Audrey Hepburn

by Kay Dixon

A few short years after WWII ended, Audrey Hepburn was discovered in a Monte Carlo hotel lobby by the French novelist Colette to assume the title role in the Broadway production of Gigi. Having barely survived the war in her home in Arnhem, Netherlands, Audrey was forced to give up her dream of being a prima ballerina because she was both too tall and too malnourished from the starvation and deprivation she suffered during the war years. An immediate success as Gigi, Audrey was whisked away to Rome to film Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck. The role of Princess Anne would win her an Oscar for Best Actress, the first of five nominations throughout her career. This book tells the story of Audrey Hepburn, one of only ten actors to win a competitive Oscar, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy. But, in her eyes, possibly the best role of her career was that of Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Her first-hand experiences in the Netherlands during WWII uniquely qualified her to relate to children devastated by war and famine and to convincingly advocate on their behalf to some of the most powerful men and women of the 1980s and 1990s.

Genres: Biography

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2012

About the author

For many years I’ve been living and working in England, first as a professor of English and American literature, then as an advertising copywriter and more recently as a business psychologist. In the last ten years I've returned to writing novels, which I first attempted when I was a very young twenty years of age. I’ve seen lots of life since then! I've published several novels under a different name in the last eight years or so, and then decided to turn my hand to a romance. Because I'm now living in France it seemed natural that 'A French Darcy' should take place there, in a region that I know well and love.

Reviews

[Hubert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A superficial account of Hepburn's life; sort of looks like the information was derived from a Wiki site (and the pictures are provided as uncredited). Focused too much on which awards she was nominated for. It was useful to learn that she is descended from royalty. Awkward that that book ends with her quotations.

[Yeslech · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like a few different online sites merged together.

Audrey danced for money to fund the Dutch resistance.

Audrey was starved during Hungerwinter, the 6 month long Dutch famine caused by Germans blocking supply routes.

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible'!" - quote attributed to Audrey Hepburn

[Wendy Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book about Audrey Hepburn filled with pictures of her life and her most famous movies