Audrey Hepburn: A Life from Beginning to End (Biographies of Actors); by Hourly History.

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Audrey Hepburn: A Life from Beginning to End (Biographies of Actors)

Hourly History

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Having been just about a year and half old at the time, the memory isn't first-hand, but recounted by my mother, and rings true.

I was taken to see War And Peace by the parents, a young couple new in New Delhi, and in the interval he took me out into the yard. As he was tidying up my clothes after, he was puzzled by the little child saying - "isn't that girl so very beautiful?", since there was no one around.

It took him some time to realise that the little daughter was talking about Natasha, played by Audrey Hepburn. He returned and excitedly told my mother about their daughter having actually been watching the film, and the conversation we'd had.

The whole story rings true deep within, because Audrey Hepburn has always given rise to the same feelings, whatever my age, whichever the film.

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That when one read about her elsewhere, there were tales of valour and suffering, of a fragile noble soul, wasn't surprising, merely gratifying that one's deep sincere liking was for this quality of a person.

That includes the story about her having offered to carry messages for the resistance during WWII, having hidden in a village from nazis who killed people where she could see, her having hidden over several days, starving, and collapsed on her return home, bicycle both ways.

And it rings true about her special friendship with another noble soul, Gregory Peck, who read out the poem by Tagore she'd selected, at her funeral.

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This author seems yo have knack for throwing mud, or making extraordinary beauty seem a questionable brown, whether from a personal dislike of Audrey Hepburn or a preference for mediocrity on general principles, it's unclear.

One's reminded of when, post funeral of Princess Diana, a royal spokesperson said people may have applauded in midst of speech by her brother Charles Spencer, but they were applauding Elton John, not Charles Spencer! It was an obvious lie, in a pathetic attempt to wish away the fact that someone who'd dared to speak out had found appreciation from everyone.

One still recalls how the applause, begun outside, came into the church like a wave, gentle but inexorable, until it reached the front, and almost everyone was applauding - for several minutes.

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"The transition was difficult for Audrey, who didn’t speak much Dutch. She had to catch up quickly. When she did, school became much more enjoyable. She also enjoyed the ballet classes in which her mother enrolled her. However, as it turned out, Audrey would have been safer remaining in Britain, a country that the Nazis were never able to conquer. The Netherlands, on the other hand, was a valuable trading post and had resources that the Germans coveted.

"Early in 1940, the Nazis had conquered Denmark. Neutral Holland no longer seemed to be such a safe haven. On May 10, Audrey awoke to the roar of airplanes soaring past overhead. Her mother tried to convince her that they were German planes on their way to Britain. The aircraft were indeed German, but they were not flying quite that far. They were launching an attack on the Netherlands’ most important seaport, Rotterdam. Thousands of people died, and many thousands more were wounded.

"The Dutch army and naval forces fought fiercely against the invaders, while the official government set up a government-in-exile in London. Germany seized The Hague four days later. Radios were forbidden, and citizens had no news except permitted German propaganda. Soon enough, armored cars with machine guns rolled through the once peaceful town of Arnhem. The Baron, Audrey’s grandfather, had to open his mansion to German soldiers.

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"Audrey felt the direct consequences of the new regime at school. Jewish teachers were disappearing, and the curriculum now had a decided Nazi bias. She continued her ballet classes, and dancing seemed to be her only future. As a British citizen, Audrey was an enemy of the Reich and qualified for internment. Ella warned her never to speak English and to start using the name Edda van Heemstra rather than her English-sounding name Audrey.

"Back in Britain, Audrey’s father Joseph had his own problems. As a leading fascist, he was rounded up by the British government and sent to jail. Subsequently, he was sent to a camp on the Isle of Man.

"Seeing Nazism up close, Ella slowly reversed her former fascist enthusiasm. She tried to work with the resistance, but her reputation and previous adoration for Mosley preceded her. She was never fully trusted.

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"“As a child, I was taught that it was bad manners to bring attention to yourself, and to never, ever make a spectacle of yourself . . . All of which I've earned a living doing.

"—Audrey Hepburn"

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"Audrey’s chance came in the spring of 1949 when Cecil Landeau hired her for a role in the chorus of his play, Sauce Tartare, where her long legs were on display during all the dance numbers. Somehow, she received all the attention. Clearly, the inexperienced Audrey was taking London by storm.

"Finding herself in a hit assured that she would receive other offers. Conversely, Audrey’s success on stage increased her demand as a model, and in 1950, she ended up appearing in British Vogue. It was time to think seriously about her future.

"Cecil Landeau took notice of Audrey’s popularity and considered her for a larger part in his next play, Sauce Piquante. Audrey found the idea amusing. She had little experience, and her upbringing had left her with a noticeable accent. Not to be deterred, Landeau paid for acting and speech lessons.

"The other actresses in Sauce Piquante complained that although they were far more amply endowed, the audience was constantly looking at Audrey, who looked radiant and divine. One girl lamented, “We don’t stand a chance when she’s on stage. We might just as well stay in our dressing room.” Although she was one of the lesser dancers in the show, all eyes were invariably on Audrey Hepburn.

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"Soon after, Audrey met James Hanson, the scion of one of Britain’s most prominent families and one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors. Everyone was in favor of this match. No fool, Audrey understood that if she were to marry into such as illustrious family, she would have to give up any acting aspirations. For the time being, she didn’t have to make any decisions and simply enjoyed the romance.

