Classic Film Actor Spotlight: August: Audrey Hepburn

This month I really wanted to spotlight Audrey Hepburn's films. She was just a delight to see on screen. I hope one day I can see one of her films in a theater-what an experience that would be!

I spotlighted Audrey back in November during my Pinup of the Month Series but I didn't really share all the tidbits of her life with you so here I go!

Audrey Kathleen Ruston was born May 4th, 1929 in Belgium. Her mother, Baroness Ella van Hemstra was a Dutch aristocrat and her father, Joseph Ruston was of British and Austrian descent. Audrey's father had become a Nazi sympathizer and abandoned his family. It would be many years before Audrey would see her father again.

Audrey as a girl in the 1940's.

By 1944, Audrey had become a proficient ballerina. It was her life-long dream to one day become a Prima Ballerina. She danced in dance companies after the war but due to her height (she was 5"7") and poor nutrition during the war, her dreams were dashed. 

Her mother Ella (d.1984) and her father Joseph (d.1980).

Audrey then decided to turn her efforts into acting. After gaining some experience in theater, she landed her first starring role in Roman Holiday. Now what a way to begin a career! Her first on screen role was that of a princess who longed to live a normal, everyday life-who escapes the confines of her kingdom and meets with a dashing reporter played by the ever-so-handsome Gregory Peck.

Hepburn and Peck in "Roman Holiday" and Audrey with her Oscar.

Audrey won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday in 1954. As soon as she finished filming for "Roman Holiday" she began filming Sabrina with Humphrey Bogart and  William Holden.  She won a BAFTA Award that year for her performance. 

Audrey's career was on a roll! But not only her career but also her love life as well. After collaborating with actor Mel Ferrer on a play that year, they fell in love and we married on September 25th, 1954. Their union would last fourteen years and  produced a son named, Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Later on Audrey would remarry one more time to an Italian psychiatrist named Andrea Dotti on January 18th, 1969. Their union would last thirteen years ad produced another son named, Luca Dotti. In 1980 she entered into a long term relationship/partnership with Robert Wolders until her passing in 1993.

Audrey with Ferrer, Dotti, and Wolders, respectfully.

Audrey's sons today~Luca to the left and Sean to the right.

Audrey's leading men~can we say wow!!!??

Audrey's career in Hollywood started on a high note with winning an Oscar and continued to rise in the 1960's where she did some of her best work. Some of her films are; Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), The Children's Hour (1961), Charade (1963), My Fair Lady (1964), Two for the Road (1967), and Wait Until Dark (1967). From 1970 to 1993 she only made four films and that was because she opted to focus on raising her sons as well as focus her efforts aboard working for UNICEF.

Audrey Hepburn passed away on January 20th, 1993 at the age of 63 from cancer. Her passing was truly a loss to our world.

She was many things throughout her life and as I have said before-her more important role was that of being a mother. If you are interested in learning more about Miss Hepburn I highly recommend the book written by her eldest son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer called Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit.

Tomorrow I will spotlighted a Double Feature of Audrey's films because the following weekend will be dedicated to a special event I will be attending. I will fill you all in on it in the days to come :)

Happy Saturday!!!

xox