Audrey Hepburn: The Icon of Hollywood

Audrey Kathleen Ruston, classically known as Audrey Hepburn, was a British actress born on May 4, 1929, in Ixelles, Belgium. Known for her iconic film roles, fashion statements, and humanitarian work, Hepburn is one of the most widely recognized and impactful women in history today. The elegance, fearlessness, and strength beheld by Hepburn made her a powerful symbol for women, breaking the societal normalities of the time. Hepburn believed that “the most important thing is to enjoy your life. To be happy. It's all that matters.” 

At the age of five, Hepburn started her training in ballet, mastering the art throughout her childhood. In 1944, during World War ll, she studied at Arnhem Conservatory and used her talent to covertly dance for groups to earn money for the Dutch resistance. After the war, in 1945, Hepburn moved to Amsterdam to study art with Sonia Gaskell and then in London with Marie Rambert in 1948. Hepburn had a lifelong dream of becoming a prima ballerina, which was unfortunately halted by effects from World War ll, ultimately leading her to pursue acting.

One of my personal favorites from Audrey Hepburn is Sabrina (1954). She plays a young girl named Sabrina Fairchild, who grew up living with the wealthy Larrabee family on a Long Island estate. Sabrina’s father, Thomas Fairchild, was the Larrabee’s family chauffeur, and Sabrina and her father lived in a small apartment above the garage. Since childhood, Sabrina harbored unrequited love for the younger brother David Larrabee and spent much of her time admiring him and his life from a distance. In an effort to diminish Sabrina’s lingering lust, her father sends her to Paris to attend culinary school. After her return, she catches David's eyes, who had never paid much attention to her beforehand. Linus Larrabee, David's older brother, believed that a relationship between the two could cause tensions in the family business and tried to break them up. Eventually, Linus started to develop feelings for Sabrina as well. Overall, this is a really fantastic movie and is considered a classic by many.

Hepburn’s film, Wait Until Dark (1967), was her last major appearance before slowly drifting out of her acting career. She did a few minor roles in the next decade, but her main focus was participating in UNICEF, eventually becoming a Goodwill Ambassador in 1988. Shortly after, she went on a mission to Ethiopia, where she addressed the terrible famine and other environmental conditions experienced by the people. Hepburn represented her true commitment to the organization, following the UNICEF emergency operations, where she spoke about the work that she felt needed to be done. This was broadcasted to the media in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Hepburn sat through an intensive number of interviews, sometimes reaching 15 per day. By the year 1992, Hepburn had begun to suffer from cancer, but she continued her efforts, traveling around the world, and even won the Presidential Medal of Freedom the same year. Hepburn cared deeply about the well-being of children, stating, "I can testify to what UNICEF means to children because I was among those who received food and medical relief after World War II. I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does." 

Hepburn worked for UNICEF until her death in 1993.