"In 1951, Audrey had a small role opposite Alex Guinness in The Lavender Hill Mob. Like so many men, Alex was smitten by Audrey and introduced her to MGM’s casting director, Melvyn LeRoy, who was in London. LeRoy was, however, unimpressed and didn’t take the meeting any further. Undeterred, Audrey continued acting in British and French movies.

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"At the same time as negotiations began for Audrey to go to America and star as the lead in Gigi, her first Broadway show, director William Wyler was in Europe scouting out the lead for his next movie, Roman Holiday. Wyler immediately loved Audrey for the role. The role called for vulnerability, something which Audrey acted with ease, and she got to show her comic side as well when auditioning for the role of Princess Ann.

"At the age of 22, Audrey had only played minor parts. She’d never set foot in America. Now, she was on her way across the ocean to tackle two iconic leading roles—Gigi for the stage and Roman Holiday for the screen. It was impossible to resist Audrey Hepburn. It wouldn’t be long before she’d charm an entirely new continent."

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"Audrey’s inexperience became obvious as soon as Rouleau took over as director. She had no idea how to project her lines, fumbled her entrances, and essentially didn’t understand much of the dialogue. Acting on Broadway was totally different than the minor screen roles she had previously done. She had no idea how to handle herself. At one point, she was even dismissed, but since it was too late to find a suitable replacement, she was called back.

"Rouleau attempted to salvage the play. He played up Audrey’s innocence and charm and turned the staging into a kind of ballet. Although Audrey’s acting wasn’t quite on par, it helped that she looked like Gigi. When Gigi opened at the Fulton Theater following out-of-town tryouts, it received rave reviews. Audrey’s mother Ella and boyfriend Hanson were at the premiere, but Audrey did not need her own cheering section; she’d become a star on the first try. The following night, Audrey had her name in lights above the title. When she saw her name light up the marquee, she sighed. “Oh dear, and I still have to learn how to act.”

"If the show was going to be a hit—and it seemed to be heading in that direction—Audrey knew she and her boyfriend Hanson would be separated for a while. She was willing to accept that. One night over dinner, Hanson proposed marriage, and she accepted.

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"On the West Coast, Paramount Pictures watched Audrey’s development with interest. They had her under contract for Roman Holiday, but they were now wondering if they shouldn’t offer this fascinating newcomer a seven-year contract.

"Although Audrey hated interviews, she was now a minor celebrity, and talking to the press was to become a part of her life. During one lunch interview, she discussed her experience with wartime deprivation while devouring corned beef hash, several eggs, several rolls, and a large dish of coffee ice cream. Audrey was clearly determined not to go hungry again."

This work seems written by someone who didn't much like Audrey Hepburn, and has no clue about what enforced starvation is, either.

Postwar German of generation of plenty, or a US citizen with migrant European ancestry receded several generations, perhaps over a century or two, this author, it'd seem.

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"Gigi closed after 219 performances, and Audrey prepared to go to Italy, where Roman Holiday would be filmed. Prior to her departure, Paramount flew in their chief clothing designer, Edith Head, to arrange for customs for her movie.

"Roman Holiday is a romantic comedy set in Italy. Audrey plays a princess, Ann, who is frustrated with royal protocol. She sneaks out of the palace to experience some real-life fun in Rome. This is after her chaperone has given her a sleeping pill.

"Gregory Peck plays a reporter named Joe in desperate need of a story. When an inadvertently dizzy and drugged Audrey ends up in his apartment, he learns who she is and sees the story of a lifetime. The pictures he takes of her in a state of dishabille will thrill his editor. The following day, they see the sights of Rome. They get to know each other and eventually fall in love. Everything that happens during their interlude is photographed by Joe and his photographer friend—and not in a flattering way for a proper princess. Their time together ends when Ann is located by embassy staff.

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"The princess returns to the embassy and has a press conference trying to explain her absence the prior day. She remembers more about her unseemly behavior and is afraid it will come to light. During the press conference, Joe, who is among the horde of reporters, steps forward and hands her an envelope, which contains all the incriminating photos of Ann. He has decided that ruining Ann’s reputation in exchange for some sensational news story is not worth it. Besides, he truly does love her. Ann is grateful and wistfully watches him turn and walk away. She knows they will never meet again."

Author avoids her half of the emotion here, and makes it seem that she was only grateful as a princess. As depicted in the film, she's overcome not only with surprise and shock of revelation, but her own love, and makes it known in a way only a princess and her loved one understands, and no one else does.

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"Gregory Peck was the known star, and Audrey Hepburn the unknown newcomer. However, it was Peck who insisted that Audrey’s name be placed with his above the title. He did not doubt that her fame would skyrocket. It was a very generous act.

"Following the filming in Rome, Audrey had to rush back to America for the road tour of Gigi. Hanson visited her at Christmastime in Chicago. The details are unknown, but when he returned to London, there was an announcement that their engagement was officially off."

Wonder why.

"After the tour, Audrey went to Hollywood. Paramount offered her a seven-year contract, script approval on all movies, and time off to do more theater. Few newcomers were granted such amenities, but everyone simply adored Audrey. She could do no wrong.

"Audrey was committed to living in America, but Britain was still officially her home. When she returned there to visit her mother, Gregory Peck was coincidentally shooting in London. The Pecks threw Audrey a welcome-home party and introduced her to the actor Mel Ferrer. Audrey and Ferrer had much in common and spent a great deal of time talking. Ferrer had a wife and children back in the U.S., but the two were instantly attracted to each other."

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"“I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment.”

