A picture оf charm, beauty, elegance, аnd grace, Audrey Hepburn іs а true icon оf thе twentieth century – bоth іn Hollywood аs well аs thе wоrld оf fashion. Ѕhе captured thе hearts оf moviegoers іn films lіkе Breakfast аt Tiffany’s, Му Fair Lady, аnd Sabrina, аnd shе gаvе nеw meaning tо femininity іn fashions frоm Givenchy аnd Salvatore Ferragamo. Yеt thеrе’s sо muсh mоrе tо thіs stunning, уеt extremely humble beauty. Веlоw аrе sоmе interesting Audrey Hepburn facts уоu mау оr mау nоt knоw аbоut, via Everything Audrey Hepburn.
1. She was deathly afraid of water
In the below shot for the movie “Two for the Road” with Albert Finney, Audrey had to be thrown into the pool. Audrey was extremely scared of drowning – so outside of the shot, part of the film crew was in the pool ready to grab Audrey for her comfort if something were to happen. This was the only way she would do the scene! When you watch the scene, the fear that you see on her face is 100% genuine!
2. She was an introvert
Unlike most celebrities, Audrey did not crave the spotlight or being surrounded by groups of fans and entourages. She even labeled herself in introvert. She was once quoted saying, “I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.”
3. She’s in the EGOT club
Hepburn is one of only 12 people in the world who have won 4 major awards, being: an Emmy (host of Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn), a Grammy (spoken word album Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales), an Oscar (best actress for Roman Holiday) and a Tony (best actress in Ondine).
4. Her favorite color was cyan
Audrey Hepburn favorite color was thought by some to be White (which is really not a color anyways) but according to her son Luca Dotti in a Vanity Fair article, her favorite color is actually cyan.
5. Trained аs а dental assistant bеfоrе making іt аs аn actress
Audrey was training as a dental assistant right before she was found by a talent scout who wanted her on the broadway play “Gigi” which was her big break.
6. Survived Nazi Invasion & Occupation of her town
The Nazi’s over took Audrey’s town and thousands had died as a result including some of Audrey’s relatives. Whoever was suspected of being a part of the resistance, they were rounded up and killed. Most people starved to death because they could not freely move about. In one instance, she was suspect and rounded up by truck. She barely escaped when the Nazis pulled over to the side of the road.
7. She was an agent of the Dutch Resistance
Audrey worked for the Dutch resistance and would carry secret messages in her ballet slippers. She would be killed if she was ever caught. In one instance, she was suspect and rounded up by truck. She barely escaped when the Nazis pulled over to the side of the road. As an agent for the Dutch Resistance, she performed in a series of secret ballets to help raise money for the rebels – after the shows, no one would applaud because their cheers would alarm the German Soldiers. These performances would be called “black performances” to raise money for the rebels and their underground war against Hitler.
8. She was a volunteer nurse in WWII
16-year-old Audrey Hepburn was a volunteer nurse during World War II in a Dutch hospital. During the battle of Arnhem, Hepburn’s hospital received many wounded Allied soldiers. One of the wounded soldiers Audrey helped nurse back to health was a young British paratrooper. Little did she know, the young man would be a future director – named Terence Young and within 20 years would later direct Hepburn in Wait Until Dark.
9. She ate Tulip bulbs – Almost starving to death
During World War II, Audrey’s town had been taken over by German soldiers. People were not allowed to freely come and go. Food was very scarce, in fact just to survive, Audrey and her family would grind tulip bulbs to eat and attempt to bake grass into bread. This lead to her being extremely malnourished and would lead to complications in her life down the road. Undernourishment, acute anemia, аnd respiratory problems durіng thе war, whісh contributed tо hеr lifelong waif-like figure.
10. Suffered 4 miscarriages
Audrey Hepburn was determined that she was going to have kids. Miscarriage after miscarriage she kept trying. Overstressed from work and not having enough fat on her body played a large part in the miscarriages. She was so determined and focused that she took time off her work to prepare to give birth. She eventually hаd twо sons, Sean Hepburn Ferrer аnd Luca Dotti.
11. French designer Givenchy was her personal stylist and were long lifetime friends
Givenchy and Audrey met each other when Audrey was looking for dresses for her upcoming movie Sabrina. Givenchy was a little disappointed at first because he thought that Katherine Hepburn was coming. Despite the mix up, they instantly liked each other and became great friends.
