Born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium, Audrey Hepburn was more than just a movie star. She was a fashion icon, a talented dancer, and a dedicated humanitarian.
During World War II, Audrey lived in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. These were difficult years where she suffered from malnutrition, an experience that stayed with her for the rest of her life and later inspired her charity work. Audrey eventually moved to London to pursue dance and acting. Her big break came when she was cast in the Broadway play Gigi. Shortly after, she played the role in the film Roman Holiday 1953.
Audrey won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday at the 26th Academy Awards on March 25, 1954. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Audrey became the face of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is considered her most famous and iconic work.
What made Audrey different from other stars of her time was her look. While many actresses went for a glamour girl style, Audrey brought a natural look to the screen. Her partnership with fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy created a style that people still try to copy today.
While she is famous for her movies, Audrey’s most important work happened away from the cameras. In her later years, she stepped back from acting to focus on her family and her role as a Special Ambassador for UNICEF.
Remembering her own hunger during the war, she traveled across the globe to Africa, South America, and Asia. She worked hard to bring food, water, and medicine to children in need. She once said, “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.” In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her incredible efforts.
Audrey Hepburn passed away in 1993 at her home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland after a battle with colon cancer, that same year she won a special Academy Award for her humanitarian work.
Her sons, Sean and Luca, with her companion Robert Wolders, established the Audrey Hepburn Memorial Fund at UNICEF to continue Hepburn’s humanitarian work in 1994. It is now known as the Audrey Hepburn Society at the US Fund for UNICEF.
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