"—Audrey Hepburn"

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"The premiere of Roman Holiday at the Radio City Music Hall was another winner for Audrey. Paramount insisted she do an interview and cover story with Time magazine, an unusual request when such interviews were normally done by established actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor. Readers couldn’t get enough of Audrey’s fragile beauty.

"She soon began filming her second American movie, Sabrina, the story of a chauffeur’s daughter being pursued by the family’s two sons, played by Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Although the story is about this romantic triangle, another star of the movie is the wardrobe created especially by emerging designer Hubert de Givenchy. Givenchy and Audrey’s relationship would last for many years as he designed the perfect outfits to highlight her figure."

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"The atmosphere off-screen was totally different than the one on-screen. Bogart was in a particularly foul mood throughout the shooting and frequently drunk—nothing at all like his gruff but charming character on-screen. Audrey didn’t develop even a casual relationship with him. It was William Holden who caught Audrey’s attention. He was, however, married and eager to maintain the image of a good family man.

"Nevertheless, Audrey fell hard for Holden and was captivated by his charm. As they began an affair, she had serious daydreams about him, including dreams of the two of them getting married. Although Holden admired Audrey, including the fact that she was 11 years younger than he was, he had no intentions of getting a divorce. He even brought her home to meet his wife, Ardis, who knew what was happening."

This author seems to be deliberately lying.

What's reported until now and almost everywhere else is thst not only love was mutual and Holden on brink of a divorce, all set to marry Audrey Hepburn, but that the reason they didn't is because he was unwilling to have children if they married, and she, reluctant to give up on motherhood, gave up on Holden instead.

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"They were direct opposites in character. Mel was macho and experienced, while Audrey was fragile and still learning. He was domineering; she was shy. He took the lead in the relationship and guided her professionally. During rehearsal, he even began to direct Audrey’s performance instead of letting the director, Alfred Lunt, do the job. This created friction between the men but probably helped Audrey. This was, after all, only her second Broadway play.

"Ondine premiered on February 18, 1954, and became an immediate hit. Audrey especially stood out. According to the New York Times, “Miss Hepburn is able to translate [its intangibles] into the language of the theatre without artfulness or precociousness. She gives a pulsing performance that is all grace and enchantment, disciplined by an instinct for the realities of the stage.” It was Audrey who received cheers and curtain calls every night. Mel invariably joined her on stage for those calls. There were rumors that Mel was intimidated by Audrey’s success and insisted on equal treatment.

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"While basking in the success of Ondine, Audrey learned that she had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to her role in Roman Holiday. At the time, the Oscars were broadcast in New York at the Century Theatre. Sitting next to her mother, a delighted Audrey heard her name being called out as Best Actress.

"Three days after winning the Oscar, Audrey won a Tony Award for her performance in Ondine. It must have seemed strange that only a decade earlier, Ella and Audrey were starving in war-ravaged Europe. Now, Audrey was winning prestigious awards for her second play and first major movie. Following the Tony Award, the producers insisted that the curtain calls would be by Audrey alone instead of with Mel. Mel was not happy."

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"In June of 1954, Audrey’s fragile health made it difficult for her to do nightly performances, and the play had to close. Audrey went to Switzerland to recover while Mel flew directly to Rome. After she sent him an expensive watch for his birthday, he flew to see her and asked her to marry him. Happily, she accepted. They made plans to marry as soon as Mel wrapped up his movie in Rome.

"They were married in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on September 25, 1954. Packs of reporters followed them to Rome and created disturbances until the couple posed for pictures. Following their honeymoon, they returned to Hollywood for the premiere of Sabrina. The movie was another hit for Audrey. During the less than five years that she’d spent in America, it was as if she couldn’t do anything wrong.

"When she became pregnant, Audrey was forced to put everything on hold due to her delicate health. Since Mel was doing a movie in London, they returned to Britain and moved into a six-room flat. Mel’s problem was that his wife’s short and limited career was outshining his. The publicist in London couldn’t get him any publicity if it didn’t include Audrey."

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"Audrey was trying to stay rested and enjoy a healthy pregnancy, but she couldn’t escape the news that two different factions were planning to make an epic film based on Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Mike Todd was one director, and the other was the team of Carlo Ponti and Dino De Laurentiis. Both wanted Audrey for the role of Natasha Rostova in their separate movie. She hadn’t signed with either team yet when Ponti and De Laurentiis offered the role of Prince Andrei to Mel if she would go with them. It was a sneaky move but effective.

"Audrey immediately agreed to sign with Ponti and De Laurentiis if Paramount would lend her out. Paramount took it a step further and became a partner in the movie by adding to the financing. Paramount also threw in King Vidor to direct Audrey.

"Nothing could begin until Audrey had her baby, but no one was in any hurry. There would be a lot of work to be done before they started filming anyway. Tolstoy’s monster epic had to be reduced to under four hours. While Audrey waited, she received her second Oscar nomination for Sabrina. This time, she lost out to Grace Kelly. At around the same time, she miscarried. The reason is not known, but Audrey was devastated. It was a trauma she never discussed publicly.

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"By this point, De Laurentiis was already shooting the battle scenes for War and Peace. Mel and Audrey were reading and rereading Tolstoy’s book to gain a better understanding of their characters. But turning Tolstoy’s massive tome into a screenplay meant sacrificing much of the depth of character that is in the novel. During the film, Audrey is required to age from teenager to widow, which the still inexperienced actress managed admirably. She and Mel returned to Paris after the shooting was completed."

