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[title]In Una película sin Julie (every Tuesday in October at Paseo La Plaza), Lucila Gandolfo takes the stage to act, sing, and dance in an experience as intimate as it is daring. The actress—one of the great figures of Argentine musical theater—revisits her own story, her inspirations, and the lessons learned from a career built on talent, perseverance, and a deep love of art.
LUCILA GANDOLFO VISITED TIME OUT LIVE AND SHARED HER ENCOUNTER WITH JULIE ANDREWS IN NEW YORK
From Mary Poppins to Catalina Lonely
She was just a little girl when she first became mesmerized by Julie Andrews’ voice and presence on screen. The Von Trapp governess in The Sound of Music and the magical nanny in Mary Poppins stole her heart and opened the door to a world of songs, dreams, and deep emotions. Somehow, the universe of that young Lucila became forever entwined with that of the British actress of crystalline voice and timeless charm.
Today, the grown-up Lucila pays tribute in a touching one-woman show where she plays Catalina Lonely, a woman who moves through life to the rhythm of Julie’s melodies—her “imaginary friend” and spiritual guide.
“It’s a beautiful challenge,” says Lucila. “It’s about going out to play, diving into a tunnel, and letting myself be carried to the end. Of course there are nerves and adrenaline, but that pushes me to give my best. Julie Andrews speaks to me through her naturalness, her elegance, and her simplicity.”
“Julie Andrews speaks to me through her naturalness, her elegance, and her simplicity”
A Story Told in the First Person
On stage, Gandolfo fully becomes Catalina. “I feel in her skin. Everything that happens to her, in some way, I’ve lived too. She’s a sensitive woman who has withdrawn into herself but still dares to dream. Sometimes we’re children with an adult inside, and when something hurts us, we build armor to protect ourselves—but Catalina has a soft heart, and music saves her.”
With that same vulnerability, the actress invites the audience to travel alongside her. “I like to take them by the hand through different moments of her life, to make them laugh at those teenage clumsinesses that felt like tragedies at the time, or to help them connect with something painful and turn it into a small catharsis. The most beautiful thing is when someone tells me they’ve reconnected with their inner child.”
“The most beautiful thing is when someone from the audience tells me they’ve reconnected with their inner child”
Wrong Number
Her connection with Julie Andrews even includes a scene straight out of a movie. Lucila recalls: “During a trip to New York, I got her address and dared to go leave her a letter and a scarf as a gift. I rang the intercom—and she answered. She said, ‘Wrong number,’ but that voice… it was unmistakable. I told her she had a beautiful voice. There was a newspaper from that day at the gate, so I slipped the letter and gift through. I like to believe she got them, that she read my words. That’s my little dream come true.”
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From Childhood to the Stage
Looking back, Lucila remembers a bright childhood surrounded by music and theater—and the moment her calling began to take shape when a beloved aunt gave her a piano. At ten years old, she stepped on stage for the first time in a school production of A Christmas Carol and discovered that shyness could become art.
Later came studies at the Boston Conservatory, her debut on Corrientes Avenue, and the chance to share the stage with legends like Norma Aleandro and Enrique Pinti. “The road was sometimes tough, but always joyful. I’ve been lucky to live from what I love, even if that meant inventing my own projects, insisting, and creating.”
Her career also took her across distant seas. She spent months performing on a cruise ship in Japan—an experience she recalls with laughter: “It was like Big Brother on the water. I was the only Argentine among Europeans and Japanese. At first, it was hard, but it made me stronger and taught me to value my home.”
And though theater has always been her home, she’s also conquered television. She played the villain in Soy Luna and portrayed Sally Conforte in Ringo. “Working in TV was a beautiful surprise. Everything happens at a different pace—you need to stay focused and flexible. In theater you rehearse for months, but in TV everything gets decided on the spot. It’s exhilarating.”
The Present of an Unstoppable Dreamer
Now, about to turn 60, Lucila laughs with gratitude. “I feel fulfilled. Being able to keep singing, dancing, and—above all—remembering all the lyrics is already a privilege. I’m so lucky to be doing what I love.”
“I’m so lucky to be doing what I love”
These days, she’s rehearsing new projects, including a trip to Madrid, where she’ll present La maestra serial and—of course—give a concert in honor of her beloved Julie Andrews.
TIME OUT QUICKFIRE ROUND
A book that left a mark on you: The Biography of Maria Callas
A personal object: Little seed pillows for my back
A song you always hum: Somewhere, from West Side Story
A movie you’d watch a thousand times: Love Actually
A restaurant where you’d dine with Julie: Anchoita
An essential item: A small scarf to keep my throat warm
A phrase for difficult times: “This too shall pass.”
A guilty pleasure: A jar of dulce de leche
A magical object Mary Poppins would lend you: A magic wand for healing
A word that defines you today: Happiness