It’s a moment of cinematic history few know about—the real-life Maria von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music, once gave Julie Andrews a personal yodeling lesson. As Andrews prepared for her iconic role as Maria in the beloved 1965 film, she had the rare opportunity to meet the woman behind the legend. During their encounter, the real Maria demonstrated the art of yodeling, a skill deeply rooted in Austrian tradition. While Andrews had already mastered the film’s musical numbers, this special lesson added an extra touch of authenticity to her performance.

The time real-life Maria Von Trapp taught Sound of Music’s Julie Andrews how to yodel

Real-life Maria Von Trapp teaches Julie Andrews how to yodel. Picture: The Julie Andrews Hour/The Sound of Music Blu-Ray/YouTube

How do you solve a problem like Maria? Well, how about a yodelling lesson, for starters…

In 1965, Julie Andrews yodelled her way into all our hearts with her portrayal of Maria Von Trapp, governess to the seven Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music.

And it turns out, Andrews really got to meet the real Maria Von Trapp whose family’s story – somewhat loosely – inspired the hit film.

In one scene, Maria helps the children put on a puppet show, and sings along to ‘The Lonely Goatherd’ (that’s the one that goes ‘High on a hill was a lonely goatherd, lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo’) as they perform.

But according to real-life Maria, well, “There is yodelling, and then there’s… yodelling.”

During an episode of The Julie Andrews Hour, a television variety series which ran for one season in 1972, the two Marias appeared on stage together to act out a yodelling skit.

In typical Julie Andrews style, she opened the dialogue with a classy, comic line: “You know I played you in the picture and you are you, and I am me, and since you are you and I was you, and since you’re here, and I’m here, and I was you, um…”