Author here insinuates without clearly stating, but is incorrect on two counts, related.

Natasha in War And Peace is never widowed, but loses an ex-fiance Andrei, a young widower with a son before he met Natasha; Andrei has given up on his engagement with Natasha, but come around to have forgiven her seducer and almost abductor, before reconciling with her shortly before his death, much of it all due to his having been at war.

All this happens while Natasha is still very young. She goes through serious problems, experiencing confusion, ethical dilemma, grief, all in a short few years. Her life seems to mirror the travails Andrei and Pierre experience through war, despite her being never close to war front.

Her first husband, Pierre, isn't dead when the book ends, far from it; thry are happily married with children, and visiting her brother who's married to the sister of Andrei and bringing up Andrei's son and heir, born of Andrei's first and only marriage.

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"While in Paris, Audrey learned that Paramount wanted to lend her out to MGM for a collaboration with Fred Astaire in a movie called Funny Face. As a young girl, she had seen Astaire, one of the greatest song and dance men in history, in Top Hat and had enjoyed watching him. Now, Audrey would star opposite him as an equal. She plays a shy clerk named Jo Stockton working in a used bookstore in Greenwich Village. Astaire, who plays a photographer, wanders into the shop and decides to turn her into a model for one of his magazine shoots. As a model, Audrey gets to wear all kinds of incredible clothes. Once again, her friend Givenchy was there to dress her perfectly.

"Although she was trained in ballet, Audrey was nervous to dance with someone like Astaire, who was one of the most famous dancers in Hollywood. Fortunately, Astaire turned out to be very patient and helped her perfect her moves.

"The release of War and Peace, however, proved to be difficult. The movie was three and a half hours long, and it was competing for viewing time with 80 Days Around the World, Paramount’s The Ten Commandments, and Giant. The fact was, theatergoers wanted to see Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in Giant rather than some long story by Tolstoy. To make matters worse, there appeared to be no spark between Audrey and Mel in the movie. Those who pictured the pair as the next Lunt and Fontanne developed severe doubts."

The lack of chemistry somehow fits the Tolstoy story, though. War And Peace is not Anna Karenina, but a counterpart of Anna Karenina.

Andrei and Natasha are, individually, beautiful. But apart in age, strangers, who haven't had time to know one another. Each is in love with an image of other fitted with one's own dreams or needs, as the case for her and him respectively. He fails her just when she needed him most, repeatedly.

All this is in background when finally Pierre and Natasha, after death of Andrei, realise they love one another. But they've known each other forever, been friends, and Pierre was almost the only friend Andrei had.

Andrei was never close to anyone, even his wife. And not fortunate enough to marry Natasha. He died just as he made peace with her.

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"The couple refused to be deterred and went to California to make another movie together, Mayerling. Unfortunately, the director commented, “I had a lot of trouble getting them to turn on the heat. Audrey seemed to have a better rapport with that Yorkshire terrier of hers.” "

If Mel was jealous of her as this author describes repeatedly, what's the point trying to blame her as he seems to do, by quoting a rather tasteless remark against her?

"Audrey did get praised for her performance, while Mel was widely panned. Audrey took some time off to decide on her next venture. She accompanied Mel to Spain for his role in The Sun Also Rises. She enjoyed shopping and being simply a wife during the day while her husband was working.

"Funny Face was released during this time while she was away from Hollywood with Mel. Even though the movie received only mediocre reviews (viewers objected to the pairing of the middle-aged Astaire and the mid-twenties Audrey), her Givenchy wardrobe did establish her reputation as one of the best-dressed women of the time."

There he goes again, giving more credit to Givenchy than to Audrey Hepburn, when she'd be just as attractive in the least expensive attire off the rack from Target!

If dress was all there was to it, anyone could be the mannequin for a designer.

But it doesn’t work that way.

A Diana at her wedding and through her life was adored, no matter how much subsequent put-downs after her death attempted by those trying to discredit her.

A Duchess of Windsor with exclusive designer jewellery was unnoticed except by her adoring husband - and by nazis trying to use him. Another duchess only excites similar adoration from a second husband and a 'hope not' from people, despite all the jewellery at her disposal.

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"Audrey immersed herself in the role, even spending some time in Marie Louise Habets’ old convent. She lived without mirrors, radio, and television since such frivolities were not permitted by the order. She also visited the Belgian Congo to do some genuine background filming. Because of her fragile health, the visit terrified her. Audrey was a heavy smoker, even in her nun’s costume. Frequently, she and the other nun actresses would gather for a cigarette break. A native, who took them for genuine nuns, became upset and complained. A production assistant told him that they were Americans as if that might explain away any strange behavior. The native nodded knowingly and continued on his way.

"After six months of filming dressed in a nun’s habit, Audrey was able to join Mel in Los Angeles and wear normal clothes again. She sincerely hoped that their time together would result in a successful pregnancy. Meanwhile, the couple attempted another movie collaboration. Mel directed Audrey in the movie Green Mansions, in which Audrey portrays a young jungle woman who falls in love with an escapee from Venezuelan rebels played by Anthony Perkins. She saves him from a snake bite on his leg. Her grandfather warns her he will leave after he heals. However, the two end up in love.

"Following Green Mansions, Audrey and Mel spent some time in Los Angeles. Audrey wanted some rest, but she wouldn’t get as much as she’d hoped for. United Artists offered her $250,000 to co-star in the movie The Unforgiven, which was being directed by the legendary John Huston. She was unable to resist, although she was pregnant at the time."

