Julie Andrieu was born in Paris, the daughter of actress Nicole Courcel and the cousin of writer Marc Levy. She has a half-brother and a half-sister from her father's side. She is also the cousin of actress Cathy Andrieu. She started her career at age 18 as a photographer for France Soir. At age 20, she learnt to prepare small dishes to please her partner, the photographer Jean-Marie Périer. She published in 1999 her first cookbook titled La Cuisine de Julie and became in 2000 a food critic for the Guide Lebey. Since 2001, she has hosted several radio and television programs on cooking: