How Mary Poppins almost died during an umbrella scene

'I let fly with a few Anglo-Saxon four-letter words.'

Mary Poppins almost died
(Image credit: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

'I let fly with a few Anglo-Saxon four-letter words.'

Everyone is talking about Mary Poppins Returns. And, being relatable as ever, actress Dame Julie Andrews (AKA the original Mary Poppins) revealed that she nearly died when filming that iconic umbrella scene.

Yeah, babe. We've been there.

If you've ever been caught in a British rain storm, you'll know that umbrellas are futile. Rain comes from all angles and there's just no escaping it. Those who try to stop it by using an umbrella just feel its wrath more.

And Julie explained on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert that her umbrella stunts in Mary Poppins were just as dangerous.

'These were all practical effects, you were on wires and stuff?' Stephen asked.

'Yes,' Julie responded, before going into detail about 'a very dangerous day right at the end of filming.' 'I was in this excruciatingly painful harness. And I was hanging around up there for the longest time with the umbrella. I thought I felt the wire leave and drop about six inches. I was nervous and very tired.'

'So I called down and I said, 'Excuse me, when you do let me down, could you let me down really gently, because I felt myself slip and I just don't feel too safe up here.'

She then 'plummeted to the stage', continuing: 'There was an awful silence for a minute and I did let fly with a few Anglo-Saxon four-letter words, I have to admit.'

Lol Julie.

Delphine Chui