¶ Audrey Hepburn: The Nicest Lady in Hollywood
¶ Introduction
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. She is best known for her roles in films such as Roman Holiday (1953), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964). Hepburn was also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and she worked tirelessly to help children in need.
¶ Childhood
Audrey Hepburn was born in Ixelles, Belgium, on May 4, 1929, to an aristocratic family, and spent a privileged childhood between Belgium, England, and the Netherlands. Her mother, a very strong figure all over her life, was Baroness Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch noblewoman. Her father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, was a British man born in Austria-Hungary.
However, when Audrey was six years old, in 1935, her father abruptly abandoned the family, moved to London and became involved in fascist activity. He detached completely from his daughter and that abandonment marked Audrey throughout her life. In the 1960s, when she was already world-famous, she could locate him living in Ireland and provided for him until his death.
¶ World War II
When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, Hepburn's mother moved her daughter to Arnhem, hoping the Netherlands would remain neutral and safe from German attacks. In Arnhem, from 1939 to 1945, Hepburn attended the Arnhem Conservatory. She had started ballet lessons in a boarding school and continued her training in Arnhem under Winja Marova, becoming her star pupil. At that time, Audrey had found her vocation: ballet.
During the war, Audrey and her mother witnessed the horrors of the Nazi occupation. In 1942, Audrey Hepburn's uncle, Otto van Limburg Stirum was executed as a reprisal for a resistance movement's sabotage, even though he had no direct involvement. Her half-brother Ian was deported to Berlin to work in a German labour camp. She also witnessed the deportation of Dutch Jews to concentration camps, recalling the haunting image of a young boy in an oversized coat boarding one of the trains. This experience was among the many traumatic events she endured, like suffering from malnutrition and other severe health problems that almost led to her death at the end of 1945.
It is believed that Audrey participated in the resistance movement although no clear proof of deep involvement was found. However, in a 2019 book by Robert Matzen, evidence emerged of Audrey's support for the resistance by hosting "underground concerts" to raise funds, distributing underground newspapers, and volunteering at a resistance hospital.
¶ After World War II
Audrey and her family moved to Amsterdam in 1945. She began ballet training under Sonia Gaskell and Olga Tarasova. Due to financial difficulties (as her family’s properties were destroyed during the war), her mother worked as a cook and housekeeper for a wealthy family. Audrey made her debut on the screen in "Dutch in Seven Lessons" (1948), an educational film. She then moved to London on a ballet scholarship with Ballet Rambert, supporting herself as a part-time model.
Due to her short height and weakened constitution, it became clear that it was unlikely she would become a prima ballerina. She then shifted her focus to acting. While her mother worked to support them, Audrey appeared in various theatrical productions and took elocution lessons.
Audrey's acting career started to take off when she was spotted by Ealing Studios' casting director and registered as a freelance actress with the Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC).
¶ A star is born
Audrey had a small role in the bilingual film "Monte Carlo Baby" filmed in Monte Carlo. During filming, French novelist Colette saw her and cast her in the title role of the Broadway play "Gigi." Despite her lack of stage experience and vulnerable health, Audrey was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences. The play ran for 219 performances, closed in May 1952, and went on tour, concluding in San Francisco in May 1953. She received a Theatre World Award for her role.
“Gigi” marked her real debut. From 1953 to 1967 her career was marked by memorable works with leading roles and the best co-stars and directors. In 1953, she achieved iconic status with her role in "Roman Holiday," for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. This film catapulted her to international stardom and established her as a beloved actress. In the following years, she continued to captivate audiences with memorable performances in films like "Sabrina" (1954), "Funny Face" (1957), and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), solidifying her position as one of Hollywood's leading actresses.
¶ Personality
But Audrey’s most striking quality was beyond her talent as an actress. She was widely regarded as one of the most gracious and charming personalities in the entertainment industry. Her colleagues and peers consistently praised her for her professionalism, humility, and kindness on and off the set. She was often described as down-to-earth, approachable, and incredibly easy to work with. Her reputation in Hollywood was that of a true lady with a warm and generous heart.
She made lifelong friends in an industry known for its competitiveness and cruelty, like actor Cary Grant and fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy.
¶ Style
Publicly, Audrey Hepburn's persona was that of a timeless and sophisticated icon. She exuded elegance, grace, and a sense of natural beauty that endeared her to audiences worldwide. Her style, epitomized by the little black dress in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," became iconic, and she was considered a fashion trendsetter. Audrey's image was associated with a sense of refinement and class, and she projected an aura of innocence and vulnerability that made her relatable and beloved by many.
¶ Humanitarian work
Beyond her acting career, Audrey Hepburn devoted herself to humanitarian efforts. She became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1954 and traveled extensively to aid children in need around the world. Her dedication to this cause was unwavering, and she used her fame to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF's work.
¶ Personal life
Audrey captivated everyone around her and always made clear that her biggest dream was to have her own family. She was engaged once (to industrialist James Hanson) but called off the wedding. It was at the time when her career took off with “Gigi”.
In 1954 she married American actor Mel Ferrer, with whom she had her son Sean. They stayed together for 14 years. She then married Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, with whom she had her son Luca. Both marriages were challenging and Audrey took the bumps with grace and resilience. She slowed down her career and dedicated her semi-retirement to raising her children and doing humanitarian work.
But it was from 1980 until her passing in 1993 that Audrey lived her happiest relationship, with Dutch actor Robert Wolders.
She kept her family away from gossip and lived in Europe. Her final decades were in Switzerland.
¶ Death
Audrey's battle with a rare abdominal cancer began in 1992, following her return from Somalia, where she was doing humanitarian work. Despite inconclusive tests in Switzerland, a laparoscopy in Los Angeles revealed an advanced form of cancer coating her small intestine. After surgery and chemotherapy, her health deteriorated.
Audrey spent her final Christmas in Switzerland and in January 1993, she passed away peacefully at home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. Gregory Peck paid tribute with a poem, and her funeral was attended by family, friends, and dignitaries, including her sons, partner Robert Wolders, and ex-husbands. She was interred at Tolochenaz Cemetery on the same day. Audrey Hepburn's death marked the end of an era for Hollywood's beloved icon.
¶ Audrey Hepburn’s Awards
- Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actress for her role in "Roman Holiday" (1953).
- Golden Globe Award, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for her performance in "Roman Holiday" (1953).
- BAFTA Award, Best British Actress, for "Roman Holiday" (1953) and "The Nun's Story" (1959).
- Tony Award, Best Actress in a Play, for her performance in the Broadway play "Ondine" in 1954.
- Cecil B. DeMille Award for her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry in 1990.
- Emmy Awards, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Entertainment, her work in the television special "Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn" in 1993.
- Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Life Achievement Award, posthumously honored in 1993.
- Presidential Medal of Freedom In recognition of her humanitarian efforts as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1992.
- Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards in 1993 for her exceptional humanitarian work with UNICEF.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her contributions to the film industry.
Sources
https://askinglot.com/who-is-breakfast-at-tiffany-based-on
Paris, Barry (2001) [1996]. Audrey Hepburn. Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-18212-3.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Hepburn