| AUGUST 2005 AUDREY HEPBURN |
| REVIEWS Roman Holiday - 1953 Sabrina - 1954 Funny Face - 1957 Breakfast at Tiffany's - 1961 Charade - 1963 My Fair Lady - 1964 How to Steal a Million - 1966 Robin and Marian - 1976 and Always - 1989 |
Half Belgian, half British, the ever-radiant Audrey Hepburn was born May 4, 1929 in
Brussels. Her father, a British man, left her mother in 1935. Though devastated, Hepburn
begins taking dance classes, inspired by seeing dancers as a little girl. Her parents
formally divorced a few years later and soon Hepburn was living with her mother in
Arnhem. When the war breaks out, the German army invades and soon Arnhem is
occupied with Nazi soldiers.
Earning a little money as a dancer, Hepburn gives all of this money to the resistance forces
hiding in Holland. Her resolve is steeled due to the murder of her uncle by German
soldiers. After staying out of sight of the Germans for the duration of the war, Hepburn
and her mother visit London. Soon, Hepburn is acting in British films, including one of her
earliest roles in the Alec Guinness comedy, "The Lavender Hill Mob."
Director William Wyler hand picked her for the leading female role in "Roman Holiday" in
1953 in her first major Hollywood picture. However, the studio wasn't prepared to give her
top billing. Fortunately, her costar and leading man, Gregory Peck, thought it would be
foolish to have the only name above the title after watching her excellent performance
during production. At his insistence, Hepburn was given second billing and a star was
literally born.
Brussels. Her father, a British man, left her mother in 1935. Though devastated, Hepburn
begins taking dance classes, inspired by seeing dancers as a little girl. Her parents
formally divorced a few years later and soon Hepburn was living with her mother in
Arnhem. When the war breaks out, the German army invades and soon Arnhem is
occupied with Nazi soldiers.
Earning a little money as a dancer, Hepburn gives all of this money to the resistance forces
hiding in Holland. Her resolve is steeled due to the murder of her uncle by German
soldiers. After staying out of sight of the Germans for the duration of the war, Hepburn
and her mother visit London. Soon, Hepburn is acting in British films, including one of her
earliest roles in the Alec Guinness comedy, "The Lavender Hill Mob."
Director William Wyler hand picked her for the leading female role in "Roman Holiday" in
1953 in her first major Hollywood picture. However, the studio wasn't prepared to give her
top billing. Fortunately, her costar and leading man, Gregory Peck, thought it would be
foolish to have the only name above the title after watching her excellent performance
during production. At his insistence, Hepburn was given second billing and a star was
literally born.
| Audrey Hepburn as Princess Anya takes Gregory Peck's Vespa for a wild ride in Rome in "Roman Holiday." |
Heburn's persona on screen is completely unique. She is neither a vamp nor a
seductress nor an aristocrat. There is an exclusive innocence and charm about
Hepburn's performances that makes her special. She is adorable, but never cutesy.
She is regal but never uppity. She is sophisticated without being complicated.
Wyler showcased all of this perfectly for American audiences in "Roman Holiday."
Hepburn's career exploded and within the next few years she worked with the
biggest stars in Hollywood. Billy Wilder directed her alongside Humphrey Bogart
and William Holden in the romantic comedy, "Sabrina." In the film, Hepburn is a
young woman courted by a much older man. A hard sell? Certainly, but Hepburn's
grace and innocence sold audiences. With another hit to her credit, Hepburn was
on firm ground. Now the hottest commodity in tinsel town, Hepburn was working
regularly, with the biggest stars and the best directors.
seductress nor an aristocrat. There is an exclusive innocence and charm about
Hepburn's performances that makes her special. She is adorable, but never cutesy.
She is regal but never uppity. She is sophisticated without being complicated.
Wyler showcased all of this perfectly for American audiences in "Roman Holiday."
Hepburn's career exploded and within the next few years she worked with the
biggest stars in Hollywood. Billy Wilder directed her alongside Humphrey Bogart
and William Holden in the romantic comedy, "Sabrina." In the film, Hepburn is a
young woman courted by a much older man. A hard sell? Certainly, but Hepburn's
grace and innocence sold audiences. With another hit to her credit, Hepburn was
on firm ground. Now the hottest commodity in tinsel town, Hepburn was working
regularly, with the biggest stars and the best directors.
| Hepburn steals a doe-eyed glance at George Peppard in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" |
A well rounded performer, Hepburn was an accomplished singer and dancer and
her first opportunity to showcase these talents in an American movie came with
"Funny Face," in which Hepburn costarred alongside America's dancing legend,
Fred Astaire. In the movie, Astaire is determined to turn a bookstore clerk into a
star. "Funny Face" was a prophetic hit for Hepburn. She would explore this kind of
character again in arguably her career-defining role.
