Why You Recognize Rosie From Mamma Mia!

ABBA music, the Greek countryside, and Meryl Streep — what more does a movie need? It's no wonder that the Mamma Mia! musical film is a beloved fan favorite, and that it even spurred a sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again starring Lily James. Even though the star-studded cast has plenty of familiar faces, like Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried, there are a few actors you probably recognize but you just can't place where you've seen them before. 

One of those people with a known face and perhaps unknown name is Julie Walters, who plays Donna's fast-talking BFF. Yet Walters has been in Hollywood since 1975 and certainly has racked up her fair share of notable roles. Keep scrolling to find out where you've seen Dame Julie Walters before and why Rosie is such a natural performer — Walters has soundtrack credits on nine different projects, per IMDb! Next time you rewatch Mamma Mia!, you'll be able to spot Julie Walters from a mile away. 

Julie Walters is probably most widely known for her turn as Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter films, but the British jewel of an actor has also appeared in Becoming Jane, Calendar Girls, Paddington, and Mary Poppins Returns.

Walters has won a slew of international awards and was nominated for Oscars in 1984 and 2001 for Best Actress in Educating Rita and Billy Elliot, respectively. Unfortunately, Walters stepped away from acting following 2020's The Secret Garden due to health concerns. Per BBC, Walters revealed in February 2020 that she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in 2017. 

Although Walters is currently cancer-free after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, per Deadline, she is starting a new chapter away from acting. In several video diaries, as reported by BBC, Walters discussed her new outlook on life. "The person before the operation is different to this person," Walters stated, calling it a "huge relief" to get away from the stresses of Hollywood. "I was due to do two big series ... and two films. I just didn't have to do any of it, and that was wonderful," Walters admitted. 

"I thought, 'I don't want to work again, unless it's another Mamma Mia,'" Julie Walters said in 2020, according to the Daily Mail. Until then, it seems like Walters prefers to spend time with her family and be politically active. Of course, we can all hope there will be a third Mamma Mia to see Rosie again!