Looking them up, one recalls Unforgiven, and having watched it, vividly.

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"Young Rachel Zachary, played by Audrey, is the daughter of white settlers. When someone spreads the rumor that Audrey is actual an Indian stolen from the Kiowa tribe at birth, the situation escalates into a war between the settlers and the Native Americans. When the truth comes out that she is indeed an Indian, many of the white settlers scorn her. The movie is not only an interesting western but unusual for the early 1960s as John Huston attempts to underscore the long-time prejudice against Native Americans.

"While Audrey did manage to complete the movie, it turned into a personal tragedy when she fell off a horse. All production was stopped, and she was flown to Los Angeles on a stretcher. Still, she miscarried for a second time. Following The Unforgiven, Audrey took a year off in Switzerland to recover emotionally. She was too angry and too depressed for anything else. It was difficult for her to understand why she couldn’t have children when she wanted them so much. Then, miraculously, she became pregnant again. At the same time, she gained her third Oscar nomination for The Nun’s Story.

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"As Audrey was resting, Paramount kept sending her new scripts and reminding her that she owed them more movies. The manuscript that caught her attention was Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She wanted the role of Holly Golightly, a free spirit who dreams of a future with a millionaire.

"The movie would, however, have to wait until after Audrey gave birth, which she did on July 17, 1960, when Sean Ferrer came into this world. Audrey’s hospital room was filled with congratulatory flowers from across the world. Audrey was beyond happy to finally have her wish fulfilled.

"While Audrey was loving every moment of motherhood, preparations were underway for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the movie for which she became best known. Givenchy was hired to design her glamorous wardrobe, including the “little black dress” that the movie made famous. The new mother decided it was best for baby Sean to remain in Switzerland with his nanny and grandmother Ella while she and Mel went to film on location in New York City and then Hollywood."

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"By now, Audrey had unquestionably established herself as a bankable Hollywood star. When she made The Children’s Hour in 1961, she was complimented on handling the topic of a pair of teachers accused of lesbianism with considerable sensitivity.

"Following The Children’s Hour, she made Paris When It Sizzles with her former co-star and lover William Holden. Both were married, and Audrey had no interest in any more dalliances. Not so Holden, who had deteriorated deeply into alcoholism. They were seen dining alone. Meanwhile, in Spain, Mel was enjoying the frequent company of a Duchess Quintanilla. There were rumors of infidelity on both sides."

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"Directors and screenwriters had attempted to pair up Audrey and Cary Grant for a project three times previously. Each time, Grant turned it down, citing being uncomfortable with their age difference. He was 53 years old when he was finally persuaded to sign up for Stanley Donen's Charade because the writers adjusted the story to have Audrey chase after him instead of him pursuing her. Throughout the film, he keeps telling her he’s too old.

"Cary and Audrey’s first meeting, in a restaurant, didn’t go too well when she spilled a bottle of red wine over him. She spent the evening apologizing. Cary, ever the gentleman, sent a container of caviar the following day as an apology for making her feel bad."

"The press tried hard to create a romance between the two stars. However, Cary had just become involved with actress Dyan Cannon, who was playing on Broadway at the time, and was not after any other romantic entanglements. As a matter of fact, the Ferrers invited Cary and Dyan for an elegant New Year’s Eve dinner in Paris after the shooting of Charade. Due to the popularity of both of its stars, Charade became an instant success and Audrey’s biggest hit to date.

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" ... Audrey received the news that she was being offered the most sought-after female role since Scarlet O’Hara. Negotiations had been in place for months to put together the movie My Fair Lady. Audrey had hoped for the role of Eliza Doolittle, which had been made famous by Julie Andrews on Broadway, but her singing abilities were limited. It never occurred to her she might get the part. Still, Jack Warner insisted that no one but Audrey Hepburn would do. He had bought the screen rights to the movie for over $5 million, and while Julie Andrew had been a Broadway success, she was still relatively unknown; he wasn’t willing to risk his investment on Julie. Audrey, on the other hand, was esteemed worldwide and a proven audience favorite.

"Warner had to pay dearly for his star. Audrey’s agent negotiated a million-dollar deal and a percentage of the gross. Rex Harrison, who had played the role of Professor Higgins opposite Julie Andrews, was rehired for the screen version. George Cukor was called on board to direct.

"Since the shooting would take up to seven months, the Ferrer family rented a house in Los Angeles. To give Mel something to do, Audrey asked Warner to place him in some movie. Mel ended up with a feature role in Sex and the Single Girl for a mere $30,000. Professionally and personally, husband and wife seemed to be moving further apart.

"For My Fair Lady, Cecil Beaton was in charge of Audrey’s wardrobe. His designs were fantastic, but Audrey still showed them to Givenchy for final approval. Meanwhile, Cukor did his best with Audrey’s limited singing ability. He had her mouth the words during filming and had her do the actual songs in the recording studio. Afterward, Warner covertly ordered that someone else be brought in to dub the songs. The professionally trained singer Marni Nixon was eventually used. Audrey was unhappy when she learned what Warner had done, but there was nothing for her to do but accept the reality that her singing simply wasn’t what it needed to be for a first-rate musical.

"The filming dragged on. Mel had finished his movie by now and resented having nothing to do, Sean had caught a cold, and the president of the United States had been assassinated. Audrey desperately tried to salvage what she could, but the remainder of the shooting was a struggle.

