HOLLYWOOD -- Julie Andrews insists she still has the stamina to dance all night.

She just no longer has the voice to sing I Could Have Danced All Night, or any of her other famous signature tunes.

"The thought of my ever singing again is only wishful thinking on my part," Andrews said in a recent interview.

"I just thank God that what happened to me happened at the end of my career and not at the beginning."

In 1998, in what was meant to be minor corrective surgery, her vocal chords were permanently damaged.

From the time she was seven, singing was Andrews' life. When her vaudevillian parents discovered their daughter had perfect pitch and a four-octave range, the child had an instant career on the British music hall circuit.

"I sang in music halls until I was 18 when I did (the stage musical) The Boyfriend. That led to My Fair Lady and Camelot, and those stage musicals led to my movie career."

Andrews says at 68 she suddenly finds herself with a rejuvenated career. In Shrek 2, she supplies the voice of Queen Lillian, Princess Fiona's mother.

"My only concern when I accepted the role was that I could make a real contribution to the film."

Shrek 2 producer Aron Warner says Andrews was his first choice for Queen Lillian "because Julie is as regal as any actress gets. When I brought her name up, everyone agreed it had to be Julie."

When they went to her with the offer, they had to address her as Dame Julie Andrews, the title bestowed upon her on New Year's Eve 1999.

"That honour made me feel incredibly special and thrilled. There is nothing more thrilling than being honoured by your country and I am such a fan of Queen Elizabeth II."

Andrews has just published her latest children's book, Dragon, and is thrilled to point out her The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles "has been on Amazon.com's children's Top-10 list for more than two decades and my first book, Mandy, has never been out of print since it came out in 1972."

Also on her agenda is another TV special with her friend Carol Burnett.

"I've had a career for 60 years and I've never been busier.

"I have five children, seven grandchildren and a husband (Blake Edwards) who encourages me in anything I choose to do.

"This is a truly joyous time in my life."


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