The talented actress Audrey Hepburn is known for her beauty, elegance and grace. She has remained one of Hollywood's greatest icons for decades. And although it seems that the incredible popularity of the movie star has left no room for secrets about the life of the actress, there are a few little-known facts that will allow you to take a different look at Audrey Hepburn.
1. Audrey Hepburn did not support her parents' racist ideology during World War II
In the official biography of the actress there is information about her activities to support the resistance against the Nazi troops. It is known that at the beginning of World War II, she and her mother moved to Holland. This country was considered safe, as it pledged to maintain neutrality.
But soon the fascist troops invaded there too. Hunger began. The actress, as a teenager, experienced an acute nutritional deficiency, which became the reason for the formation of such a graceful figure.
Dorn Manor, where Audrey Hepburn's mother spent her childhood Photo: GVR / Wikimedia Commons
But young Hepburn tried to support the activities of the resistance. At her performances, she earned money, which she then donated to this movement. Sometimes Audrey acted as a courier, delivering papers from one group of resistance workers to another.
Hepburn's producers talked about her bravery in the fight against the Nazis everywhere, but they carefully concealed the fact that the actress's father and mother were supporters of the Nazis.
Joseph and Ella, parents of Audrey Hepburn, were members of the British Union of Fascists. In 1935 they toured Germany with other members of the organization, including the infamous Mitford sisters.
After her divorce from Joseph, Ella returned to Germany to participate in the Nuremberg rallies and wrote an enthusiastic review of these events for the fascist magazine The Blackshirt.
And Joseph Hepburn was persecuted by the British House of Commons for receiving money from Joseph Goebbels, a German politician and closest associate of Adolf Hitler, which was intended to publish a fascist newspaper. During the war, he was imprisoned as an enemy of the state.
In the 1950s, this information about the past of Audrey Hepburn's mother and father would have had a disastrous effect on her career. Today, the actress's rejection of the racist ideology of her parents makes her even more delightful.
2. From early childhood, Audrey Hepburn was fond of dancing
The actress started dancing at the age of five. By 1944, she was already an accomplished ballerina. Hepburn arranged secret performances for small groups of people, and gave the proceeds to the Dutch resistance.
3. Novel on the set of the film "Sabrina"
By the time the filming of "Sabrina" began, Audrey Hepburn had already become America's favorite. But few people knew that the on-screen romantic relationship with William Holden was rapidly developing behind the scenes.
Holden was a famous womanizer. Usually his wife Ardis turned a blind eye to her husband's novels, considering them senseless intrigues. However, she immediately realized that the educated, glamorous Hepburn was a threat to their marriage. Holden was indeed willing to leave his wife for the young actress. But one problem arose: Audrey Hepburn desperately wanted to have children.
When she told Holden that she dreamed of a big family and children, he said that he had had a vasectomy many years ago. At the same moment, she left him and soon married the American actor, director and producer Mel Ferrer, who wanted children as much as she did.
Paramount Pictures were concerned that the story of Holden and Hepburn's romance could gain widespread publicity and negatively affect movie views. They forced Audrey and Mel Ferrer to publicly announce their engagement at the house of William Holden in the presence of the actor and his wife. This party must have been the most awkward of the whole situation.
4. The actress spoke five languages
Audrey Hepburn was a polyglot. She spoke five languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian.
5. Song for the President
When Truman Capote was writing Breakfast at Tiffany's, he wanted to see Marilyn Monroe as Holly Golightly. It seemed to him that it was she who would be able to create the image of a charming call girl. As a result, this character underwent some changes to match Audrey Hepburn. But the result did not disappoint. The movie turned out to be cult.
And if these two brilliant actresses went to parties together, they would know that they have not only work, but also a tender friendship with the 35th US President John F. Kennedy.
Even before his marriage, he dated Hepburn. Monroe later became his mistress. At one of the celebrations in honor of the birthday of John F. Kennedy, she sang him her version of the song "Happy Birthday."
A year later, Hepburn became the movie star who was commissioned to perform the same song for the president on his birthday. But, apparently, her version of the song turned out to be not as enchanting and did not receive such fame as Monroe's performance.
6. Audrey Hepburn was EGOT
The term "EGOT" is used to describe those actors who managed to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. Audrey Hepburn is one of 14 people who managed to do this.
Her fans know that she won an Oscar for Best Actress in Roman Holiday (1953). A year later, the actress was awarded Tony for Best Actress in the drama Ondine. The history of receiving Emmy and Grammy is more interesting.
Audrey Hepburn, 1956 Photo: Comet Photo AG (Zürich) / Wikimedia Commons
Audrey Hepburn ended her acting career long before movie stars were allowed to appear on television. Therefore, it was only in 1993 that she appeared on the PBS television show Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn. However, this show premiered on January 21, 1993, the day after the actress died. So Hepburn never found out about receiving an Emmy award for Best Performance in a Television Program.
The Grammy was also awarded posthumously. Hepburn was considered a mediocre singer. But she was remarkably good at reading children's fairy tales. In 1993, her album Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales won a Grammy for Best Speech Album for Children. The actress has also won three Golden Globes and three BAFTAs.
7. Walt Disney "prevented" the actress from starring in the movie "Peter Pan"
Probably Audrey Hepburn could create the great image of Peter Pan. Like Mary Martin, who played the role on Broadway, she was a petite woman. It would not have been difficult for her to transform into a boy and convincingly portray the child's innocence and enthusiasm. But that did not happen.
In 1964, following the success of My Fair Lady, Hepburn planned a new collaboration with director George Cukor. During this time, Cukor began negotiations with the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, which inherited the rights to the play from playwright J. M. Barry. However, Disney Studios has said it has exclusive cinematic rights to Peter Pan.
The hospital has filed a lawsuit against the Hollywood studio. The issue was resolved only in 1969, when interest in the project faded away.
8. In honor of Audrey Hepburn named one of the varieties of tulips
The acute hunger that the actress had to endure during the war forced her to use tulip bulbs for food. And in 1990, a new variety was bred, which was named in honor of Hepburn as a sign of respect for creativity and long-term activity in the international organization UNICEF.
9. The actress had an unexpectedly large foot
Despite her diminutive figure, Hepburn wore size 40 shoes. “I would hate to have such angular shoulders, such big legs and such a big nose,” she once said.
10. Audrey Hepburn had a fawn called Pippin
In 1959, Audrey Hepburn starred in the movie Green Estates. The actress had to work out several episodes with a real deer. In order for the animal to get used to and follow her in the frame, the trainer suggested that Hepburn take him home. In the end, the actress and the fawn became so good friends that they even went to the supermarket together.
