A Reel Legend will tell the stories of cinematic icons who are no longer with us. The actors, actresses, and directors who have shaped the silver screen as we know it today.
This month’s Reel Legend is Audrey Hepburn.
Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston in Belgium in 1929, Hepburn was raised in aristocracy. After boarding school in Kent, she returned to the Netherlands after the outbreak of WWII. By 1944 she was studying and performing ballet to raise money to support the resistance.
After performing as a chorus girl in West End, she would have minor appearances in several films. Her first on-screen credit came in 1948 in the Netherlands-produced DUTCH IN SEVEN LESSONS, playing a stewardess. Her Hollywood debut came in 1953 as a runaway princess in William Wyler’s ROMAN HOLIDAY, opposite Gregory Peck. For this performance, she would become the first actress to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award for a single performance.
In 1954 she played a chauffeurs daughter caught up in a love triangle in Billy Wilder’s SABRINA, with Humphrey Bogart. One of her most iconic roles came in 1961 with BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S. Both SABRINA and TIFFANY’s would earn her Oscar nominations. She later appeared in the thriller-romance CHARADE (1963), with Cary Grant, and then one of her most famous roles in MY FAIR LADY in 1964.
In 1967, Hepburn starred in the thriller WAIT UNTIL DARK, receiving Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations. After that role, she only occasionally appeared in films, including ROBIN AND MARIAN (1976), with Sean Connery. Her last performances were in Steven Spielberg’s ALWAYS (1989), and the 1990 TV documentary series GARDENS OF THE WORLD WITH AUDREY HEPBURN.
Later in life, she devoted much of her time to charity, contributing to UNICEF from 1954 onwards. She worked in some of the poorest communities of Africa, South America, and Asia. In 1992 she received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Audrey Hepburn died of appendix cancer in 1993. She was 63.
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Audrey Hepburn was legendary for her timeless elegance, expressive performances, and humanitarian spirit. She brought warmth and wit to her roles; redefining screen presence. Beyond film, her UNICEF work showed compassion and purpose, making her legacy not just glamorous, but human and inspiring generations.
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