On Kelly Ripa’s SiriusXM podcast Let’s Chat Off Camera, the hilarious actress stated that “Julie and I never stopped talking” during their first meeting in 1961.
Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett formed a lasting connection thanks to a set-up decades ago.
“First, I knew an agency and management who knew Julie and also knew the executive producer of The Garry Moore Show. And they said, “You two females have to meet,” “Burnett, 89, made the announcement on Kelly Ripa’s SiriusXM show Let’s Chat Off Camera.
So, after she and Andrews, now 87, ended their Broadway performances, they had dinner with common acquaintances one night in 1961.
“After that, we went to a Chinese restaurant, and those poor dudes didn’t stand a chance,” Burnett claimed. “Julie and I didn’t stop communicating. It just felt like we’d known each other for years. And so we’ve known each other since 1961.”
Andrews later appeared alongside Burnett on The Garry Moore Show, and “the television audience got up and gave us a standing ovation,” the comedian recounted. “I’ve never seen anything like it for a taping.”
The actresses then decided to do a special together in 1962, which led to two more.
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, a pre-recorded NBC show honoring Burnett’s 90th birthday, will air later this month.
Andrews had stated that she and Burnett hit it off right away.
“From day one, we both seem to know and understand where each of us is coming from,” the Mary Poppins star told PEOPLE earlier this month, after naming Burnett godmother to her daughter Emma. “Despite the fact that we came from different nations, we recognized things in each other that we shared. We both had difficult beginnings, and we bonded as a result. The day we met was quick. And it’s been nothing but a very humorous, joyous adventure with a lot of understanding since then.”
Andrews described their bond as “deep mutual respect” with “an awful lot of girlish giggles” when they get together.
“She’s been a long-time friend of mine, and I adore her,” the Princess Diaries star continued. “She’s fantastic to work with, and she’s always been loyal and polite. To be honest, we do not speak every day. Yet it’s the kind of friendship that when you see each other again, everything is exactly the same. It’s a delight to know you have a friend that unique and faithful, and you don’t need to be on, you don’t need to be doing anything other than being yourself.”
Burnett’s character was likewise complimented by the mother of three.
“Having a fresh, open mind is just lovely,” Andrews said. “She is always accessible, open, and generous. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t appreciate her as much as I do, since she’s a rock solid buddy. There’s been a lot of laughs between us, and I’m becoming worse as she encourages me. But it’s a wonderful friendship.”
