Where the Mary Poppins stars are now as film has its age rating lifted from U to PG due to 'discriminatory language'

It has been nearly 60 years since the Disney classic Mary Poppins was released.

But this week it emerged the film's classification has undergone a major change - the children's movie has had its age rating lifted from U to PG by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

The BBFC now considers the 1964 tale of Julie Andrews' magical nanny to be unsuitable for children to watch alone, despite the film enchanting generations of youngsters.

Its reclassification is due to the use of the word Hottentots - the dated term was historically used by Europeans to refer to the Khoekhoe, a group of nomadic herders in South Africa, but is now regarded as racially offensive, and the decision was made by the BBFC who say they help families 'choose well' by giving guidance on what’s right for them and 'what’s not'.

Following the news, MailOnline takes a look at what happened to the cast of Mary Poppins...

As Mary Poppins has its age rating lifted from U to PG, MailOnline takes a look at what happened to the cast of Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews, who played Mary Poppins, pictured in 2022)

Julie Andrews made her film debut as Mary Poppins (centre), which was released on 23 December 1964, when she was 29 years old

Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

Julie Andrews made her film debut as Mary Poppins, which was released on 23 December 1964, when she was 29 years old.

The actress, now 88, won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the role at the 37th Academy Awards held in Santa Monica, California in April 1965.

British star Julie was lauded for her acting and singing skills but she was left devastated when a throat operation left her unable to sing in 1997.

She sued the US surgeons after the operation for an undisclosed amount.

Julie was invited to make a cameo in a 2018 reboot of Mary Poppins which starred Emily Blunt but she turned the role and its reported £790,000 fee down, telling director Rob Marshall: 'This is Emily’s show and I want her to run with this.'

She has worked on a number of projects including the movie Aquaman and Netlix's Bridgerton, which she narrates.

Dick Van Dyke - Bert the chimney sweep

Dick Van Dyke was known for performing chirpy chimney sweep Bert who sung the song Chim Chim Cher-ee in the film, with the tune winning them movie a Best Original Song Oscar (Dick pictured in 2021)

American actor Dick, now 98, who put on a cockney accent for Mary Poppins, went on to star in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was released in 1968 (seen in Mary Poppins alongside Julie Andrews as the titular character)

Dick Van Dyke was known for performing chirpy chimney sweep Bert who sung the song Chim Chim Cher-ee in the film, with the tune winning them movie a Best Original Song Oscar.

American actor Dick, now 98, who put on a cockney accent for Mary Poppins, went on to star in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was released in 1968.

He also starred in the classic TV sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran for five series from 1961 to 1966.

In 2018, he portrayed Mr. Dawes Jr. - the son of the banker Mr. Dawes Senior who appeared in the original movie, a part which Dick played in addition to Bert - in the Mary Poppins reboot, Mary Poppins Returns.

He has also starred in 2006's Night At The Museum and 2014's Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb.

Dick, who is a father of four and has seven grandchildren, married make-up artist Arlene Silver in 2012. He was 86 at the time and she was 40.

In the past, the star has been open about his troubles with alcohol addiction. He said: 'I would go to work with terrible hangovers, which if you’re dancing is really hard.'

Karen Dotrice - Jane Banks

Karen Dotrice was just nine years old when she starred as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins (Karen pictured in 2018)

She went on to appear in The Gnome Mobile in 1967 with her on-screen brother Michael (bottom right), played by Matthew Garber (Karen, bottom left, seen as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins)

Karen Dotrice was just nine years old when she starred as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins.

She went on to appear in The Gnome Mobile in 1967 with her on-screen brother Michael, played by Matthew Garber.

She starred without him in 70s servant drama Upstairs Downstairs in the final series of the show in 1975.

Karen retired from the industry in 1984 to focus on being a mother.

She has three children from two marriages.

Karen made a brief comeback to acting when she accepted a role in the 2018 Mary Poppins reboot Mary Poppins Returns.

For her cameo appearance, she played the part of Elegant Lady on Cherry Tree Lane. 

