Getting to know her

How do you solve a problem like losing your singing voice after a botched throat surgery? For Julie Andrews, the answer has involved seeking new venues for her famous soprano. In addition to supplying her regal voice to "Enchanted," the "Shrek" sequels, and "The Princess Diaries," Andrews has found a literary voice with a new biography called "Home," which spans her years as a girl in London up to the time Disney came calling with a career-changing role in "Mary Poppins." We caught up with Andrews, 72, yesterday at a Boston book signing.

CHRISTOPHER MUTHER

Q. Why write a book that focuses on the early years?

A. I take it up to "Mary Poppins," but after that, I think everybody knows what movies I did, and so on. But my early years, I don't think anybody knows what those early years in vaudeville were like.

Q. And the inevitable question: Will there be a follow-up biography?

A. Oh, I don't know. Everybody knows the end story, but no one knows the back story. I'm just sort of enjoying the fact that this is out and done. The publishers have been kind enough in wooing me for about 14 or 15 years. And I kept saying "No, I don't think so," and "No, I don't think I'm ready."

Q. I get the feeling that you're now a little more comfortable with the image that was cast on you in your early films.

A. Oh, I am. Honestly, I think the body of work speaks for itself. It never bothered me, and it was never a burden. How could those movies, that I was lucky and fortunate enough to be asked to play in and gave so much pleasure to people, be a burden? I loved making them. I loved what they did for my career. I loved the joy that they gave.

Q. You never had the urge to put Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp in the trunk of a car and push them in a lake?

A. Honestly no. I never wanted to knock them. Although I think people are inclined to think, "Ah, that's what she is," rather than, "That's what she was asked to do as an actress."

Q. So, are those people correct? Are you as loverly as you seem on screen and stage?

A. I'm sure there are pieces of me in all of those movies. How could there not be? It's what I did. Things come across unconsciously.

Q. Your husband, Blake [Edwards], is working on a musical. Is he writing a role for you in it?

A. Oh, I wish. There isn't a role for me. There are roles for young, vital ladies. It's somebody else's turn.

Q. I think of you as young and vital, but I'm also completely smitten.

A. Well, bless your heart. You just went up 10 points.

Q. Why, thank you very much. I can see this is going to be the start of a lovely relationship. Now that we've bonded, I need to ask a favor. When is "The Julie Andrews Hour" [her 1972 variety show] coming out on DVD?

A. Oh, how lovely. The truth of it is, I'd love it if it could come out. You owe residuals to everyone who was involved in something like that, and it's difficult to find them all. It's long been on the agenda.

Q. My life won't be complete until I see your duet with Mama Cass.

A. I love it! Yes! I also sang with Peggy Lee, Jimmy Stewart, and Henry Mancini. Hundreds of people I adored.

Q. Just a little something for you to work on. I'm cashing in my 10 points.

A. Thank you, I've taken note of your request.

Looks like Jon Bon Jovi won't be riding his steel horse this way after all. We're told the Jersey rocker, who was lined up to play at Fenway this summer, is officially out. So who'll carry on the concert series at the lyric little bandbox? How about James Taylor and Neil Diamond? That's the buzz at the moment, though no one will say it on the record. (To its credit, The Boston Courant has the news on its front page today.) No dates have been announced, but the Sox previously applied to the city for live-music permits on July 19 and 20. A fan favorite because his song "Sweet Caroline" is played at every Sox home game, Diamond is scheduled to tour Europe in May and June, but his website lists no dates in July. Sweet Baby James, meanwhile, has a gig in British Columbia July 19 and in Seattle July 21, but his schedule is open on July 20. Oddly, Taylor's assistant seemed surprised yesterday when we asked her if the Grammy winner will be singing in the shadow of the Green Monster this summer. "Not even sure what you're referring to," Ellyn Kusmin said in a text message. Hmm. Bruce Springsteen was the first to play Fenway in 2003, followed by Jimmy Buffett, the Rolling Stones, and Dave Matthews.

That was a touching tribute to Nathan Alden Robinson at the conclusion of "The Office" this week. Robinson was the 15-year-old Newton North High School student who died last month as a result of complications from the flu. The obituary in the Globe mentioned that Robinson was a gifted musician and a huge fan of "The Office," and before his death he'd posted a video of himself on YouTube playing the show's theme song on the piano. Well, that video aired at the end of "The Office" this week, followed by an "In Memoriam" note. Not coincidentally, B.J. Novak, a writer and producer of "The Office," and star John Krasinski are both from Newton.

Why did director Morgan Spurlock (above) go looking for Osama Bin Laden? Why not? "Why can't a guy with absolutely no expertise and no knowledge track him down?" said Spurlock, who manhandled McDonald's in his 2004 movie, "Super Size Me." In the end, Spurlock had about as much luck tracking the terrorist as the US military, but he managed to make an entertaining film, "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?," which opens April 18. Spurlock, who was in Boston yesterday, told us he spent so much time in Afghanistan that he actually got homesick for fast food. "There was a place called Afghan Fried Chicken that was like the KFC of Kabul," he said. Spurlock picked up the Fred Rogers Integrity Award from the Campaign For a Commercial-Free Childhood. Wait, Fred Rogers? "Yeah," said Spurlock. "I like cardigans."

This week's Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige show at the TD Banknorth Garden was a big draw among local sports stars. Pats players Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Erik Alexander, and Jarvis Green all got their groove on in Garden president John Wentzell's private box. We also spied Celts Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, Sam Cassell, and James Posey, all of whom decamped afterward to the Greatest Bar where Jam'n 94.5's Geespin had commandeered the DJ booth. . . . Brockton-bred boxer "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler was at the Kowloon with a group of friends.

Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, Dr. A. Stone Freedberg celebrated his 100th birthday with a special recital by violinist Helena Baillie and pianist Julian Riem at Symphony Hall Thursday. Freedberg, who started at Beth Israel Hospital in 1935, is credited with identifying the bacteria that was eventually linked to stomach ulcers. Aside from medicine, classical music is Freedberg's passion.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.

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