Audrey Hepburn May 4, 1929
Introduction to Audrey Hepburn
One of cinema’s most elegant and refined stars, Audrey Hepburn’s beauty encompassed elegance and sophistication. Her timeless grace, beauty and sense of style, matched with a certain vulnerability found in her petite size and large doe eyes, made Hepburn popular not only with male movie lovers, but also with generations of women around the world.
Biography: Audrey Hepburn May 4th 1929 - January 20th 1993
Hepburn was born in Ixelles, a district of Brussels , Belgium. She was the only daughter of wealthy parents Englishman Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston and Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch aristocrat. Audrey's father's job mean that he travelled extensively and Hepburn actually spent much of her education in Enland, attending a private girl's college. Audrey loved dance and trained hard to fulfill her dreams to become a ballet dancer.
Unfortunately Hepburn's youth was not entirely comfortable. Her father left Audrey and her mother (apparently Hepburn traced her father years later and stayed in contact with him until his death). Audrey and her mother moved to Holland, where Hepburn was beginning to earn some recognition for her ballet skills. The Nazi German Army, under rule of Adolf Hitler, invaded and took rule of Holland in 1940 (The Germans had invaded Poland in 1935, leading to the start of World War II in Europe). The following years, when the teenage Audrey Hepburn should have been enjoying her youth, were incredibly difficult times for Hepburn. The German clutch over holland became more manacing and ferocious, and the Nazis began to oppress the rights of the Dutch. Especially difficult was 1944, when the Dutch famine as it is known, saw the Dutch having their fuel and food consumptions limited, leading to many deaths during the harswinter months. Hepburn herself suffered from malnutrition and a series of health issues. The end of the War and liberation came in 1945.
Having survived the war, the young 15 year old Audrey Hepburn studied ballet with a renowned teacher in London. Although she possed great talent, there were factors that stood in the way of her persuing a carrer as a prima ballerina. She was taller than desirable (1.67 meters - 5 foot 7 inches). Coupled with effects of the health issues she'd suffered from as a result of the war, Hepburn felt, and was advised that her career as a ballet dancer would be limited. Audrey decided to persue acting. Hepburn was signed for a small part in a European film, Nederlands en Zeven Lessen, she also did some modelling during this early period. Major success was to come five years later when she played the lead female role in Roman Holiday (1953) alongside Gregory Peck. Hepburn not only won the hearts of the audience, but also gained an Oscar for the role.
Hepburn went on to star in much loved classics such as Funny Face, My Fair Lady (the film is based on the stage musical Pygmalion), and perhaps most famously as Holly Golightly in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Images of Audrey from this film have become truly iconic as she poses elegantly with a tiara, long black gloves and a long cigarette holder. (Personally we love My Fair Lady, a lavish, touching period musical set in London, it's fun and tender and just a great film. Audrey Hepburn looking young and exquisite).
Hepburn became established as one of Hollwood's major stars. To some she was a breath of fresh air from more ocertly sexy female stars of the era - most famously Marilyn Monroe, whose curvacious figure and blonde hair were in stark contrast to Audrey. Incidentally, Audrey hepburn also sang Happy Birthday to the President Kennedy the year after Marilyn famously sang the same song.
In 1967, Audrey began to slow down her acting career. Hepburn was married twice, firstly to american actror Mel Ferrer, and later to a doctor named Andrea Dotti. She had two children, Sean and Luca - one from each marriage (Audrey unfortunately suffered a reported three miscarriages in her life). Both marriages ended in divorce. It was only in her later life that Audrey found a truly succesful and lasting relationship with a Dutch actor Robert Wolders. Hepburn dedicated much of her life after retirement from the stage to working with underprivileged children. Remembered by many as kind, loving and humble her work lead her to become a special ambassador for UNICEF in 1998, a role which she maintained until 1993, when she passed away from cancer in Switzerland, the place she had made her home.
Audrey Hepburn is remembered fondly by many fellow actors and those in the movie trade. Seemingly her elegance and charm on screen were equally as evident in real life. She is remembered as a charming well mannered, humble and caring lady, with truly authentic beauty and charm.
“In a cruel and imperfect world, she was living proof that God could still create perfection.” Critic Rex Reed.
Quotes about Audrey Hepburn
"In every movie I have ever watched, starting with Roman Holiday, I was in love with Audrey Hepburn. I played every part. I was Gregory Peck a long time ago! I was Bill Holden, I was Cary Grant, I was her biggest fan." - Ralph Lauren
"There was so much inside her, a feeling that communicated. Off camera she was just an actress. She was very thin, a good person, sometimes standing on the set she disappeared. But there was something very likable about her, just absolutely adorable about her. You trusted her, this tiny person. When she stood before the camera, she became Miss Audrey Hepburn. That's the element x that people have or don't have. You can meet somebody and be enchanted, and then you photograph them and it's nothing. She had it. And there will not be another." - Billy Wilder
"Audrey definitely had a good heart, there was nothing mean or petty - it's a character thing. She had a good character, so I think people picked up on that too. She didn't have any of the backstabbing, grasping, petty, gossipy personalities that you see in this business. I liked her a lot; in fact, I loved Audrey. It was easy to love her."- Gregory Peck
"The first time I saw Audrey Hepburn was in Roman Holiday. There have only been a few firsts in my life that have rattled me so much - the first time I saw Fred Astaire, the first time I saw Marlon Brando. It was obvious to me that she was going to join a group into which a few artists are admitted: Chaplin, Astaire, Brando."- Stanley Donen
"Audrey was a lady with an elegance and charm that was unsurpassed, except by her love for underprivileged children all over the world. God has a most beautiful new angel now that will know just what to do in heaven"- Elizabeth Taylor "Audrey makes my soul fly. She opens me up to beautiful feelings"- Director Stanley Donen
Quotes by Audrey Hepburn
"I'm not a born actress, as such, I care about expressing feelings." Audrey Hepburn
"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."Audrey Hepburn
"I heard a definition once: Happiness is health and short memory! I whish I'd invented it, because it is very true."Audrey Hepburn
"I'm not beautiful. My mother once called me an ugly duckling. But, listed separately, I have a few good features."Audrey Hepburn
"If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness, not my miscarriages or my father leaving home, but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough."Audrey Hepburn
"Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it all in at once." Audrey Hepburn
"People associate me with a time when movies were pleasant, when women wore pretty dresses in films and you heard beautiful music. I always love it when people write me and and say 'I was having a rotten time, and I walked into a cinema and saw one of your movies, and it made such a difference." Audrey Hepburn
"In Holland and Belgium, and afterwards in England, my happiest moments were in the country. I've always had a passion for the outdoors, for trees, for birds and flowers."Audrey Hepburn
"There must be something wrong with those people who think Audrey Hepburn doesn't perspire, hiccup or sneeze, because they know that's not true. In fact, I hiccup more than most. "
"I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it." Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn Filmography
1990 - Always
1986 - Directed by William Wyler
1981 - They All Laughed
1979 - Bloodline
1976 - Robin and Marian
1967 - Wait Until Dark
1966 - Two for the Road
1964 - My Fair Lady
1963 - Charade
1961 - Breakfast at Tiffany's
1959 - The Nun's Story
1959 - The Unforgiven
1956 - Love in the Afternoon
1956 - War and Peace
1956 - Funny Face
1954 - Sabrina
1953 - Roman Holiday
1951 - Secret People
1951 - Laughter in Paradise
1951 - The Lavender Hill Mob
