Audrey Hepburn

The British actress Audrey Hepburn appears to be one of the 1900s greatest film stars. With her large eyes, her lively, playful face and her slender figure, she became a style icon and came to embody a new kind of beauty.

She was born 4 May 1929 in Ixelles, Belgium, and was of Irish-Dutch descent. In German-occupied Netherlands as a young girl she experienced aerial bombings during World War II at very close range. After the war, Audrey moved with her mother to London, where she began working as a model and actress. In 1953 came the big breakthrough in the Hollywood production "Roman Holiday," for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress. Her film career continued with successes like "Sabrina" (1954), "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) and "My Fair Lady" (1964).

Marriage and children meant that she completely withdrew from her career to devote time to family life. Only after a decade, did she take new film roles. During the latter part of her life Audrey Hepburn became increasingly engaged in the war-torn and destitute situation of children around the world and in 1988 she was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and came to visit various areas of affected and vulnerable children. Surely her own war experiences in adolescence contributed to her deep commitment and compassion for the affected children.

Audrey Hepburn died of a cancer in January 20, 1993, only 63 years old.

Her birth chart looks like this:

Audrey Hepburn, 4 May 1929, 03:00, Ixelles, Belgium

(Source: Astro Databank)

Although Taurus is strongly dominant, the Elements and also the Qualities are fairly well balanced in the horoscope. The emphasis on Taurus reflects stability, strength and endurance as well as a practical and down to earth disposition.

The most prominent houses are the First, Second and to some degree the Fifth and Sixth. The horoscope's first quadrant (Houses 1-3) are dominant as well as the eastern and northern hemispheres, indicating an independent and self-motivated person who is able to map out her life and follow her own path. She has a great need for freedom and it is her own identity and resources that lie att the basis for her success.

The Ascendant and horoscope ruler Uranus in Aries in the First House is completely unaspected and gives a hint at the unconventional, original and spontaneous person that Audrey Hepburn was. She went completely her own way and was able to express herself - both as a person and as an actress - in a very spontaneous and dynamic way.

The Moon in Pisces in conjunction with the Aquarius Ascendant is important in her horoscope as it adds deep feelings to her personality and - in the First House - also reflects her great ability to express herself creatively. The Moon appropriately enough rules the Fifth House (creativity, self-expression, acting) and the Sixth (work, health). The sextile to Chiron shows compassion and understanding for others' suffering.

The Sun in Taurus in the Second House reflects a reliable, stable and down to earth person. The emphasis on the Second House suggests the importance of self-esteem. The Sun's conjunction with Jupiter indicates optimism, enthusiasm and joie de vivre. The sextile to Pluto in Cancer in the Fifth House enhances her ability of powerful self-expression. Interestingly, given her great humanitarian engagement, the Sun is in close conjunction with Chiron (wounds, healing). She had been exposed to the horrors of war at a young age and later came to express a strong compassion for vulnerable children, which is also reflected by the Pisces Moon in sextile with Chiron and ruling the Fifth House (children) in Cancer (care).

That Audrey Hepburn was intelligent, quick-witted and very communicative is demonstrated by Mercury in its own sign Gemini in the Third House. Venus in Aries in the First House shows her strong ability to express beauty, both in life and on screen - reflected by the trine to Neptune in Leo (Venus = beautiful, Neptune in Leo = actress). Venus in Aries in the First House, Neptune in Leo on the Seventh House cusp and Saturn in Capricorn in the Tenth House form in a broad sense a Great Trine that connects her life as a beautiful (Venus), hard working and successful (Saturn) actress (Neptune). Mars on the Sixth House cusp also suggests that she was quite powerful both in her daily life and in her professional life.

There is much more to say about the horoscope. For example, what do the planetary combinations in her Second House have to say of her needs and resources in terms of self-esteem and her own personal values? What relationship may that have with her enormous success as a movie actress? (Hint: look at North Lunar Node in close conjunction with Jupiter, which rules the MC and also is in conjunction with the Sun).

© Mats Bergman 2013