Audrey Hepburn
Born 1929 · Age 96
Belgian-born British actress and humanitarian, film and fashion icon; Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner; UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ixelles, Brussels
Audrey Kathleen Ruston (later Hepburn) was born at 48 Rue Keyenveld, Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Father left the family / parents separate
Joseph Ruston (later Hepburn-Ruston) left the family abruptly; Audrey's father became more deeply involved in fascist activity and did not live with the family afterwards.
Sent to boarding school in Kent
Attended a small private boarding school in Elham, Kent (attended 1936–1939).
Returned to the Netherlands as war began
After Britain declared war on Germany, Audrey and her mother moved back to Arnhem, Netherlands, where she attended Arnhem Conservatory (1939–1945).
Began studies at Arnhem Conservatory
Studied ballet at the Arnhem Conservatory beginning in 1939 under Winja Marova; became a star pupil.
Adopted the name Edda van Heemstra
Used the name Edda van Heemstra during the German occupation because an English-sounding name was dangerous.
Uncle executed by occupiers
Her uncle Otto van Limburg Stirum was executed in retaliation for resistance activity; this changed the family's stance toward the Nazis.
Performed silent dances to raise funds for resistance
By 1944 Hepburn was performing ballet and silent concerts to raise money and aid the Dutch resistance and local relief efforts.
Evacuation and Battle of Arnhem / Dutch famine
Lived through the Allied Operation Market Garden, evacuation of Arnhem environs, and the 1944–45 Dutch famine; severe malnutrition affected her health.
Moved to Amsterdam / studied with Sonia Gaskell
After the war Audrey and her mother moved to Amsterdam; she resumed ballet training under Sonia Gaskell and Olga Tarasova beginning in 1945.
Serious postwar illness and recovery
Suffered jaundice, anaemia, oedema and respiratory infection after wartime malnutrition; a penicillin supply arranged after an appeal helped save her life.
Film debut in Seven Lessons (educational film)
Made film debut as an air stewardess in Dutch educational travel film Seven Lessons (1948).
Ballet scholarship to Ballet Rambert / moved to London
Accepted a ballet scholarship with Ballet Rambert and moved to London; began modelling to support herself and dropped 'Ruston' from her name.
West End chorus role — High Button Shoes
Performed as a chorus girl in High Button Shoes at the London Hippodrome (1948).
West End revue — Sauce Tartare
Performed in Cecil Landeau's Sauce Tartare at the Cambridge Theatre (1949).
West End revue — Sauce Piquante and Summer Nights
Performed in Sauce Piquante (1950) and danced in Summer Nights at Ciro's London (1950).
Took elocution lessons with Felix Aylmer
Underwent elocution training to develop her speaking voice while working in theatre.
Spotted by Ealing casting director; ABPC registration
Margaret Harper-Nelson spotted Hepburn; she was registered as a freelance actress with Associated British Picture Corporation.
Minor film roles (One Wild Oat, Laughter in Paradise, Young Wives' Tale, The Lavender Hill Mob)
Appeared in several small film roles in 1951 while building stage and screen experience.
Screen test for Roman Holiday sent to William Wyler
Thorold Dickinson made a screen test (18 Sept 1951) that led to William Wyler casting Hepburn as the female lead of Roman Holiday.
Broadway breakthrough — Gigi opens at Fulton Theatre
Cast by Colette in the title role of the Broadway play Gigi; opened 24 November 1951 and received strong reviews; won a Theatre World Award.
First major supporting film role — Secret People
Played a prodigious ballerina performing her own dance sequences in Thorold Dickinson's Secret People (1952).
Monte Carlo Baby / discovered by Colette for Gigi
Took a small role in Monte Carlo Baby (1952); Colette saw her and insisted she be cast in the Broadway production of Gigi.
Gigi national tour begins
Tour started 13 October 1952 in Pittsburgh and ran through US cities until 16 May 1953.
Signed seven-picture contract with Paramount
Signed a seven-picture contract with Paramount with gaps allowed for stage work.
Starred in Roman Holiday (breakthrough film)
Played Princess Ann opposite Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday (1953); film was a box-office success and launched her international stardom.
Featured on Time magazine cover
Appeared on the cover of Time magazine (7 September 1953) following her growing stardom.
Starred in Sabrina (film release)
Starred opposite William Holden and Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina (1954); earned critical acclaim and awards recognition.
Won Academy Award for Best Actress (Roman Holiday)
Awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday (ceremony in 1954 for 1953 film).
Won Tony Award for Ondine
Won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for Ondine; as noted, this occurred soon after the Academy Award (1954).
Married Mel Ferrer
Married actor/director Mel Ferrer on 25 September 1954 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland.
Golden Globe — World Film Favorite
Received Golden Globe recognition as a World Film Favorite (1955).
Starred in War and Peace
Played Natasha Rostova in the film adaptation of War and Peace (1956), co-starring Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer.
Starred in Funny Face (musical)
Debuted in a musical film, Funny Face (1957), and sang her own parts; co-starred with Fred Astaire.
Starred in Love in the Afternoon
Co-starred with Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier in Love in the Afternoon (1957).
Starred in The Nun's Story
Played Sister Luke in The Nun's Story (1959), a demanding dramatic role that won critical praise and earned an Academy Award nomination.
Starred in Green Mansions
Featured as Rima in Green Mansions (1959); film received a lukewarm reception.