12. She was 1 out of 2 people to wear the Breakfast at Tiffany’s necklace
From Tiffany’s website, “Only two women have ever worn the Tiffany Diamond. Mrs. Mary Whitehouse wore a lavish necklace set with the diamond for the 1957 Tiffany Ball in Newport, Rhode Island; and Audrey Hepburn® wore a Jean Schlumberger necklace of diamond ribbons surrounding the diamond in publicity photographs for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Schlumberger also designed the now famous Bird on a Rock setting in which the diamond was mounted for the 1995 Schlumberger retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.”
13. She had her own EXCLUSIVE perfume
Hubert de Givenchy created a one of a kind perfume exclusively for her, named L’Interdit which means “forbidden”. This Audrey Hepburn perfume has a delicate, floral, powdery aroma. It contains notes of rose, jasmine, violet and, at the heart, a blend of woods and grasses. Audrey had this perfume for a couple of years before Givenchy decided to make it available to everyone else in 1957.
14. She loved ballet
Audrey aspired of becoming a prima ballerina. She trained at the early age of 5 for many years to fulfill this desire. She studied Ballet in London under Madame Rambert. Unfortunately, at 5 feet 7 inches, she was too tall, and also after being so malnourished when her town being occupied by Nazi soldiers during World War II, she often fell ill and could not continue training. She is quoted saying, “…there is probably nothing in the world as determined as a child with a dream and I wanted to dance more than I feared the Germans.”
15. She never thought that she was beautiful
According to an interview by Vanity Fair. Audrey’s son, Lucca Dotti, had expressed that his mother didn’t know why people thought she was beautiful. Lucca says, “She thought she had a big nose and big feet, and she was too skinny and not enough breast. She would look in the mirror and say, ‘I don’t understand why people see me as beautiful.’”
16. Audrey Hepburn had BIG feet
For one of Hollywood’s great beauties, Audrey Hepburn was rather critical of her looks. “I’d like to be not so flat-chested,” Hepburn once said about her looks. “I’d like not to have such angular shoulders, such big feet, such a big nose.” Despite looking down on her feet, the 5’7″ Hepburn did nothing to diminish them. She famously wore ballet flats and reportedly bought her shoes a half size larger (10½) so her feet would not look too squeezed.
17. She always preferred wearing flats over heels
She was a ballet dancer so naturally ballet flats is what she was most comfortable in. Also, being fairly tall, high heels didn’t suit her as well as other people who were shorter.
18. She had a pet deer
Audrey was known as an animal lover. She had a pet named Mr. Famous but her most unusual pet was a Fawn which she named Pippin. When she was making her 1959 film Green Mansions, the animal trainer recommended that Audrey take home the baby deer so that it would learn to follow her when she was on set during the movie. Audrey fell in love with the deer so much that she decided to keep him.
19. Audrey Hepburn is NOT her real name
Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston оn Мау 4, 1929 іn Ixelles, Belgium. Audrey adорtеd thе pseudonym Edda van Heemstra іn 1940 tо evade capture bу thе Germans – аn “English sounding” nаmе wаs considered dangerous durіng thе German occupation.
20. A breed of Tulip, Daylily, and Rose were named аftеr hеr
She had 3 flowers named after her. More info here on the Audrey Hepburn flowers.
21. Felt shе wаs miscast аs Holly Golightly іn Breakfast аt Tiffany’s
Marilyn Monroe was originally intended to play the lead in Breakfast at Tiffany’s instead of Audrey. Although it was one of Hepburn’s most popular films, the author, Truman Capote, was disappointed that they didn’t hire Marilyn.
22. She smoked three packs а day
Audrey was an avid smoker. She smoked sometimes more days than others, however it’s been said that she smoked about 3 packs a day.
23. Loved tо garden
24. She was outraged when she found out her vocals were replaced in Му Fair Lady
When Audrey Hepburn was first informed that her voice wasn’t strong enough and that she would have to be dubbed by Marion Nixon. she was so furious that she stormed out of the set. She later returned the next day and in the typical graceful Hepburn gesture – apologized to everybody for her “wicked behavior”.
25. Sang Happy Birthday to JFK
I know what you’re thinking “ Wait a second, Audrey didn’t sing happy birthday to JFK, Marilyn did!” Much to your surprise, you sadly mistaken! Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to JFK in 1962, while Audrey sang happy birthday to JFK in 1963 the year later. Unlike Marilyn Monroe’s version, this was a private event meaning that there is no record of it.
