Dick Van Dyke has nothing but praise for his Mary Poppins co-star, Julie Andrews.
While speaking on the Wednesday, June 26 episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Van Dyke, 98, was asked about the 1964 movie being Andrew’s feature film debut.
Andrews earned a Best Actress Oscar for playing the titular role in the iconic flick, while Van Dyke played two memorable parts — Bert, a chimney sweep, and aging bank owner Mr. Dawes Sr.
When questioned whether he felt Andrews “had it right away,” Van Dyke responded, “It’s like she had done a whole lot of movies.”
“She was cool as a cucumber, never… I’m telling you what I had doing the recording. She not only is a soprano, she sang just a hair on top of the note,” the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star added of the famous soundtrack to the film.
“Just that little bit sharp, and I sing flat. So I just… what a sweater that was getting through that album,” he went on, adding, “I’m actually a bass, but I had to sing.”
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While talking about Andrews praising Van Dyke for being so patient with her on her first film set, he insisted, “We would never have known it.”
Van Dyke’s latest comments come after Andrews recalled meeting the legendary actor during the two-hour Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic CBS special in December 2023.
The actress said that her co-star was “young, fit as can be, and really gorgeous to look at” at first sight, admitting that meeting him was “daunting.”
“I’d never made a movie before, and I’d given birth to my lovely daughter Emma nearly six weeks earlier, and I quickly realized that I had better pull my socks up and get in shape,” she said. “I found it pretty daunting, I can tell you. Dick could not have been kinder, more genuinely sweet and helpful. I like to think that we did bond instantly.”
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Saying Van Dyke has a “completely original style” which makes him “totally unique,” Andrews continued on the special, “How lucky I was to have him by my side for my first venture in Hollywood.”
While speaking to PEOPLE in December 2023 to mark the special’s release, Van Dyke admitted he thought he was entering Television City for another press interview, not a whole event — featuring archival footage and live performances of songs from his decades-long career — dedicated to him.
“I never expected that kind of recognition. My whole life went before me. I didn’t realize I had done so many things while I was 75 years in show business,” he said.
