Emma Walton Hamilton

Emma Walton-Hamilton
Born Emma Katherine Walton
27 November 1962
London, England, UK
Nationality American
Other names Emma Walton-Hamilton (pen name)
Occupation

Children’s author
Editor
Actress
Educator and Arts and Literacy advocate

Artistic director
Spouse(s) Steve Hamilton
Children Sam Hamilton
Hope Hamilton
Parent(s) Julie Andrews
Tony Walton (biological)
Blake Edwards (stepfather)
Website
www.emmawaltonhamilton.com

Emma Walton-Hamilton (born Emma Katherine Walton, 27 November 1962) is an American actress and author of children's books. She is currently an instructor in the MFA program at SUNY-Stony Brook Southampton.

Early and personal life

Her parents were British actress and singer Julie Andrews and Tony Walton, a British set designer and costume designer. Her godmothers were actress Carol Burnett and Svetlana Beriosova, prima ballerina of the The Royal Ballet; her godfather was British actor Vic Oliver. Though she was born in London, she grew up in California, where her mother was one of the most important film actresses in Hollywood. She attended UCLA Lab School, according to her mother. In 1967, her parents divorced, and two years later her mother married film director Blake Edwards, who became her stepfather.

In 1991, she married Steve Hamilton, a special effects technician. They have two children: Sam (born 18 October 1996) and Hope (born 17 August 2003).

Career

She briefly appeared as a child in Alfred Hitchcock's Torn Curtain (1966), sitting on Hitchcock's knee in his trademark cameo appearance (her mother had a leading role in the film).

From 1983 to 1991, she had a few bit parts in films and television.

In 1991, she, her husband, and veteran British-American actress Sybil Christopher founded the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York.[1] This independent non-profit theatre is still in operation as of 2015. Walton-Hamilton was the theatre's Artistic co-Director and Director of Education and Programming for Young Audiences for 17 years.

In 2000, she began writing books for children in collaboration with her mother, starting with Dumpy the Dumptruck. They wrote 13 "Dumpy" books, of which 12 were illustrated by her father Tony Walton, who had remained friends with her mother despite their divorce. Walton-Hamilton and Andrews have co-written 31 children's books, including the "Dumpy" books, The Great American Mousical (2006), also illustrated by Walton, two "Bonnie Boadicea" novels for middle schoolers, The Very Fairy Princess (2010) and 11 "Very Fairy" sequels, and two unrelated novels. They have also co-edited two anthologies of poetry and songs, and one of Wisdom From Mothers and Children.[2] The spoken-word version of Julie Andrews' Collection Of Poems, Songs, And Lullabies won a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.

Walton-Hamilton and Andrews collaborated with Kate Dawson, Jodi Glucksman, and Barbara Buck-Aronica on Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project (2012), a book with accompanying CD.[2]

Walton-Hamilton has also written Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment (2009).[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Curse of the Pink Panther Angry Hooker As Emma Walton
1984 Micki + Maude Maude's Nurse As Emma Walton
1986 A Fine Mess First Extra As Emma Walton
That's Life! Kate Fairchild As Emma Walton
1987 Blind Date Muggette #1 As Emma Walton
1991 Switch Fur Protestor As Emma Walton
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1990 The Bill Natasha's Sister As Emma Walton
1 Episode: "Old Friends"
1995 Great Performances Herself As Emma Walton
1 Episode: "Julie Andrews: Back on Broadway"
2012 Today Herself - Guest As Emma Walton
1 Episode: "Episode dated 4 October 2012"
2007-2012 Rachael Ray Herself 4 Episodes:
  • "A Dame of a Mystery Taster" (2007), as Emma Walton
  • "Episode #4.39" (2009), as Emma Walton
  • "Julie Andrews & Nick Cannon" (2011)
  • "Julie Andrews and Holiday Decorating" (2012)

Publications

[2]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Bay Street Theatre website, "About" page
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Listings for Emma Walton-Hamilton in WorldCat.

External links