Julie Andrews says she almost died filming the umbrella scene in Mary Poppins.

Etched in history as one of the most iconic actresses to grace the big screen, Julie Andrews appeared on The Late Show on Friday night to reveal what really went on behind the scenes in her various, world-famous films.

Perhaps most surprising was Andrews’ recollection of filming every stunt herself in Mary Poppins, which led to an accident that could’ve killed her.

“There was a very dangerous day right at the end of filming when I was in this excruciatingly painful harness,” Andrews told Colbert. “And I was hanging around up there for the longest time with the umbrella.”

As a means of filming that now famous flying sequence with the umbrella, she was attached to both a harness and a set of wires. The wires, however, did end up working how they were supposed to.

“I thought I felt the wire leave [and] drop about six inches. I was nervous.

“So, I called down and I said, ‘Excuse me, when you do let me down, could you let me down really gently, because I felt myself slip and I just don’t feel too safe up here.’”

Except, she didn't come down softly at all.

“I plummeted to the stage,” Andrews said. “And there was an awful silence for a minute and I did let fly with a few Anglo-Saxon four letter words, I have to admit.”

Obviously, Andrews survived relatively unharmed. But such a fall could've had a very different outcome.

You can watch the whole chat here: