One of the interesting facts about Audrey Hepburn is that the artist was born on May 4, 1930, in Brussels, Belgium.
Actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn received five Oscar nominations. However, she was best known for her role as Holly Golightly in the 1961 classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
But, in addition to being a cinema legend, she was also a dancer and ambassador for Unicef, where she traveled to many needy countries providing voluntary service. Finally, discover some interesting facts about Audrey Hepburn.
Curiosities about Audrey Hepburn
1- Difficult childhood
Starting the curiosities about Audrey Hepburn, the artist was born on May 4, 1930, in Brussels, Belgium. However, she did not have an easy childhood, on the contrary. In short, as a child she lived in the Netherlands, and experienced the horrors of the Second World War up close. This left the actress forever traumatized.
But, with the end of the war, Audrey managed to get back on her feet, pursuing a brilliant career and marking generations with great productions. For example, The Princess and the Commoner (1953), Sabrina (1954) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).
However, on January 20, 1993, at the age of 63, Audrey Hepburn died due to cancer.
2- Food during the war
Continuing with the curiosities about Audrey Hepburn, during the terror of the Second World War, her diet was grass, tulips and endive. Furthermore, she drank plenty of water to hide her hunger.
Thus, at the end of the war, the artist weighed only 39 kilos. Additionally, she suffered from asthma, jaundice, anemia and a form of edema.
Anyway, she ended up having a lot of complexes about her body, she thought her feet, ears and nose were too big. And since she couldn’t gain weight, she thought she was ugly.
3- Outside of beauty standards
In the 50s, Audrey Hepburn did not fit into the beauty standards of the time. Therefore, when she was recording the film “The Princess and the Commoner”, Edith Head tried to disguise her “imperfections” with her choice of costume.
Therefore, she should wear necklaces and scarves to disguise her thin and long neck. Likewise, the actress should wear belts to disguise her waist, which was too thin.
4- The actress was not the first choice for the role of Holly Golightly
Probably the most famous and memorable role of Audrey Hepburn’s career was the character Holly Golightly, in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. However, Audrey was not the first choice for the role.
Furthermore, the first choice of the author of the book that gave rise to the film, Truman Capote, was the actress Marilyn Monroe, who did not accept the role. Well, she was advised not to play a “lady of the night”. With that, Audrey took on the role, marking her career forever.
5- Fashion icon
Another interesting fact about Audrey Hepburn is that her partnership and friendship with the designer Givenchy lasted many years. And with that, the artist evolved from movie star to fashion icon.
But the curious thing is that when Audrey met Givenchy in Paris, she was introduced as Mademoiselle Hepburn. Therefore, the designer believed that it was the renowned actress Katharine Hepburn. Which left Givenchy a little disappointed initially.
6- Addicted to chocolates
As we already mentioned, Audrey Hepburn had a difficult childhood during World War II. Whose food was quite scarce. However, Audrey was once given seven chocolate bars by a Dutch soldier.
Anyway, this chocolate helped the actress survive during the German occupation. Therefore, she became addicted to chocolates, devouring them whenever she saw one. In fact, she left several scattered throughout the house.
7- “Sabrina” costume
Audrey Hepburn was known for her good taste. In fact, she was the one who chose the costume for her character in the film “Sabrina”, when she returns from Paris.
8- Three weddings
Another interesting fact about Audrey Hepburn is her personal life. In short, the actress was married three times. First, she married actor Mel Ferrer, and the person who introduced them was Gregory Peck, at a party. And from this 15-year union, Sean Ferrer was born.
However, close friends of the couple said that Mel Ferrer was jealous of Audrey’s career. In fact, he felt overshadowed by her and ended up dominating her career.
Furthermore, her second marriage was to the Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, with whom she was married for 13 years and had a son, Luca Dotti.
But at age 49, Audrey met Rob Wolders through Audrey Wilder, wife of director Billy Wilder. Although they were not officially married, the actress said that Robert was the man she loved most in her life. And they stayed together until Audrey’s death in 1993.
9- Dream of being a mother
Audrey Hepburn always dreamed of being a mother. However, before having her first child, Sean Ferrer, the artist suffered a few miscarriages. One of them happened when she was recording the film “The Past Doesn’t Forgive”. Which made the actress very sad.
10- Cigarette addiction
Unfortunately, Audrey Hepburn had a habit of smoking cigarettes since she was 15 years old. In fact, at some periods in her life, she smoked three bags a day. Her favorite brand was Kent. Anyway, she started this habit during the war, as she smoked to calm down.
11- Pet
Another interesting fact about Audrey Hepburn is that she had a very different pet, a baby deer called Pippin. Anyway, it all started when the actress starred in the film “The Flower That Didn’t Die (1959), where the deer participated.
Furthermore, in order for the deer to accompany the actress during filming, she was advised to take it to her home. In this way, the deer ended up becoming her great companion.
12- Collected recipes
Among the curiosities about Audrey Hepburn, the artist used to collect recipes and make them for her close friends. Furthermore, among her famous dishes were spaghetti with tomato sauce or pesto, chocolate pie with cream and potato and onion pie. And among her close friends who tried her recipes were Julie Andrews and Blake Edwards, Yul Brynner, Roger Moore and others.
13- Hobbies
In short, Audrey Hepburn liked to take care of the gardens, which she did with great satisfaction, as this activity gave her peace and calm.
Furthermore, Audrey also spoke several languages. In short, the artist mastered the languages: German, Spanish, Dutch, English, French and Italian. In fact, she babbles a few words in Portuguese in the film “Bonequinha de Luxo”.
And I was also a fan of bossa nova, so I listened to Astrid Gilberto, João Gilberto and Sérgio Mendes.
14- Professional relationships
Another interesting fact about Audrey Hepburn is that during the recording of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, the relationship between Audrey and actor George Peppard was not very good. Well, the actress thought George was very pedantic.
Anyway, other than that, the actress got along well with everyone. In fact, her co-stars said that Audrey was always kind and charming. And she never had stardom attacks.
15- Luxury Doll Costume
Finally, to conclude the curiosities about Audrey Hepburn, we have the cover of the costume from the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. In short, Edith Head made the trench coat that Audrey wore in the final scene of the film. And she didn’t want any of the costume pieces to be given to anyone.
But, as the singer Patrícia Snell really liked the cover, Audrey managed to get the trench coat with great difficulty and gave it to Patrícia as a gift.
Anyway, Audrey Hepburn was a great movie star and highly awarded, as well as a fashion and philanthropic icon. That she used her childhood traumas to rise up and help people.
So, if you liked this article, read also: Luxury Doll – The story behind the classic and its curiosities.
