So why was she so beloved, and why is her legacy still so popular? David Hyde Pierce portrays her husband Paul in the series and explained to the media, “I think she’s one of a kind and I think that’s why people have stayed interested in her throughout changing fashions and styles and foods and everything else, and why so many different versions of her have occurred, because she’s one of a kind and eternally fascinating.”

Just watching the show, it is evident Child had a zest for life. She enjoyed herself in almost every situation she was in and brought that joy to her iconic TV series The French Chef. Child did not set out to become a television personality. She began by co-authoring a cookbook and her TV career was launched from a series of interviews about her writing.

“I was just going to say there’s something kind of unsinkable about her,” added Daniel Goldfarb, the executive producer and creator. “She never took no for an answer. She just always persevered, and she persevered with joy. She lived her life really with joy in every stage of her life. And she sort of bloomed as she got older and older and more and more comfortable in her shoes and as herself.”

Her likability was infectious. Even when she made a mistake she laughed, made some comment and went on with what she was doing. People loved her. As beloved as she was, Child did not fit the physical stereotype of a TV personality. She was overweight and had a funny voice, but she was oozing personality.

Bebe Neuwirth, plays Child’s friend Avis in the show, said, “I was a little kid when she was on and even if you were a little kid and you didn’t know anything about her life, this is a fascinating person to watch. She was goofy. She was brilliant.” And that is, in a nutshell, what is displayed in the series, along with her tenacity.

Sarah Lancashire, who does a remarkable job of bringing the enjoyment of Child to the screen, plays the titular role. She told the media that, “there’s such an awful lot of source material available online, so that was a starting point to reference her, plus reading the books about her and the letters between her and Avis.”

Lancashire dove into the real life of the 1960s icon, however, she knew they were making a drama and not a documentary. Therefore, she relied on her own instincts when playing the part. She also joked that they shared the same favorite recipe of sole meunière.

Besides her career and lust for life, Julia and Paul Child shared a remarkable relationship. They supported each other in whatever endeavor they undertook. He was a remarkable man himself, and the show bears that out. Hyde Pierce also dove fully into the life of Paul.

“He played the violin. He was a black belt in Judo. He built furniture. He did all these things, and had a career as a diplomat, and also had this amazing love affair with this amazing woman. It’s not speaking of the sort of unexplored,” Hyde Pierce said. “It’s nice, and also I feel a great responsibility, to have his life in my hands, in our hands, to try to honestly convey to people just how singular he was, and how great, and what a unique and iconic partnership this was.”

“Julia” is a fun show filled with laugh-out-loud moments and just as many endearing relationships. It is informative, yet an absolute delight to watch. “Julia” premieres March 31 on HBO Max. Bon Appetite.