Julie Andrews reveals her fitness and wellness routine at 90 (Image Credits IMDb)

At 90, Dame Julie Andrews continues to approach ageing with the same curiosity, discipline and enthusiasm that have defined her extraordinary career. The Oscar-winning star of ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘The Sound of Music’ recently opened up about the simple routine that has remained a constant throughout her life: staying active. While Andrews is no longer following the demanding fitness routines of her younger years, she has continued to incorporate movement into her daily life. Andrews has also credited curiosity and a continued interest in creativity with helping her maintain a youthful outlook.

Julie Andrews says she still feels ‘in my 50s’ at 90

Speaking to Yahoo Life, Andrews revealed that exercise has been part of her routine for most of her life.“I have all my life worked out first thing in the morning or something like that, a little less so these days,” she said.Her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, believes there is another quality that has helped keep Andrews youthful: curiosity.“I think it’s because Mom is at heart a curious person,” Emma said, adding that her mother “stays very interested and very curious about creativity.”Andrews agreed, noting that she is “still learning”.That outlook was also evident during her 2024 appearance on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ ‘Wiser Than Me’ podcast. When asked how old she actually felt, Andrews replied, “Well, I probably feel like in my 50s, honest to God.”“As long as the brain holds out, I’m doing okay. You know, and I don’t feel bad at all now,” she added.

Julie Andrews’ lifelong exercise routine includes walking, yoga and ballet

Movement has been a recurring part of Andrews’ life since her early performing years. Preparing for a demanding run at the London Palladium, she began taking brisk walks through the countryside, deliberately choosing hills and inclines to build stamina and strengthen her legs. Over the years, her fitness routine has also included ballet, stretching and yoga.In a 1996 appearance on ‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’, Andrews revealed that she would begin her day with around 45 minutes of stretching, aerobics and ballet barre.“I do about 45 minutes of stretching and some aerobics and ballet barre and, you know, all the things I know work for me,” she said.Her approach has never appeared to be about chasing extreme fitness goals. Instead, Andrews has favoured exercises that help her maintain mobility and flexibility.“I work out as little as I can for as much gain as I can,” she previously said, explaining that she incorporated yoga and a little ballet for around 30 or 40 minutes every other day.“I keep supple for myself more than for roles,” she added.More recently, Andrews has acknowledged that her routine has naturally evolved with age. In 2024, she told AARP that she was “a bit guilty in [the exercise] department now”, but still worked out, did breathing exercises and practised yoga when she could.

Why Julie Andrews started walking

For Andrews, walking was originally less about wellness trends and more about preparing her body for the physical demands of performing. Her early career required stamina, particularly during demanding stage productions. Brisk walks and hills became a practical way to strengthen her legs and improve endurance. That disciplined approach can be traced back to Andrews’ childhood as a professional performer. She has previously credited the demanding training she received at a young age with developing the work ethic that stayed with her throughout her career.“I am grateful for the early years of my life when the training was very disciplined and crazy,” Andrews told Yahoo Life.“It gave me a work ethic and made me really have to be good,” she added.

Julie Andrews admits ageing can be ‘a nuisance’

While Andrews maintains a positive outlook, she has also been candid about the realities of getting older.During her conversation with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she acknowledged that ageing could sometimes be “a nuisance”, particularly because she still has the desire to remain active.“I want to do more and I want to exercise more and all of those things,” she said, while acknowledging the “aches and pains” that can come with ageing.

Julie Andrews continues to work at 90

Andrews’ creative career remains active even though she has largely stepped away from conventional on-screen acting. She continues to provide the distinctive narration for Netflix and Shonda Rhimes‘ ‘Bridgerton’ series as Lady Whistledown and remains involved in writing projects with Emma Walton Hamilton. In August 2026, Andrews and Emma released ‘Shy’, a children’s book inspired by Andrews’ real-life singing poodle of the same name. The book follows a timid shelter puppy who finds her voice, with the mother-daughter collaboration drawing on themes of self-expression, individuality and animal adoption.Andrews has also recently clarified that she turned down an offer to return for ‘The Princess Diaries 3’, saying she believes she is retired from on-screen acting. Earlier this year, she made a rare public appearance through a pre-recorded message for the World Parkinson’s Congress, where she supported Parkinson’s research. Andrews does not have Parkinson’s but has been an advocate for research into the disease.