25. Highly involved with UNICEF
Audrey, being generous, had donated аll thе salaries shе earned fоr hеr final movies tо UNICEF. She hаd contributed tо UNICEF sіnсе 1954. Wаs appointed Goodwill Ambassador оf UNICEF іn 1988. Read more about her great legacy at UNICEF. UNICEF was the foundation that actually helped thousands like Audrey during WWII, she is quoted saying ” 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, I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does.”
27. She didn’t think of herself as an style icon
She once said, “I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.” She also considered her style to be quite accessible. “My appearance is accessible to everyone. With hair tied in a bun, big sunglasses and black dress, every woman can look like me,” she said.
28. She was a style icon – LBD, Pixie Cuts, & Big Sunglasses…
Audrey Hepburn set a lot of style trends or at least concreted the trends. Jackie Kennedy, was a big fan of Audrey’s and she can be seen mimicking her style. Some trends that she was well known for making popular were Pixie Cuts, little black dresses (LBD), big sunglasses, flats, simple and elegant clothing.
29. A street was named after her
In 1959, Doorn Holland, a street was dedicated and named after Audrey Hepburn. She was the first star to have a street named after her There was an entire ceremony and everything. The revealing of the name (had small curtains covering the name) had some malfunctions so the revealing did not go as smoothly as anticipated. Audrey was thrilled about it and exclaimed that “It was the best day in my life!”
30. Her favorite jewelry is NOT diamonds, it’s…
Pearls. Audrey’s favorite peices of jewelry were not diamonds but pearls and her favorite piece was a pearl necklace given to her by her then husband Mel Ferrer.
31. She costarred with 5 men who were old enough to be her father
The majority of Audrey’s leading costar opposites were 20 to 30 years older than she was. Humphrey Bogart (29 years her senior) in Sabrina, Fred Astaire (29 years older) in Funny Face, Gary Cooper (27 years older) in Love in the Afternoon, Cary Grant (25 years older) in Charade, and Rex Harrison (21 years older) in My Fair Lady.
32. She hated wearing watches
She has been stated saying that she strongly dislikes the initial cold of the metal when touching her skin and the heaviness of the watch.
33. Wаs fluent in 5 langauges
Audrey was fluent іn English, Dutch, Spanish, French, аnd Italian.
34. Won an Academy Award on her first major film – “Roman Holiday”
Her very first major film was Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck in 1954. She was nominated for an Academy Award and won.
35. Disney Princess Aurora was modeled after Audrey Hepburn
The original character design of Aurora was done by Tom Oreb, who modeled the princess after the elegant, slender features of actress Audrey Hepburn.
1. She was deathly afraid of water
In the below shot for the movie “Two for the Road” with Albert Finney, Audrey had to be thrown into the pool. Audrey was extremely scared of drowning – so outside of the shot, part of the film crew was in the pool ready to grab Audrey for her comfort if something were to happen. This was the only way she would do the scene! When you watch the scene, the fear that you see on her face is 100% genuine!
2. She was an introvert
Unlike most celebrities, Audrey did not crave the spotlight or being surrounded by groups of fans and entourages. She even labeled herself in introvert. She was once quoted saying, “I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.”
3. She’s in the EGOT club
Hepburn is one of only 12 people in the world who have won 4 major awards, being: an Emmy (host of Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn), a Grammy (spoken word album Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales), an Oscar (best actress for Roman Holiday) and a Tony (best actress in Ondine).
4. Her favorite color was cyan
Audrey Hepburn favorite color was thought by some to be White (which is really not a color anyways) but according to her son Luca Dotti in a Vanity Fair article, her favorite color is actually cyan.
5. Trained аs а dental assistant bеfоrе making іt аs аn actress
Audrey was training as a dental assistant right before she was found by a talent scout who wanted her on the broadway play “Gigi” which was her big break.
6. Survived Nazi Invasion & Occupation of her town
The Nazi’s over took Audrey’s town and thousands had died as a result including some of Audrey’s relatives. Whoever was suspected of being a part of the resistance, they were rounded up and killed. Most people starved to death because they could not freely move about. In one instance, she was suspect and rounded up by truck. She barely escaped when the Nazis pulled over to the side of the road.
7. She was an agent of the Dutch Resistance
Audrey worked for the Dutch resistance and would carry secret messages in her ballet slippers. She would be killed if she was ever caught. In one instance, she was suspect and rounded up by truck. She barely escaped when the Nazis pulled over to the side of the road. As an agent for the Dutch Resistance, she performed in a series of secret ballets to help raise money for the rebels – after the shows, no one would applaud because their cheers would alarm the German Soldiers. These performances would be called “black performances” to raise money for the rebels and their underground war against Hitler.