Matthew Garber - Michael Banks 

Matthew Garber starred as Micheal Banks (bottom right) in Mary Poppins when he was just eight years old

Matthew Garber starred as Micheal Banks in Mary Poppins when he was just eight years old.

He went on to appear in films The Three Lives of Thomasina and The Gnome, alongside his on-screen sister Karen, who played Jane.

Matthew died in 1977 at the age of 21 when he contracted hepatitis on a trip to India, with the illness progressing into pancreatitis.

Karen has paid tribute to him, saying: 'He was how he looked — an imp, and I loved being his shadow.

'He loved being naughty, finding and jumping off of small buildings on the back lot. 

'While I was Victorian proper and wouldn't let myself get dirty or muddy, Matthew had a great sense of fun and danger.

'He was a daredevil and could have been a race car driver. And he did live a full life over his 21 years.'

David Tomlinson - Mr Banks

David Tomlinson played the stern-but-soft-centred patriarch Mr Banks (left) in 1964’s Mary Poppins 

David Tomlinson played the stern-but-soft-centred patriarch Mr Banks in 1964’s Mary Poppins.

He was also known for playing Peter Thorndyke in 1968 film The Love Bug as well as the quack magician Emelius Browne in 1971’s Bedknobs And Broomsticks.

The British actor starred in everything from war films such as 1945’s The Way To The Stars to the 1949 romantic comedy Warning To Wantons.

His first wife Mary tragically killed herself and her two by jumping from a New York hotel in 1943 after she was told she couldn't them to join her husband in England until the end of the war.

He married his second wife Audrey a decade later and they had four sons together.

In 2000 he died suddenly following a stroke at the age of 83.

He was named posthumously as a Disney Legend in 2002. 

Glynis Johns - Mrs Banks

Famous Mary Poppins actress Glynis Johns died at the age of 100 in January 2024 (pictured: Glynis attending a Hollywood event marking the Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary in 2004)

The actress featured in many famous films, including Hostile Hostages, Miranda and The Court Jester (pictured clockwise from top left: David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Matthew Garber, Karen Dotrice in Mary Poppins)

Actress Glynis Johns, who played Mrs Banks in Disney's 1964 classic Mary Poppins and enjoyed a dazzling career spanning more than eight decades, died aged 100 last month.

The British actress, who was born in South Africa, passed away 'peacefully' from natural causes on Thursday 4 January at an assisted living home in Los Angeles, her manager Mitch Clem said.

'Today's a sad day for Hollywood,' Clem said as he paid tribute to the Tony-award winning stage and screen star. 'She is the last of the last of old Hollywood.'

On stage, Johns played Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, introducing the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be 'Send in the Clowns' by Stephen Sondheim.

The talented performer gained a reputation throughout her lengthy career for being a perfectionist, and prided herself on always opting for multi-faceted roles.

Johns' famous role in Mary Poppins saw her play a mother who reconnected with her children thanks to their magical nanny, played by Julie Andrews, and perform a rousing rendition of 'Sister Suffragette'.

'As far as I'm concerned, I'm not interested in playing the role on only one level,' Johns said in 1990. 'The whole point of first-class acting is to make a reality of it. To be real. And I have to make sense of it in my own mind in order to be real.'

Mitch Clem said as he shared news of Johns' death: 'My heart is heavy today with the passing of my beloved client Glynis Johns.

The talented performer gained a reputation throughout her lengthy career for being a perfectionist, and prided herself on always opting for multi-faceted roles (seen as Winifred Banks in the classic 1964 Disney musical film Mary Poppins)

'Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives.

'She entered my life early in my career and set a very high bar on how to navigate this industry with grace, class, and truth. Your own truth.

'Her light shined very brightly for 100 years. 'She had a wit that could stop you in your tracks powered by a heart that loved deeply and purely.

'Today is a sombre day for Hollywood. Not only do we mourn the passing of our dear Glynis, but we mourn the end of the golden age of Hollywood.'