damage that destroyed her four-octave soprano range.
The Sound of Music
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Dame Julie later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit, which was settled out of court in 2000.
Years afterwards, it emerged that she had not actually been suffering from vocal nodules but from a muscular striation caused by severe vocal strain.
Although she underwent further corrective procedures, her singing voice could never be fully restored.
The loss had a profound emotional impact on the actress, who later admitted she struggled with depression and felt she had "lost her identity" after being unable to sing.
Dame Julie eventually sought professional grief therapy and gradually rebuilt her career in new directions.
Alongside her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, she became a successful children's author while also focusing on acting, narration and voice work.
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