Audrey Hepburn
(1929-1993), Belgian-born actor and humanitarian, who became one of Hollywood’s
best-known stars with her leading roles in films such as Roman Holiday
(1953), Funny Face (1957), and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Born
Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston in Brussels, her mother was a Dutch baroness
and her father a British banker. Hepburn went to private schools in England and
the Netherlands, but remained with her mother in the Netherlands throughout
World War II (1939-1945). During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands of 1944
to 1945, Hepburn suffered many health problems associated with malnutrition. She
later worked as a model and began acting in films in 1951.
Hepburn starred in many movies, including War and
Peace (1956), The Unforgiven (1960), Charade (1963), and My
Fair Lady (1964). She won an Academy Award as best actress for her role in
Roman Holiday and was nominated for best actress for her roles in
Sabrina (1954), The Nun’s Story (1959), Breakfast at
Tiffany’s, and Wait Until Dark (1967). In 1988 Hepburn became a
special ambassador to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and spent the
last years of her life working for needy children, especially in Africa and
Latin America.
