Julie Andrews will not reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in “The Princess Diaries 3,” with the 90-year-old actress saying she considers herself retired from on-screen acting, she confirmed in recent interviews.
Andrews told Today that she would not appear in the third installment of the Disney franchise, which will again star Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis.
“I’m not going to be in it,” Andrews said. She added that the story should continue with Mia because “it’s her story. It’s not really mine.”
In an interview with InStyle, Andrews said she declined after the production asked her throughout last year if she wanted to return.
“I think I’m retired, really,” she said, describing the decision as difficult but necessary.
Andrews played Queen Clarisse, the grandmother of Hathaway’s character, in the first two “Princess Diaries” films. The 2001 original introduced Mia as a teenager who learns that she is heir to the fictional kingdom of Genovia. The 2004 sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” followed Mia as she prepared to become queen.
Disney has “The Princess Diaries 3” in development, with Hathaway returning as Mia. Adele Lim, who directed “Joy Ride” and co-wrote “Crazy Rich Asians,” is attached to direct.
Meg Cabot, whose books inspired the films, has confirmed that the project has undergone script revisions. Disney has not announced a release date or production schedule.
Andrews continues to work in entertainment despite stepping away from film acting. She voices Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s “Bridgerton” and recently received another Emmy nomination for the role.
She also continues to write children’s books with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Their latest book, “Shy,” was released Aug. 11 and draws inspiration from Andrews’ poodle, Whisper of Way, known as Shy.
A Disney+ documentary about Andrews, directed by R.J. Cutler, is scheduled for release in 2027.
