Julie Andrews as Maria: 6 Quotes About Iconic Role

Based on the true story of the Von Trapp family singers, Julie Andrews shines in her role as Maria in the film, "The Sound of Music." Andrews' nun character makes this well-loved musical a hit and put Andrews on the map as a star.

Here's what the critics had to say about Andrews in the iconic role of Maria:

1. "This artful crowd-pleaser continues to reach out to every generation, thanks to expert and unsentimental handling from director Robert Wise and a magnificent performance from Julie Andrews."  — Tony Sloman, Radio Times (2014).

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2. "As for Andrews, she is just a joy, conveying enough doubt beneath that brisk, clean exterior to stop her character becoming a prig; her comic timing and the way in which she convinces in her relationships with the children are so understated they can be underrated," wrote Sarah Crompton for The Telegraph (2014).

3. "Miss Andrews, with her air of radiant vigor, her appearance of plain-Jane wholesomeness and her ability to make her dialogue as vivid and appealing as she makes her songs, brings a nice sort of Mary Poppins logic and authority to this role, which is always in peril of collapsing under its weight of romantic nonsense and sentiment," wrote Bosley Crowther for The New York Times (1965).

4. "Did you really think a bunch of mean old Nazis could keep the angelic Julie Andrew from spreading her music and love?" wrote AMC.

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5. "The sweet register of Andrew's phrasing and personality was a winner from Robert Wise's opening aerial shot," wrote Urban Cinefile (2001).

6. "On Broadway, Mary Martin had the part. Although I never saw Mary Martin as Maria, it is hard for me to believe she could have had the infectious joy and energy that Andrews brought to the role. Just looking as Andrews's Maria when she breaks into song, it is easy to remember all the blessings we have in this life," wrote Steve Rhodes for Internet Movie Database (1997).

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