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"As usual, she was exhausted at the end of the filming and wanted to rest. Mel, however, was traveling throughout Europe trying to muster up funding for any kind of project for himself. While his wife’s career was getting bigger and bigger, he was looking for roles, any roles. The closest he came to any project was in Spain, where he wanted to do a biographical movie on Queen Isabella. Unfortunately, the endeavor went bankrupt. In the end, he did a movie about the famed artist El Greco. Audrey felt it was her wifely duty to remain at his side during this trip.

"In August of 1964, Audrey was shocked to learn that her father, Joseph Ruston, was still alive and living in Dublin. She hadn’t heard from him in 25 years since he’d disappeared following the exposure of his fascist leanings. She and Ferrer headed to Ireland.

"The reunion was a bit tense for everyone, including the stepmother Audrey had not known about. Joseph had married a woman thirty years younger than himself. He had kept up with his daughter’s career but remained matter of fact about her fame. Too much time had passed for them to reestablish any type of familial relationship. Years later, Audrey mentioned that the reason Joseph had never gotten in touch with her was to save her the embarrassment of being known as the daughter of a fascist."

This is authors own whitewashed the father. Elsewhere. One recalls having read that she was deeply grieved about his complete lack of interest in her, and hence never sought to see him again.

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"Audrey’s next film, How to Steal a Million, was another comedy, like Charade. ... "

Superb, delightful film, the couple most well matched in their performances, second only to Roman Holiday.

"Mel remained in Switzerland while Audrey filmed in Paris. After almost a dozen years of marriage, they seemed to have lost the initial passion. Rumors, whether true or false, of an affair between Audrey and O’Toole didn’t help matters. When she returned to Switzerland, they settled down to find a real home. They found the perfect farmhouse in Tolochenaz, an hour outside of Geneva. Settling into their new home had a beneficial effect on their relationship. Audrey soon found herself pregnant again. Unfortunately, it ended in another miscarriage."

Years of starvation during her formative early teens obviously didn't help.

"In 1967, Mel and Audrey left Sean in the care of a babysitter and traveled to Los Angeles to do Wait Until Dark for Jack Warner. Audrey was to play a young blind woman pursued by three thugs. Mel was hired as a producer. He drove Warner crazy with his expenditures, which included the building of an English tea garden where Audrey and the rest of the cast could enjoy refreshments.

................................................................................................

" ... Following the cruise, they kept in touch. She visited him in Rome, and he came to Tolochenaz. His mother was a Contessa, and the family quite wealthy, so there was no risk Dotti was romancing her for her money."

" ... Audrey managed to charm Dotti’s entire family. By Christmas, he presented her with an engagement ring. Knowing that the paparazzi would haunt them, they were married quickly in January of 1969. Her wedding dress was, of course, designed by Givenchy."

"Meanwhile, Audrey gave birth to a son, Luca, on February 8, 1970. She withdrew from making movies until 1975, when she filmed Robin and Marian, the story of Robin Hood and Lady Marian in middle age. She hadn’t acted for almost a decade and was now 46 years old. While she was away filming, Dotti was enjoying a happy nightlife without his wife. Divorce seemed like the only solution, and the couple officially split in 1982.

................................................................................................

"Most of Audrey’s time was now spent working as an ambassador for UNICEF. She visited Africa and saw some of the devastating results of the famine that was starving and killing children. She gave a multitude of interviews to raise the public’s awareness of this tragic situation. For several years, she tirelessly visited countries in an attempt to improve their situation in regards to food, clean water, immunization, and education. For her efforts, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. ... "

"Audrey eventually died of a rare form of abdominal cancer on January 20, 1993. She passed away peacefully during the night at age 63. Many dignitaries attended her funeral in her beloved Tolochenaz in Switzerland. Both of her exes were there. Elizabeth Taylor, Givenchy, Gregory Peck, and representatives from the Dutch royal family were all present to say goodbye to one of the most iconic actresses of all time."

................................................................................................

"It is difficult to think of Audrey Hepburn without imagining a charmed life. Born into a life of luxury, Audrey was the flawless daughter of Dutch nobility. When she turned to acting, she was an immediate success, winning critical raves with her first movie and those thereafter. Her beauty and regal grace simply couldn’t be ignored. Givenchy designed most of her movie wardrobe, and as a result, Audrey Hepburn became as famous for her designer gowns as she was for her looks and charm.

"Remarkably, most people don’t know the real backstory behind this Givenchy girl, one which was forged in the fires of World War II when Audrey spent the better part of the war in the grasp of the Nazi occupiers. Starvation, deprivation, and fear were daily occurrences during those five long years. After her uncle was cruelly executed by the Nazis, Audrey’s whole family became part of the Dutch resistance movement. "

Correction, they were in resistance while he was alive.

Author might have taken opportunity to discuss the fact that Audrey Hepburn and Anne Frank shared time and space, and were close in age; and there was discussion of Audrey’s playing Anne, but too late.

"Her experiences during the war and her later work and travel in the poverty-stricken regions of Africa were a million miles away from her life as a Hollywood fashionista. Perhaps these irreconcilable aspects of Audrey Hepburn’s persona were what made her so intriguing to watch on the silver screen, turning her into one of the greatest legends of the Golden Age of Hollywood."

