Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

September 1939

Dagboek,

Today was horrible. But lately, even though I'm only 10, most days are. I’m wondering if all of this would still happen if my father was still here. I know it’s unreasonable, But I blame all of this on him for walking out when I was so young. I know it’s not his fault. But today, we saw young men put against the wall and shot, and they closed the street and then opened it and you could pass by again...Don't discount anything awful you hear or read about the Nazis. It's worse than you could ever imagine. It makes my own problems seem so small. Just because my eyes are too big and I weigh too much, I sometimes think my life is horrible. But it’s gotten so much worse. I hate being here. I want to go back home.

Audrey

June 1941

Dagboek,

I feel like dying. Everything would be so much easier if I did die that day my heart stopped beating, when I was merely six weeks old. But whenever I say that, mother scolds me. She says I’m lucky she saved me. I guess living is better than dying. But I just don’t know. These men are horrible. My stomach is killing me; I haven’t had a proper meal in days. And I can’t dance anymore. That’s the worst part. Nothing can get in my way when I’m dancing. But now that I can’t anymore, oh help! I don’t know what to do.

Audrey

August 1945

Journal,

We finally left Holland. Though we aren’t in Brussels, London is a lovely city. I’m studying ballet dance and doing quite well. At least I believe so. And I’m going to start modeling soon! How exciting. Things are going so much better. Though I don’t quite understand why they want me modeling.

Audrey

March 1948

Journal,

I’m in a movie! I can’t believe it! I don’t have a speaking role, or anything like that, but still. The movie is called "Nederlands in 7 Lessen," which means "Dutch in Seven Lessons." I don’t do much, but it’s so exciting to be in a movie! Not that I’ll get any farther, looking like I do.

Audrey

April 1952

Journal,

I got a main role in a movie! A real, feature length, something-people-will-watch movie! It’s called "Roman Holiday." I love the name. The best part? I get to be a princess! But princesses can’t look like me, I suppose. It’s so odd. I have no talent, or good looks, just luck. I’m living off of luck. It can’t last long.


June 1953

Journal,

I have another lead role in the movie "Sabrina." It will be coming out next year. It’s so strange. I never thought I'd land in pictures. Who knows what’s yet to come of me? I just don’t get it. Why me? Why this Audrey, this girl who is supposed to be dead? If I wrote a biography about myself, it would say I was born on January 20, 1929. And died six weeks later. Because that’s truly what happened. I’m not supposed to be here.

Audrey


March 25th, 1954

Journal,

I just won the Academy Award for my role in "Roman Holiday!" Can you believe it? I was so excited, I accidentally kissed Academy president Jean Hersholt on the mouth, not the cheek. And that's not all! Suddenly, when the photographers called me over to have my photo taken, I couldn't find my statue! I raced back up the steps at the Century Theater in New York and ran as fast as my outfit would allow, back tot he ladies' restroom. And there it was, waiting patiently for me. Can you believe it? What a night. I guess I won't need to fall back on my training as a dental assistant after all.

Audrey


July 1960

Journal,

My first son was born today. Sean. I was very scared. I was afraid he wouldn’t make it, like the other child that I miscarried last year. But he’s healthy, and anything I ever hoped for. I am so thankful. I also got offered the role of Holly Golightly in the new movie, "Breakfast At Tiffany’s." It’s so much better than that offer I got a few years back to play Anne Frank in the movie of her diary. I couldn’t do that; it would just be too painful. I still have not seen that movie.

Audrey


May 1974

Journal,

Well I certainly have been busy lately! So much has happened. I have miscarried a total of five times. But four years ago, my second son Luca was born. He’s a lively boy, and he’ll be starting school now. And Sean is already in his teen years. It amazes me. I think my acting career is starting to fade, but that’s okay. It was amazing while it lasted.

Audrey


September 1988

Journal,

I was chosen as an ambassador to UNICEF, and I think it’s just fabulous. I can help children who suffer, like I did when I was young, from segregation and racism and other horrible things that I had to go through as a child. I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it. And I feel I’m fulfilling that by doing this. It’s an indescribable feeling.


January 21, 1993

My mother died last night in her sleep. As I was going through her things, I found this. It amazes me that even on the day she died, her thoughts were with the children. She rallied for the last time and wanted to know if there had been any messages from UNICEF about the children in Somalia. Mummy believed in love. She left us with peace. It is so sad that she is gone. But she lived a worthy life. She was amazing, and she was an absolute hero.

Sean