Since its premiere in 1965, “The Sound of Music” has become one of the most beloved films of our time. At the same time, everyone had already fallen in love with Julie Andrews after “Mary Poppins.” Her role as Maria just made her more endearing. Christopher Plummer, who played Captain von Trapp, went on to have a lengthy career, winning two Tony Awards and one Oscar.
Bruce Bailey/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesSome of the actors who portrayed the von Trapp children also continued acting, with Nicholas Hammond playing Peter Parker in 1977’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” and Heather Menzies-Urich appearing in TV series such as “Logan’s Run” and “T.J. Hooker.” Debbie Turner, who portrayed Marta, wanted to continue acting. However, the actress claims that her decision to step away wasn’t “by choice.”
How Fame from ‘The Sound of Music’ Led Turner Away from Acting
Before landing the role of the second-youngest von Trapp sister, Turner had only appeared in commercials. Some actors, such as Kym Karath, Nicholas Hammond, and Angela Cartwright, had prior experience in film or on stage.
“Angela Cartwright was already an established actress beforehand. I wasn’t,” Turner recalled to People.
Turner’s first film role was in “The Sound of Music,” which she thought was the beginning of her acting career. It ultimately proved to be the end.
“I’d go in interviews and they’d go, ‘Oh, so you were in ‘The Sound of Music’?’” she recalled to People. “And then it’s like, I don’t know if I got put on a pedestal or I got thrown out the side – I don’t know.”
After this happened repeatedly, she decided to leave Hollywood. “Not really by choice,” she said, but because she “just didn’t get jobs.”
Debbie Turner’s Number One Role Now is Grandma
After leaving Hollywood, Turner pursued passion projects that made her happy. For years, used her artistic skills running Debbie Turner Originals, a “Wedding Flower and Event Design Company.” She also sells memorabilia and photos from “The Sound of Music” and of herself and the rest of the cast.
“I was a floral designer for many years. I’ve designed weddings,” she said. “I have been a decorator for the White House for Christmas.”
She has occasionally made appearances in front of the camera with the rest of the cast. She also served as a judge on “Dancing With the Stars South Africa” in 2018.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for AFINowadays, she considers herself mostly retired and enjoys spending time with her ten grandchildren. But if the right role came along, she might revive her acting career.
“If it’s wholesome and it’s a great story,” she said. “Great actors, something like that. Yeah, look, I’d consider it.”