Director Blake Edwards, best known for helming "The Pink Panther," created the
definitive image of Hepburn when he made "Breakfast at Tiffany's." In the film,
Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a New York socialite who wants to marry a millionaire
and George Peppard is a struggling writer who's stuck with an older wealthy
woman. This light romantic comedy etched Hepburn into the public consciousness
as the innocent and beautiful sophisticate like no other film.
Stanley Donen, who directed Hepburn in "Funny Face," brought the maturing
actress out of the lighter roles to show her more serious side in the suspense
thriller "Charade." Once again paired with top talent, Hepburn plays alongside
Cary Grant as a woman whose husband has been murdered and his money
missing. Grant is a man with a thousand names, interested in her husband's
fortune...too interested. Here, for almost the first time since her trip into stardom,
Hepburn was able to show a more frantic side in a serious situation.
Her major splash came with the musical classic, "My Fair Lady." As with "Funny
Face," Hepburn plays a woman transformed from crass to aristocrat by an older
male mentor. This time around, directed by comedy legend George Cukor,
Hepburn leaps off the screen, both singing and dancing and switching accents at
the drop of a hat.
With "My Fair Lady," Hepburn's legacy of light but perfectly crafted comedic films
was set in stone.
her first opportunity to showcase these talents in an American movie came with
"Funny Face," in which Hepburn costarred alongside America's dancing legend,
Fred Astaire. In the movie, Astaire is determined to turn a bookstore clerk into a
star. "Funny Face" was a prophetic hit for Hepburn. She would explore this kind of
character again in arguably her career-defining role.
Director Blake Edwards, best known for helming "The Pink Panther," created the
definitive image of Hepburn when he made "Breakfast at Tiffany's." In the film,
Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a New York socialite who wants to marry a millionaire
and George Peppard is a struggling writer who's stuck with an older wealthy
woman. This light romantic comedy etched Hepburn into the public consciousness
as the innocent and beautiful sophisticate like no other film.
Stanley Donen, who directed Hepburn in "Funny Face," brought the maturing
actress out of the lighter roles to show her more serious side in the suspense
thriller "Charade." Once again paired with top talent, Hepburn plays alongside
Cary Grant as a woman whose husband has been murdered and his money
missing. Grant is a man with a thousand names, interested in her husband's
fortune...too interested. Here, for almost the first time since her trip into stardom,
Hepburn was able to show a more frantic side in a serious situation.
Her major splash came with the musical classic, "My Fair Lady." As with "Funny
Face," Hepburn plays a woman transformed from crass to aristocrat by an older
male mentor. This time around, directed by comedy legend George Cukor,
Hepburn leaps off the screen, both singing and dancing and switching accents at
the drop of a hat.
With "My Fair Lady," Hepburn's legacy of light but perfectly crafted comedic films
was set in stone.
| ABOVE: Hepburn hides in a phonebooth from her pursuer in "Charade." BELOW: Rex Harrison tries to teach Hepburn to talk like an aristocrat in the classic musical, "My Fair Lady." |
Heburn reunited with director William Wyler for the heist comedy "How to Steal a
Million" with then-newcomer Peter O'Toole about a woman trying to steal back a
fake statue of her father's.
Shortly after this, due to difficulties with then-husband Mel Ferrer, Hepburn stayed
away from films for some time before finally coming back to the screen in 1976
alongside Sean Connery in the what-if Robin Hood tale, "Robin and Marian."
In the late 1980s, Hepburn became the ambassador for UNICEF. Her commitment
to starving children stemmed from her experience as a child in war. Heburn's last
film was a cameo in Steven Spielberg's drama, "Always," in 1989. She died of
colon cancer in 1993.
Million" with then-newcomer Peter O'Toole about a woman trying to steal back a
fake statue of her father's.
Shortly after this, due to difficulties with then-husband Mel Ferrer, Hepburn stayed
away from films for some time before finally coming back to the screen in 1976
alongside Sean Connery in the what-if Robin Hood tale, "Robin and Marian."
In the late 1980s, Hepburn became the ambassador for UNICEF. Her commitment
to starving children stemmed from her experience as a child in war. Heburn's last
film was a cameo in Steven Spielberg's drama, "Always," in 1989. She died of
colon cancer in 1993.
| Hepburn and Peter O'Toole are crammed in the janitor's closet during their midnight museum heist in "How to Steal a Million." |
| Visit www.audreyhepburn.com for more information about this beloved actress. |