I was 18 when it dawned on me that I really, really liked musicals. I was attending a performance of My Fair Lady at a local high school. This was a really big school and the production was fairly lavish for high school theatre. I loved the musical so much that I went home and rented My Fair Lady on video. While watching it I realized that I had acquired two new loves…musical theatre and Audrey Hepburn. Audrey Hepburn had a style and grace that is unmatched in today’s Hollywood.
Born on this date in Brussels, Belgium in 1929 to a wealthy English banker and a Dutch baroness, Audrey was destined for greatness. Her privileged upbringing and private school education were doubtless influential in fashioning the woman whose name would come to be synonymous with class and sophistication, and yet this privilege did not hinder Audrey Hepburn from giving of herself to those in need. More on this later. While vacationing with her mother in Arnhem, Holland, Hitler’s forces took over the town and Audrey and her mother lived for a time under Nazi occupation. After the city was liberated Audrey attended ballet school and then took up modeling before being ‘discovered’ by a movie producer.
Audrey started with a few small roles in European films but it was after she moved to America that she burst on the scene in the film Roman Holiday. This film was extremely successful, winning Audrey Hepburn a best actress Oscar and establishing her as the new darling in film. Her waif-like elegance was such a contrast to the sex-goddess images of the time that she gained immediate popularity. In her lifetime Audrey made 31 films and received 4 Oscar nominations in addition to her Oscar win.
I’m not sure exactly why Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress. I suspect that a great deal of it has to do with the fact that she was the first ‘classic’ actress that I remember noticing. It was odd to think, at age 18, that I had a crush on a preserved-in-film image of this beautiful woman who was actually much older. I believe it also has something to do with the fact that I so closely associate her with my love of musical theatre both live and on film and thus her image generates a great deal of nostalgia. In addition Audrey has starred in so many great films. My favorites include My Fair Lady, Funny Face, Wait Until Dark, and Charade. Audrey Hepburn personified a type of classy, beautiful, sophisticated elegance coupled with a genuine concern for the less fortunate that is rare if not non-existent in Hollywood.
In 1988 Audrey became a special ambassador to the United Nations UNICEF fund helping children in Latin America and Africa, a position she retained until 1993. From her official site: “Audrey traveled for UNICEF with acclaimed photographer John Isaac on behalf of UNICEF. Together they presented to the world a provocative visual context in which to see the urgency of Audrey’s message. For five years, until her death in 1993, Audrey devoted all her energy to working with UNICEF. Her field missions were often physically and emotionally demanding and sometimes undertaken at great personal risk. Audrey learned first hand about the plight of poor and displaced children in countries all over the world. Audrey made over fifty field research visits to UNICEF-assisted projects in Sudan, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia. . These trips enabled her to witness first-hand the distressing conditions of children living in war-torn and drought-ridden areas of the world. Determined to raise awareness and badly needed funds, Audrey applied her first-hand knowledge to inform Special Assemblies at the U.N., shared details with various Press Associations, and lobbied on behalf of children to World Parliaments.”
Audrey Hepburn’s poise, demeanor, and beauty may have been the catalyst for her classy image but the way that she lived the later years of her life is what solidified that image for all time.
I’d like to close this by sharing this poem that was a favorite of Audrey’s and that I feel is a perfect description of her:
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone …
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,
reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed. Never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others
~Sam Levenson
Happy Birthday, Audrey…
(1929-1993)
Wait Until Dark is a great movie! Not to rain on your I-love-Audrey parade, but wasn’t Audrey’s singing ability a little questionable?
Who was it that played her in the TV biopic? Was it Jennifer Love or Natalie Portman? I think the latter could have come close to matching that style and grace.
Indeed, very happy birthday to one of the great and beautiful ladies of the silver screen.
Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite as well and I think it’s becasue with all that style and grace and lovliness, she was still fun and spunky. Breakfast at Tiffanys is probably my favorite though I kept expecting George Peppard to pull out a cigar and say “I love it when a plan comes together”.
(and if you don’t understand this reference it is quite probable that you were living under a rock or most of the 80’s) 🙂
Yes, I believe some of Audrey’s songs were dubbed in the movie version of My Fair Lady but she did Gigi and some other musicals on Broadway so it couldn’t have been all bad.
What I love about Audrey is that she wasn’t the greatest actress or singer, etc but the whole package of who she was is, to me, greater than any actress who has ever lived. I realize that’s only my personal, very subjective opinion, but she really is #1 in my book.
Audrey’s style and grace stayed with her throughout her life so Natalie will have to show that for many more years before she comes close. Its no doubt that Audrey had her skeletons like everyone else but who remembers the many marriages, etc? She’s remembered for a look that is her own, for being a classy lady, and for being a ‘Mother Theresa’ with her waning years when she could’ve been living in the lap of luxury.
I need to watch Breakfast again. I don’t remember being wowed by it when I saw it but that may have been because of the way it was hyped to me by those who loved it. I do adore the song “Moon River” that came from that movie, especially Sarah Brightman’s rendition.
As a side note, if you have never seen The Truth About Charlie, please don’t! I thought it was horrible. Why they chose to remake such a perfect movie as Charade is beyond me!
