The fragile woman became one of the greatest actresses in world cinema, professionally engaged in ballet and shone on the stages of theaters. The roles of charming Audrey Hepburn in the theater and cinema were awarded the highest awards of the world of art, and the photos appearing on the covers of magazines were a real celebration for fans. We will open the pages of her biography to tell interesting facts from the life of Audrey Hepburn.
Countess by birth
Audrey's maternal ancestors were Dutch aristocrats, leading their clan from the beginning of the 16th century. The girl’s mother Ella van Heemstra was a baroness, and transferred the title to all her children.
Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels, and spent her childhood at the Velpe family estate, located near the Dutch town of Arnhem. Audrey Kathleen Ruston was the only child of Joseph Victor Ruston-Hepburn, and on her mother's side she had sisters and a brother.
Mother raised her daughter in severity, and her father indulged, because the girl became very attached to him, and it became a tragedy for him when he left the family, after the divorce of his parents. In childhood, the future star drew beautifully, and time has preserved several of her drawings.
First and last name
Considering the meaning of the name Audrey, in Anglo-Norman form it means "noble", "endowed with power." The girl’s metric contains Audrey Kathleen Ruston, but she became famous for everything under the name Audrey Hepburn.
When the Netherlands was occupied by the Nazis, the mother and daughter changed their surnames, and the future star took the pseudonym Edd van Heemstra more familiar to Holland, since it was dangerous to live with the English surname under the Nazis.
The documents were so reliable and fans and critics thought that Edda van Heemstra was the real name of the actress, but the metric put everything in its place. When Audrey began working in Hollywood, directors and producers demanded that she change her name so as not to confuse her with Katherine Hepburn, but she refused categorically.
Carier start
It has already become forgotten, but by the first education a graceful woman is a dentist. This showed the persistent character of Audrey Hepburn, who simply reinsured in case she loses her job in the cinema.
During the war, even starving, the girl did not stop practicing ballet, gave dance lessons to financially help the family. All this later came in handy in an acting career, because in the filmography of the actress there are many musicals.
By the way, be sure to look at most-beauty.ru an interesting article about the most beautiful actresses in the world of all time.
The ballet did not work, and in 1948, the aspiring actress tries her hand at cinema. After several episodic roles, in 1952 she starred in the film "Secret People", which became the start of a brilliant career in cinema.
Most successful year
In 1953, the romantic comedy Roman Vacations was released, where the film actress plays Princess Anna. Starring Gregory Peck.
Two standards of beauty of that time made a stir in the world of cinema. The film was a great success, and even the novice actress for the role of Anna received an Oscar in 1954.
Acting in films, Audrey did not leave the theater scene. In the Oscar-winning year, the premiere of the play “Undine” took place, and again the British beauty is recognized as the best actress in a theatrical production.
Behind the scenes of the theater, Marlene Dietrich approached Audrey to congratulate her on her success. This was the highest award for the girl, and a real recognition of her talent and acting.
Secrets of harmony
An elegant woman with a great sense of style has always been in great shape. With a height of 1.70 m, the actress's breast size was 34A, and her waist 51 cm. Weight did not exceed 45 kg. She sought such ideal parameters with a strict diet, but could not deny herself her favorite treat. She bought a box of raspberry truffles, and spent hours enjoying her favorite sweets, although the rest of the food was strictly regulated.
Much later, the secret of her thinness and ideal figure was revealed. During the years of occupation, she went hungry, eating chicory leaves and tulip bulbs in the cold winter of 1944.
For this reason, a woman was often sick, due to malnutrition in her youth, she developed anemia and was disturbed in metabolism. But until 6 years old she was a pink-cheeked little dummy.
Having lost weight to the state of a reed, she dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but it was her thinness and short stature that did not allow her to become the second Anna Pavlova.
Muse for fashion designers and shoe makers
On the film "Sabrina" Audrey met the legendary Hubert de Givenchy. The famous fashion designer at first thought that the majestic Hepburn would come, the one that was Catherine, and a miniature Audrey appeared before him.
But between them a friendship lasted a lifetime. Givenchy created cinema outfits for her, and sewed dresses for publication. He created for his muse and perfume. So, in 1957 he released the fragrance “L’Interdit”, which means “Forbidden” in French.
The fragile actress had 41 shoe sizes, because of which she complexed a lot. The shoe maker, Salvatore Ferragamo, impressed by the meeting with Audrey, created for her special shoes with thin soles, reminiscent of pointe shoes. They were called ballerinas.
