With starring turns in such classics as "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music," and recent memorable roles in the "Shrek" and "The Princess Diaries" films, there's no question that legendary performer Julie Andrews has a huge affinity for doing family films. And her love of the genre no doubt played a big part when the filmmakers of "Tooth Fairy" pulled for Andrews to play a pivotal role in their film.

Opening in theaters Friday, "Tooth Fairy" stars Dwayne Johnson as Derek, a once rough-and-tumble professional hockey star who earned a reputation for knocking out opponent's teeth. But injuries of late have sidelined Derek, and benched his sense of how to recapture his dreams if he's going to make a comeback.

Another problem is, Derek is taking other people's dreams down with him. Not only can't Derek "handle the tooth" on the ice, he lacks couth off of it. And after he carelessly dashes the aspirations of one of his young fans and nearly kills the dreams of his newly missing-toothed young girl, Derek is sentenced by Lily (Andrews) -- the matriarch of the real tooth fairies -- to serve a week as one of her subordinates.

"I love anything to do with family and children, and in terms of 'Tooth Fairy,' I loved the script the first moment I read it," Andrews said in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I wanted to be a part of it because it is important that children be allowed to hold their dreams, continue to use their imaginations and have their fantasies."

Andrews believes -- both as an actress and a longtime children's' book author -- that being a proponent of kids dreaming and using their imaginations is especially important now, since there are so many technical means vying for their attention.

"I think, perhaps, in this electronic age -- which is brilliant and totally has a place in our lives -- there still is a slight danger (of disconnecting) by being online and by playing your Game Boy," Andrews observed. "True, you connect with other people by playing online, but it is also a bit depersonalizing."

Acting in "Tooth Fairy," on the contrary, gave Andrews the chance to use her imagination as she played opposite Johnson, the former WWE superstar who's made a seamless transition from the wrestling ring into films. The actress is glad that Johnson has found a nice niche in family films because it gives audience members a chance to see his natural charm and charisma.

"I think he's going to be around for a very, very long time," Andrews said. "He's very smart and talented, and very generous and kind. He's just delicious in everything he does, and wonderful to look at, too."

The added benefit for Andrews in her work with Johnson was that she found a kindred spirit in a person passionate about children's causes. Much in the same way Andrews devotes a lot of her time into being an advocate for kids reading, Johnson is committed through his foundation to enlightening youth about the benefits of health and physical fitness.

"Dwayne is a very interesting guy. He's very aware of the follies of this crazy, wonderful business we're in and he's very level about all of it," Andrews beamed. "He has no illusions about who he is. He doesn't pretend to be anything other than a really decent, ordinary and lovely human being."

After "Tooth Fairy," fans will have an opportunity to get a personal look at the 74-year-old stage and screen icon this May in England as she plays a unique concert experience at London's O2 Arena. Andrews said that, despite reports to the contrary, she has not had her singing vocal abilities restored -- but her musical career will still be well-represented through a group of entertainers and several film projects of the past.

Andrews, who was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999, will of course, host the event.

"It's an evening of gifts of music old and new. The first half is all the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein as it relates to my career. I tell stories and show film footage and archival stuff," Andrews explained.

She said the second half of the show is a symphony orchestra adaptation of "Simeon's Gift," a children's book that Andrews co-wrote with her daughter, Emma Walton.

"It's a 'Peter and the Wolf'-type of presentation with my narration and original, new music," Andrews said. "It's a joy to do. I do think in spite of not singing, this is lovely evening of entertainment. I wouldn't go out and do it if I didn't feel that way."