On a completely different note, I’ve posted in an attempt to get more ideas for our ‘concoction’…..
Actually I almost went on a Nostalgia Cola riff during this post but it was getting too long….I had this wonderful image this morning of old glass bottles with Audrey Hepburn pics on the side. That is a bottled nostalgia that I would love to see! (Once again for those wondering what the heck we’re talking about, see comments in yesterday’s ‘Le Petite Rouge’ post)
Julie and I loved Roman Holiday. It was such a relaxing movie to watch.
We tried to watch Breakfast but got bored. We also thought My Fair Lady was too long and it lost our interest.
Other than that we love her movies. lol
I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t seen Roman Holiday. I have it on the Netflix queue though!
Roman Holiday is one of my favorite movies of all time!.. but more for Gregory Peck than Hepburn.. lol
I must say that even tho i’m a huge fan of old movies, I never cared for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
And I love Charade so much, that I hated The Truth About Charlie as well… you can’t mess with perfection.. with a classic like that. I mean it’s Hepburn & Cary Grant. Don’t even bother!
Cary Grant is one of the best! I watched “I Was a Male War Bride” with my father-in-law last night (Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan)…such a great movie!
I saw a college production of My Fair Lady and have since enjoyed watching the film version. It is a bit long, but she does a wonderful job.
A local theatre group put on My Fair Lady last year and it was great (disclaimer – I’m the company photographer so I might be slightly biased). The movie was enjoyable but there is something special about live performances, maybe it’s the occasional flubbed line, missed cue, or miscasting based on desperation when there aren’t enough people who show up for auditions!
Paris – when it sizzles. Audrey and William. Probably not their best film, but very very enjoyable.
And of course My Fair Lady, she and Rex Harrison were just fab.
Nothing wrong with being a bit biased Suzanne! 🙂 Live theatre has such an energy to it that can never be duplicated in film. That’s why even though I really, REALLY enjoyed the movie version of Phantom of the Opera (out yesterday on DVD!) the live show both on and off Broadway is so much better.
Anne, couldn’t imagine anyone but Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, he is great!
It is a bit long, Nick…its been so long that I can’t remember exactly where but I think some of the scenes in the study during the first act seemed like they could be cut down a little. And although its funny I can’t say that I’m a big fan of the way they work the ending.
I’ve always thought that she was so very beautiful. I can’t think of anyone who compares. I was so impressed that she gave up making movies, after her sons were born, to devote her time to motherhood and eventually charitable work. That’s beautiful!
I really enjoyed Roman Holiday. I think I fell asleep during the others. That’s normal for me, though. Rarely, do I make it through an entire movie without falling asleep!!
I like the poem, too. I will have to save that one!
Well, you can look at that 2 ways. You can either say that the movies were so boring that you fell asleep or that they were so relaxing that you fell asleep! Or you can always say that the movie was so intense that you were overcome with excitement and passed out!
Poor Julie. After a day of child wrestling she just can’t stay awake. Of course we don’t get movies started till after 9pm most of the time and that doesn’t help.
Some day we will have energy. Maybe once the kids are out of the house.
Oh wait, we will be over 50 by then.
When we were first married, and even when Tori was really little, we used to do double features at the house all the time. Now we’re lucky to get one in since Tori is still only 12 and there’s alot we won’t let her watch. Soon she’ll be old enough to watch your kids and we can all get together over here and sleep…I mean watch movies! 🙂
Aw – no one likes the movie i do. Oh well, Roman Holiday was great – Gregory Peck is wonderful in it.
oh and I am looking forward to all this bottled nostalgia – even though i don’t quite understand what you mean to do with the bottles…
mysfit….Paul and I are just doing some wishful thinking…unless he actually has come up with a way to bottle Nostalgia and then I’ll get right on the packaging aspect!!!
Like I said, I can’t honestly give an opinion about Breakfast at Tiffany’s as I’ve only seen it once a looooong time ago and really barely remember it.
It is hard to see Peppard in anything since the A-Team and not think “look, its Hannibal!”
Of course, “Hannibal” has a whole new meaning since Silence of the Lambs. I still can’t bring myself to watch that.
Don’t, its not worth it. It was well done at the time. I watched it again several years back and it made me sick to my stomach that I had wasted a few hours of my life on it. Haven’t bothered with the sequel or prequel and won’t.
Here’s where we veer a little, Carl. I really loved Silence. And Hannibal was quite a wacky trip, but it had its moments. I’m a sucker for the psychological thrillers.
You have to admit… Tony Hopkins is the freakiest villain ever!
I’m not saying it wasn’t well done and the acting was great, story very intense, etc. No argument there. After seeing it a second time, however, I just think it is one of the few movies that I just feel is really worthless. Its just a little too gross for me and I don’t really say that about anything….just too real.
I read a very well done book about a serial killer (novel) called Church of Dead Girls years ago that was along a similar theme. Very well written and really interesting. I felt the same way afterwards. Maybe its because people like this really exist, I don’t know.
Silence deserved its awards for being very well done, I just can’t recommend it to anyone.