A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

Twenty-three years ago today, on January 20th, 1993, Audrey Hepburn died from cancer. She was only sixty-three years old.

My interest in Audrey Hepburn began early this summer after I happened, quite by chance, to watch a few movies, back to back, that starred Audrey. I'd always known about her; I mean, who HASN'T seen, or at least HEARD of, My Fair Lady? So while I knew about Audrey, I'd never had much interest in her life, but after seeing her moving and wonderful portrayals in Roman Holiday, Charade, and How To Steal A Million, I was hooked!

 

 

 

What first drew me to Hepburn was her beauty and her exquisite fashion sense! She dressed so elegantly, smiled so radiantly, and was loved by everybody. This superficial interest in looks and clothes drew me to start reading little bits, pieces, and facts about Audrey, and then I read Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Soul, by Sean Hepburn Ferrer (the oldest of her two sons) and Audrey Hepburn by Barry Paris, as well as a few small books filled with glossy pictures and little facts about her life.

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4th, 1929, and she originally wanted to be a ballet dancer, but WWII stopped that dream. She lived through the brutal Dutch Nazi occupation, and when the war was over she came to England. Audrey soon discovered that being a ballet dancer was not in the cards for her, but instead of sinking into depression she found work at the theater, and from there slipped into British films and finally made her way to Hollywood, where she starred in Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck as her first American movie.

 

After Roman Holiday, Audrey was made. She married twice in her life, having a son by each marriage, but although she was in huge demand she only made a few more than twenty movies in her lifetime, putting her career second to being a wife and mother. Audrey didn't care for Hollywood, and spent as much time as she could at her house and gardens in Switzerland.

After her second divorce, she entered into a relationship with another man and never married. Audrey spent the last years of her life as the special ambassador for UNICEF, visiting Africa, Vietnam, South America, and many other places. She made a total of eight trips to Third World countries, drawing enormous attention and support of the starving people there. It was after her last visit, this one to the country of Somalia, Audrey became ill, and died soon afterwards of appendiceal cancer.

 

I love Audrey Hepburn because of amount of importance she placed on being a good wife and mother; reading of the sacrifices she made for her family inspire me when I think of the future family I want to have someday. Also, everyone loved Audrey because she was gracious, kind, and gentle, and those are all traits that I struggle with quite frequently. While Audrey Hepburn wasn't perfect, I find the good in her life uplifting and inspiring.