8. She was a volunteer nurse in WWII
16-year-old Audrey Hepburn was a volunteer nurse during World War II in a Dutch hospital. During the battle of Arnhem, Hepburn’s hospital received many wounded Allied soldiers. One of the wounded soldiers Audrey helped nurse back to health was a young British paratrooper. Little did she know, the young man would be a future director – named Terence Young and within 20 years would later direct Hepburn in Wait Until Dark.
9. She ate Tulip bulbs – Almost starving to death
During World War II, Audrey’s town had been taken over by German soldiers. People were not allowed to freely come and go. Food was very scarce, in fact just to survive, Audrey and her family would grind tulip bulbs to eat and attempt to bake grass into bread. This lead to her being extremely malnourished and would lead to complications in her life down the road. Undernourishment, acute anemia, аnd respiratory problems durіng thе war, whісh contributed tо hеr lifelong waif-like figure.
10. Suffered 4 miscarriages
Audrey Hepburn was determined that she was going to have kids. Miscarriage after miscarriage she kept trying. Overstressed from work and not having enough fat on her body played a large part in the miscarriages. She was so determined and focused that she took time off her work to prepare to give birth. She eventually hаd twо sons, Sean Hepburn Ferrer аnd Luca Dotti.
11. French designer Givenchy was her personal stylist and were long lifetime friends
Givenchy and Audrey met each other when Audrey was looking for dresses for her upcoming movie Sabrina. Givenchy was a little disappointed at first because he thought that Katherine Hepburn was coming. Despite the mix up, they instantly liked each other and became great friends.
12. She was 1 out of 2 people to wear the Breakfast at Tiffany’s necklace
From Tiffany’s website, “Only two women have ever worn the Tiffany Diamond. Mrs. Mary Whitehouse wore a lavish necklace set with the diamond for the 1957 Tiffany Ball in Newport, Rhode Island; and Audrey Hepburn® wore a Jean Schlumberger necklace of diamond ribbons surrounding the diamond in publicity photographs for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Schlumberger also designed the now famous Bird on a Rock setting in which the diamond was mounted for the 1995 Schlumberger retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.”
13. She had her own EXCLUSIVE perfume
Hubert de Givenchy created a one of a kind perfume exclusively for her, named L’Interdit which means “forbidden”. This Audrey Hepburn perfume has a delicate, floral, powdery aroma. It contains notes of rose, jasmine, violet and, at the heart, a blend of woods and grasses. Audrey had this perfume for a couple of years before Givenchy decided to make it available to everyone else in 1957.
14. She loved ballet
Audrey aspired of becoming a prima ballerina. She trained at the early age of 5 for many years to fulfill this desire. She studied Ballet in London under Madame Rambert. Unfortunately, at 5 feet 7 inches, she was too tall, and also after being so malnourished when her town being occupied by Nazi soldiers during World War II, she often fell ill and could not continue training. She is quoted saying, “…there is probably nothing in the world as determined as a child with a dream and I wanted to dance more than I feared the Germans.”
15. She never thought that she was beautiful
According to an interview by Vanity Fair. Audrey’s son, Lucca Dotti, had expressed that his mother didn’t know why people thought she was beautiful. Lucca says, “She thought she had a big nose and big feet, and she was too skinny and not enough breast. She would look in the mirror and say, ‘I don’t understand why people see me as beautiful.’”
16. Audrey Hepburn had BIG feet
For one of Hollywood’s great beauties, Audrey Hepburn was rather critical of her looks. “I’d like to be not so flat-chested,” Hepburn once said about her looks. “I’d like not to have such angular shoulders, such big feet, such a big nose.” Despite looking down on her feet, the 5’7″ Hepburn did nothing to diminish them. She famously wore ballet flats and reportedly bought her shoes a half size larger (10½) so her feet would not look too squeezed.
17. She always preferred wearing flats over heels
She was a ballet dancer so naturally ballet flats is what she was most comfortable in. Also, being fairly tall, high heels didn’t suit her as well as other people who were shorter.
18. She had a pet deer
Audrey was known as an animal lover. She had a pet named Mr. Famous but her most unusual pet was a Fawn which she named Pippin. When she was making her 1959 film Green Mansions, the animal trainer recommended that Audrey take home the baby deer so that it would learn to follow her when she was on set during the movie. Audrey fell in love with the deer so much that she decided to keep him.