Starred in The Unforgiven (western)
Appeared opposite Burt Lancaster in The Unforgiven (1960), her only western role.
Birth of son Sean Hepburn Ferrer
Gave birth to her first child, Sean Hepburn Ferrer (born 17 June 1960) with Mel Ferrer.
Starred in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Played Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), an iconic role that earned an Academy Award nomination and cemented her fashion icon status.
Starred in The Children's Hour
Co-starred with Shirley MacLaine in The Children's Hour (1961), receiving critical notice for her performance.
Starred in Charade
Appeared opposite Cary Grant in Charade (1963); the film was a commercial success and earned awards recognition.
Starred in My Fair Lady (film release)
Starred as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964); casting was controversial (Julie Andrews not cast) and Hepburn's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon.
Paris When It Sizzles released
Reunited with William Holden in Paris When It Sizzles (released 1964), a troubled production with mixed reception.
Starred in How to Steal a Million
Played the daughter of an art collector in the heist comedy How to Steal a Million (1966).
Two for the Road and Wait Until Dark
Released Two for the Road and Wait Until Dark (1967); Wait Until Dark earned her Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
Semi-retirement from acting
After Wait Until Dark (1967) Hepburn chose to reduce her film work and focus on family life; acting appearances became occasional.
Divorce from Mel Ferrer finalized
Filed for divorce in 1967 and the decree with Mel Ferrer was announced in 1968, ending a 14-year marriage.
Married Andrea Dotti
Married Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti on 18 January 1969.
Birth of son Luca Dotti
Second son, Luca Dotti, was born on 8 February 1970 (father Andrea Dotti).
Appeared in Robin and Marian
Returned to a larger film role as Maid Marian opposite Sean Connery in Robin and Marian (1976).
Starred in Bloodline
Co-starred in Bloodline (1979), an international thriller that failed critically and at the box office.
Last starring feature — They All Laughed
Had her last starring role in the feature They All Laughed (1981) directed by Peter Bogdanovich; limited release.
Divorce from Andrea Dotti
Divorce from Andrea Dotti was finalized (married 1969–1982).
TV film — Love Among Thieves
Co-starred with Robert Wagner in the made-for-television caper Love Among Thieves (1987).
First UNICEF field mission — Ethiopia
Visited famine-stricken areas in Ethiopia in 1988; first major field mission to see humanitarian need firsthand (UNICEF work had occurred earlier).
Turkey immunisation campaign (UNICEF)
Traveled to Turkey in August 1988 for a national immunisation campaign; praised UNICEF's logistics and community cooperation.
UNICEF trip to South America (Venezuela & Ecuador)
Visited communities in Venezuela and Ecuador in October 1988 and reported UNICEF projects bringing water and schools to remote areas.
Appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Formally appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 1989 and continued field missions and advocacy.
Received International Danny Kaye Award for Children (UNICEF recognition)
Received UNICEF's International Danny Kaye Award for Children in 1989 in recognition of her humanitarian advocacy.
Cameo in Always (final film role)
Appeared in a cameo as an angel in Steven Spielberg's Always (released 1989); last theatrical film appearance.
Central American UNICEF tour
Traveled in February 1989 to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to examine UNICEF projects and meet leaders.
Visited Sudan for Operation Lifeline (UNICEF)
Visited Sudan in April 1989 as part of a mission ('Operation Lifeline') to ferry food to southern Sudan during civil war.
UNICEF mission to Bangladesh
Traveled to Bangladesh with Robert Wolders in October 1989 to assess severe humanitarian needs and relief programmes.
Filmed Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn
Filmed the PBS documentary series Gardens of the World on location in seven countries in spring and summer 1990; programme about gardens and conservation.
UNICEF mission to Vietnam
Traveled to Vietnam in October 1990 to collaborate on immunisation and clean water programmes supported by UNICEF.
Gardens of the World — one-hour special broadcast
A one-hour special of Gardens of the World preceded the series on PBS in March 1991.
Recorded Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales
Recorded a spoken-word album of children's stories (Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales) in 1992.
UNICEF mission to Somalia
Visited Somalia in September 1992 and described the situation as 'apocalyptic'; this trip preceded her illness diagnosis.
Exploratory surgery and cancer diagnosis
Underwent exploratory surgery at Cedars-Sinai on 1 November 1992 which revealed cancer (later described as appendix/colon cancer and spread).
Follow-up surgery for cancer
Underwent additional surgery in early December 1992; doctors found the cancer had spread extensively and further treatment options were limited.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in December 1992 from President George H. W. Bush for her humanitarian work with UNICEF.
Posthumous Primetime Emmy Award (Gardens of the World)
Posthumously awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement – Informational Programming for the 'Flower Gardens' episode of Gardens of the World (award given 1993).
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Academy) — posthumous
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded Hepburn the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition of her humanitarian contributions.
Died in Tolochenaz, Switzerland
Died at her home in Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland on 20 January 1993 of appendix/colon cancer; buried in Tolochenaz cemetery.
Posthumous Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Her 1992 spoken-word recording Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales earned a posthumous Grammy Award (1994) for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
Statue 'The Spirit of Audrey' unveiled at UNICEF HQ
UNICEF unveiled a statue titled 'The Spirit of Audrey' at its New York headquarters in 2002 to honour her legacy (recognition event, posthumous).
Key Achievement Ages
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