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Table of Contents

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Introduction

Born into War

Post-War Years

Early Work

Debuting in Broadway and Hollywood

Rise to Super Stardom

Losing Her Child

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Charade and My Fair Lady

Divorce

Late Life and Work for UNICEF

Conclusion

Bibliography

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REVIEW

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Introduction

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"Audrey married fellow actor Mel Ferrer in 1954. While Ferrer struggled to advance his career, Audrey’s movies The Nun’s Story, Charade, My Fair Lady, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s were all hits. ... "

"Audrey and Ferrer divorced in 1968. The following year, she married an Italian doctor, Andrea Mario Dotti, with whom she had a son named Luca. She and Dotti eventually divorced in 1982. Now semi-retired from acting, Audrey became active as an ambassador in UNICEF and worked with starving and poverty-stricken children in Africa. During her illustrious film career, she made over thirty movies, was nominated for six Oscars, and won two."

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 1. Born into War

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"“I can testify to what UNICEF means to children because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.”

"—Audrey Hepburn"

................................................................................................

"The world’s most famous gamine was born in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, 1929. Audrey Kathleen Ruston, later known as Audrey Hepburn, was born to a British-Austrian father and a Dutch mother, making her a British subject. Her father, Joseph Ruston, was an upper-class bourgeois who tried to make a success of himself in the diplomatic services and later as a banker in various European countries. Thanks to this, Audrey was fluent in several languages before the age of six.

"Audrey’s mother, Baroness Ella van Heemstra, a divorced mother of two sons, was related to the Dutch reigning royal family. Ella’s reasons for marrying a commoner are not known, but Joseph Ruston could be quite charming, and besides, he (wrongly) believed himself to be related to James Hepburn, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was Ella who insisted he incorporate the name Hepburn into the family name. Undoubtedly because of her social rank, she held the dominant position in the family.

"The first half-dozen years of Audrey’s life were spent in splendid mansions due to her royal connections. Although she sometimes traveled with her father, she was closer to her mother and was spoiled by her older half-brothers, who adored their little sister. Since the boys were her main companions, Audrey developed into a tree-climbing tomboy who cared nothing about dolls and fancy dresses. She also loved music and would play the piano for company. It was a loving and secure childhood which would soon be cut short."

"As her parents increased their business travel, they spent more and more time in London. While staying in the city, both Joseph and Ella developed a fervent passion for Oswald Mosley, the leader of Britain’s Fascist Party. ... "

................................................................................................

"Both of Audrey’s parents became members of the British Union of Fascists. Mosley came from a noble family, like Ella, which gave her immediate access to the top echelon and inner circle of British fascists. She wrote a magazine article about Oswald Mosley in which she stated, “And we who are following Sir Oswald Mosley know that in him we have found a leader whose eyes are not riveted on earthly things, whose inspiration is of a higher plane, and whose idealism will carry Britain into the bright light.”

"By the end of the year, Audrey’s idyllic life would be shattered when her father abruptly left the family. He simply walked out one day, never to return. With this, Audrey’s existence was turned upside down, and she later described it as “one of the great traumas of my life. It left a very deep scar on me.”

"The reason for Joseph’s permanent exile from the home has never been fully explained, and Audrey herself never spoke of it. People who knew her parents indicated that Ella’s father, Baron van Heemstra, was horrified at his daughter’s public involvement with fascist ideology and blamed Joseph. Since Joseph managed Ella’s wealth (as most husbands did at the time), the Baron could easily have threatened embezzlement or financial malfeasance to force Joseph to leave.

................................................................................................

"In any case, the protracted divorce took several years, making its way through both Dutch and British courts. Joseph wanted Audrey to continue her education in Britain, so while her mother moved back to the Netherlands, Audrey traveled to Kent to study at a small private school in Elham. This was especially painful for Audrey, who was very close to her mother. As she started school in Britain, she turned from a carefree child into a shy loner.

"When Ella visited Britain and saw Audrey for the first time in six months, she was shocked at the change in her little girl. She became so concerned that she moved to a boardinghouse in Elham to be close to her daughter. The girl immediately began to blossom again in the company of her mother.

"Joseph and Ella’s divorce was finalized in 1938, just as the war in Europe was threatening to erupt. Ella was worried about Audrey’s safety, and since the Netherlands was a neutral country, Ella had her father make arrangements to fly both of them out of Britain without Joseph’s permission. They found a home in the town of Arnhem. For a short time, Audrey was safe, but it would be many decades until she saw her father again. Clearly, her perfect childhood was coming to an abrupt end.

................................................................................................

"Audrey, innocent and doe-eyed, was another story. At 15, she now performed at a number of dance recitals. This afforded her more freedom of movement than most people had, and she soon began to deliver forged identity papers wherever directed. She hid the documents in her bookbag as no one was concerned with what a young girl was carrying. Already, she was using the charm for which she would later become famous. Occasionally, when she saw Nazi guards, she would pick some flowers and handed them a bouquet with the sweetest of smiles—a strange beginning to her future acting career.

"In 1942, as living in Arnhem became increasingly perilous, Ella and Audrey escaped on foot by walking five miles to the Baron’s home in Velp. Food was rationed, soap was non-existent, and everyone went hungry and dirty. Audrey and Ella didn’t eat proper meals again until the Allies liberated the Netherlands in 1945 and filled the churches with food and supplies.

"Other members of the family were not as fortunate; Audrey’s half-brother Ian had been sent to a German labor camp in Berlin, and her uncle Otto was executed for his suspected involvement in the resistance movement."

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 2. Post-War Years

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"The war had left Audrey malnourished and perennially hungry. She began to gobble down anything edible, such as a whole jar of jam. When she volunteered at the local hospital where American soldiers were recovering, they handed her chocolate. One day, she ate seven candy bars in ten minutes and became sick.

