Julie Andrews, 90, extends her record as the oldest woman to win a Primetime Emmy

At 90, Julie Andrews has added another milestone to a career already filled with them.

The legendary actress won her second consecutive Primetime Emmy for voicing the formidable Lady Whistledown on Netflix’s Bridgerton at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, September 6. The victory also extended the record she set a year earlier as the oldest woman ever to win a Primetime Emmy.

Andrews was not at the ceremony in Los Angeles to accept the award. Presenter Eric Bauza accepted the honor on her behalf.

Another Emmy for Lady Whistledown

Andrews has won the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance category two years in a row for her work as Lady Whistledown, the sharp-tongued narrator whose observations help frame the world of Bridgerton.

Her 2025 victory made her the oldest woman to win a Primetime Emmy at 89. Now 90, she has pushed that mark even further.

The achievement comes after Andrews had already received three nominations for her Bridgerton work in 2021, 2022 and 2023. On those occasions, she lost to Maya Rudolph for Big Mouth, Chadwick Boseman for What If…?, and Rudolph again, respectively.

This year’s category featured a strong field that included Pamela Adlon for King of the Hill, Hank Azaria for The Simpsons, Trey Parker for South Park, Matt Vogel for The Muppet Show, and Steven Yeun for Invincible.

A record that now belongs to Andrews alone

Before Andrews made history, the female record for the oldest Primetime Emmy winner stood at 88.

Betty White reached that age when she won in 2010 for hosting Saturday Night Live, while Beulah Bondi was 88 when she won in 1977 for her performance in The Waltons.

Among men, the Primetime Emmy age record belongs to Norman Lear, who won at 98 for Live In Front of a Studio Audience in 2020.

Bridgerton reaches seven Emmy wins

Andrews’ latest victory brings Bridgerton‘s total Emmy haul to seven as the Netflix series enters Season 4.

Two of those awards belong to Andrews for her voice performance. The other five have recognized the series’ costume and hairstyling work: Best Period Costumes in 2025, Best Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling in 2025, and Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling in 2026, 2022 and 2021.

Based on Julia Quinn’s books and produced by Shonda Rhimes’ company Shondaland, Bridgerton continues to build its story around the romantic lives of London’s aristocratic families.

Season 4 centers on a Cinderella-inspired romance between Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, and Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, while Benedict is a wealthy aristocrat.

Meanwhile, Penelope Bridgerton, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan, continues to provide commentary through her secret identity as Lady Whistledown, the character voiced by Andrews.

A career that began long before Bridgerton

For generations of moviegoers, Andrews remains most closely associated with two defining roles: Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp.

She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Mary Poppins (1964), and earned further Oscar nominations for The Sound of Music (1965) and Victor/Victoria (1982).

Her career has also extended well beyond acting. The English actress, singer and author has remained a prominent figure in entertainment for decades, with her distinctive voice now giving her a new connection to a younger generation through Bridgerton.

Her longstanding status as a major figure in film was recognized by the American Film Institute when she received the 48th AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on June 9, 2022.

Andrews keeps a low public profile

Despite the latest Emmy win, Andrews did not appear in person at the 2026 ceremony.

Her most recent in-person public appearance was in March 2023, when she attended the taping of Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. She appeared alongside longtime friend and fellow entertainment legend Carol Burnett at the Los Angeles celebration of Burnett’s 90th birthday.

For Andrews, however, the absence from the stage did little to diminish the significance of the latest honor. At 90, her voice as Lady Whistledown has earned back-to-back Emmys and extended a record she had only just established one year earlier.