Never became a sex bomb
They tried to make a sophisticated and feminine girl a sex bomb, but the film "Green Halls" directed by Mel Ferrer failed miserably.
Maybe this is for the best, because remembering the words of Audrey herself that she looks sexy and picking apples in the garden, and standing in the rain. She managed to maintain her identity, and not become the next on-screen doll.
Always perfect makeup, summed up "sable" eyebrows and a hairstyle with youthful fringe became the actress's hallmark, and black fluffy eyelashes, arrows and a small black dress complement the image of an irresistible beauty.
Hobbies and bad habit
Audrey beautifully painted, adored jazz, and during the tour she brought her favorite records with famous compositions of this musical genre.
On the set, in between takes, the woman comfortably sat in a chair and knitted. According to the actress, this acted as a sedative.
You can bring in hobbies, as the actress easily spoke in five languages. While filming in "Roman Vacations", she learned Italian, and during a visit to Mexico City, she spoke with people in Spanish without an interpreter.
Despite her ideality, the actress smoked a lot, smoking three packs a day. And in the days when she was nervous, this quantity of cigarettes was not enough for her.
Personal life and children
In the photo: Audrey Hepburn, her husband Mel Ferrer and son Sean
On the set of "Sabrina," Audrey began an affair with actor William Holden. There could have been a wedding, but after she found out that a handsome actor cannot have children, the couple broke up.
The real love of the actress was Mel Ferrer, who was 12 years older than her. Audrey really wanted to have children. The severe youth affected her health, and before the birth of her first child, she had 4 miscarriages. To get pregnant and calmly bear a baby
Audrey temporarily quit acting career
In the photo: Audrey and Andrea Dotti
Mel's husband loved his "princess"; she bore him a son, who was named Sean. They spent a lot of time together, starred in some films, including in the cult film "War and Peace", but after 14 years of marriage they separated.
The second spouse was the Italian neuropathologist Andrea Dotti. At the wedding ceremony, the actress appeared in a coat and scarf, introducing such a low-key outfit into fashion for a long time. They had a son, who was called the biblical name of Luke. It would seem that everyone was happy, but in 1980, due to the constant betrayal of her husband, they divorced.
At 50, she met Robert Walders, whom she married and knew, according to her own statements, real happiness. Audrey's sons accepted the mother’s choice, and they lived with Robert until the actress’s death.
Clever beauty with a good heart
The years spent in the occupation greatly affected the young girl, and throughout her life she thought about the suffering of people and was grateful to the international organizations that saved her in those difficult years.
In 1954, the first radio broadcasts were launched under the auspices of UNICEF, in which the actress appeals for help to starving children. In 1988, having almost completed her career, she began close cooperation with UNICEF and was elected honorary ambassador of this organization.
A fragile but courageous woman visited a number of countries around the world, and helped children in a difficult situation. Having visited an orphanage in Ethiopia, with 500 starving foster children, she got from world food delivery organizations.
I traveled with charitable missions to Africa, South America, was in Vietnam, and in Turkey participated in the immunization program.
For her disinterested social work, the fearless woman was awarded the state awards of the USA and Great Britain, and the granddaughter of Audrey Hepbrn Emma Ferrer continues the work of the famous grandmother. She participates in UNICEF missions, and recently became a model in a photo shoot, repeating some images of her grandmother.
Another angel
Audrey traveled around the world a lot during the last years of her life, and during a trip to Somalia she felt unwell. Doctors in a Los Angeles hospital diagnosed a tumor in the intestine and had surgery to remove it. But the condition did not improve, the disease progressed, and the woman was melting before our eyes.
To spend time with her family, she came home to Toloshenaz, where she spent her last Christmas with her husband and children. According to her, it was the best Christmas in her life.
A remarkable person and a talented actress died on January 20, 1993, and thousands of people attended the funeral of Audrey Hepburn. Over the grave on the day of the funeral, Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor said: "God has another angel."
It is noteworthy that the last role of a brilliant actress was the role of an angel in the movie by Steven Spielberg “Always”.
Conclusion
The great actress, who managed to win the hearts of millions with her game, easily shared the warmth of her soul with those who needed it. Even after many years, it is impossible not to admire her. Audrey's life history and social activities are respected, and her roles in the movie rightfully entered the golden collection of world cinema.