"The family slowly reassembled. Her older half-brother Alexander came out of hiding. The other brother, Ian, walked 350 miles from his internment camp in Berlin to reach home.

"There was no word from her father. Ella couldn’t care less about her ex-husband, but Audrey was determined to find him. She wouldn’t succeed until many decades later when she sought help from the Red Cross and discovered that Joseph was alive and living in Ireland. He had made no effort to contact his daughter, which left Audrey feeling rejected.

................................................................................................

"Survival after the war wasn’t much easier than surviving the bombing and occupation. The Baron’s finances were tied up by the Nazis, so he could no longer help. Ella hoped for opportunities in the capital, Amsterdam, but thousands of others had the same idea. The once-proud Baroness considered herself lucky to find a job as a live-in housekeeper. She soon left her job as a housekeeper though—she’d never taken orders in her life and was incapable of doing so. She eventually became the manager of a florist shop.

"Audrey, still unseemly thin, progressed with her dancing and performed in an afternoon show at the Hortus Theater in 1946. She didn’t startle the world of dance, but critics did find her pleasing.

"In 1947, two years after the end of the war, life was still a struggle. Ella now worked in a beauty salon. Audrey began designing and making hats for her mother’s customers as a means of earning more money. She was marvelously creative and sold quite a few hats.

................................................................................................

"By accident, she learned that she might qualify for a scholarship in London with the famed ballerina, Marie Rambert, who had taught Fontaine and Nijinsky. While going through the necessary red tape and paperwork, Audrey landed a role as a guide in 30-minute travelogues. It wasn’t anything major, and all that the studio requested was a pretty girl. Nevertheless, Audrey’s bright personality was a perfect fit. She also worked as a model, although she still hoped for a career in ballet.

"Papers for Ella and Audrey to go to Britain were difficult to get, as the British had not forgotten Ella’s pro-fascist ideology. Finally, in December of 1948, mother and daughter sailed across the waters from The Hague to London. Once they arrived, they did not waste time. The two, who had spent their lives in luxurious surroundings, headed straight to a cheap bed and breakfast. Then, they went to see Marie Rambert.

"Rambert gave them a tour of the school while Ella and Audrey shared their war experiences. Afterward, Audrey did an audition. Rambert didn’t comment on Audrey’s talent, or lack of it. She was impressed enough with the girl’s radiant looks and natural grace to offer a partial scholarship.

................................................................................................

"Nevertheless, life in post-war London was harsh. Food rations were barely enough to sustain life, and the city was damp and foggy. In addition, Ella, who was not a citizen, could not get a work permit. She eventually persuaded an old acquaintance to let her manage an apartment building off the books. Audrey meanwhile worked part-time as a receptionist.

"Although she enjoyed her dance lessons, it was clear that Audrey was growing too tall to become a prima ballerina. Instead, the classes brought her into contact with other students who were pursuing careers in stage and film. One day, Audrey took the underground to the Hippodrome Theatre, where hundreds of others were waiting to be cast in the musical High Button Shoes. Fortunately, Audrey’s talents were impressive enough to get her hired as a chorus girl. It wasn’t ballet, but for the first time, Audrey was earning money as a performer. Her life, so hard and joyless during the war years, was looking up.

"The actor Cecil Landeau had a front-row seat to one of her performances. To him, Audrey stood out from the rest of the chorus. He obtained her name in the event he could use her in his next production."

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 3. Early Work

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"“As a child, I was taught that it was bad manners to bring attention to yourself, and to never, ever make a spectacle of yourself . . . All of which I've earned a living doing.

"—Audrey Hepburn"

................................................................................................

"For her part, Gigi enjoys spending time with a frivolous young man named Gaston and has no interest in becoming some old man’s darling. She prefers the company of Gaston, but he doesn’t rate as marriage material. In the end, Gaston is so charmed by Gigi that he ends up offering her a reputable marriage.

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 4. Debuting in Broadway and Hollywood

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"After Audrey finished up packing for her tour in America, she crossed the Atlantic in the Queen Mary and landed in New York, staying at the Blackstone Hotel. She and James Hanson were still very much in love, and it was assumed she would return to Europe once her obligations in America had been met. There was no need to look for an apartment, she thought.

"Gigi was scheduled to open at the Fulton Theater in November. Writer Anita Loos was so anxious for her play to become successful that she asked her friend, legendary screen director George Cukor, to come to New York and direct Audrey’s performance. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so. Audrey, now acting in a foreign country in what was essentially a foreign language, would need plenty of coaching.

"Ultimately, Raymond Rouleau, a French director, was called. It was thought that since both Rouleau and Audrey spoke French, this would make matters easier for her. Unfortunately, much of the rehearsal turned into bilingual confusion. Audrey now would have to learn the play in two separate languages. Eventually, the great Cathleen Nesbitt, who was playing one of the courtesan aunts, would take Audrey under her wings and coach her in her own apartment.

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This work seems written by someone who didn't much like Audrey Hepburn, and has no clue about what enforced starvation is, either.

Postwar German of generation of plenty, or a US citizen with migrant European ancestry receded several generations, perhaps over a century or two, this author, it'd seem.

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Wonder why.

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 5. Rise to Super Stardom

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"“I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment.”

"—Audrey Hepburn"

................................................................................................

This author seems to be deliberately lying.

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September 20, 2022 - September 20, 2022.

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Chapter 6. Losing Her Child