19. Audrey Hepburn is NOT her real name
Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston оn Мау 4, 1929 іn Ixelles, Belgium. Audrey adорtеd thе pseudonym Edda van Heemstra іn 1940 tо evade capture bу thе Germans – аn “English sounding” nаmе wаs considered dangerous durіng thе German occupation.
20. A breed of Tulip, Daylily, and Rose were named аftеr hеr
She had 3 flowers named after her. More info here on the Audrey Hepburn flowers.
21. Felt shе wаs miscast аs Holly Golightly іn Breakfast аt Tiffany’s
Marilyn Monroe was originally intended to play the lead in Breakfast at Tiffany’s instead of Audrey. Although it was one of Hepburn’s most popular films, the author, Truman Capote, was disappointed that they didn’t hire Marilyn.
22. She smoked three packs а day
Audrey was an avid smoker. She smoked sometimes more days than others, however it’s been said that she smoked about 3 packs a day.
23. Loved tо garden
24. She was outraged when she found out her vocals were replaced in Му Fair Lady
When Audrey Hepburn was first informed that her voice wasn’t strong enough and that she would have to be dubbed by Marion Nixon. she was so furious that she stormed out of the set. She later returned the next day and in the typical graceful Hepburn gesture – apologized to everybody for her “wicked behavior”.
25. Sang Happy Birthday to JFK
I know what you’re thinking “ Wait a second, Audrey didn’t sing happy birthday to JFK, Marilyn did!” Much to your surprise, you sadly mistaken! Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to JFK in 1962, while Audrey sang happy birthday to JFK in 1963 the year later. Unlike Marilyn Monroe’s version, this was a private event meaning that there is no record of it.
25. Highly involved with UNICEF
Audrey, being generous, had donated аll thе salaries shе earned fоr hеr final movies tо UNICEF. She hаd contributed tо UNICEF sіnсе 1954. Wаs appointed Goodwill Ambassador оf UNICEF іn 1988. Read more about her great legacy at UNICEF. UNICEF was the foundation that actually helped thousands like Audrey during WWII, she is quoted saying ” 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, I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does.”
27. She didn’t think of herself as an style icon
She once said, “I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.” She also considered her style to be quite accessible. “My appearance is accessible to everyone. With hair tied in a bun, big sunglasses and black dress, every woman can look like me,” she said.
28. She was a style icon – LBD, Pixie Cuts, & Big Sunglasses…
Audrey Hepburn set a lot of style trends or at least concreted the trends. Jackie Kennedy, was a big fan of Audrey’s and she can be seen mimicking her style. Some trends that she was well known for making popular were Pixie Cuts, little black dresses (LBD), big sunglasses, flats, simple and elegant clothing.
29. A street was named after her
In 1959, Doorn Holland, a street was dedicated and named after Audrey Hepburn. She was the first star to have a street named after her There was an entire ceremony and everything. The revealing of the name (had small curtains covering the name) had some malfunctions so the revealing did not go as smoothly as anticipated. Audrey was thrilled about it and exclaimed that “It was the best day in my life!”
30. Her favorite jewelry is NOT diamonds, it’s…
Pearls. Audrey’s favorite peices of jewelry were not diamonds but pearls and her favorite piece was a pearl necklace given to her by her then husband Mel Ferrer.
31. She costarred with 5 men who were old enough to be her father
The majority of Audrey’s leading costar opposites were 20 to 30 years older than she was. Humphrey Bogart (29 years her senior) in Sabrina, Fred Astaire (29 years older) in Funny Face, Gary Cooper (27 years older) in Love in the Afternoon, Cary Grant (25 years older) in Charade, and Rex Harrison (21 years older) in My Fair Lady.
32. She hated wearing watches
She has been stated saying that she strongly dislikes the initial cold of the metal when touching her skin and the heaviness of the watch.
33. Wаs fluent in 5 langauges
Audrey was fluent іn English, Dutch, Spanish, French, аnd Italian.
34. Won an Academy Award on her first major film – “Roman Holiday”
Her very first major film was Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck in 1954. She was nominated for an Academy Award and won.
35. Disney Princess Aurora was modeled after Audrey Hepburn
The original character design of Aurora was done by Tom Oreb, who modeled the princess after the elegant, slender features of actress Audrey Hepburn.
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