Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn in her youth. (www.photobucket.com)

Born May 4th, 1929, Edda Van Heemstra-Ruston, better known as Audrey Hepburn, blasted onto the film scene. With her towering brown hairdo and big brown eyes, she was like no other. Audrey Hepburn was always exciting in her film work and on set this made her very successful. At a young age Audrey witnessed the ‘ugliness’ of World War II. By overcoming pain and hardship she succeeded as a dancer but instead found acting to be a more successful career. She later decided to give back and help others in need which she will always be remembered for. Not only did Audrey help others, she was named as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. While to some people Audrey Hepburn will be remembered as a beautiful screen actress, to others she will be remembered as a hero for her strength and humanitarian work.

a famous iconic picture of Audrey Hepburn. (www.photobucket.com)

The first reason that Audrey Hepburn is a heroic person is because of her inner strength in overcoming extreme hardship during her childhood. Life was happy for Audrey at first. She had a loving family until her father left them when she was only eight years old. “After the 1935 divorce of her parents, her father left her family at a young age in what she called the most traumatic moment of her life, years later she contacted her father and started sending him money. The impact of these times would change her life and values,” (Audrey Hepburn). This made her heroic for being mature and taking time out of her busy life to contact her father even though he had left her. This occurrence probably made her a stronger person and mother as an adult. Additionally, as a young girl Audrey lived in Holland, which was occupied by the Nazis. She experienced a lot of pain and hardship during those years. ”Many years later she politely refused to make a movie of the ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ as she felt the young Jewish girl’s experience mirrored her own” (Hepburn, Audrey). This made Audrey heroic because of what she had lived through. She was very respectful of Anne Frank and other Jewish people and because of this she didn’t star in the movie. Audrey grew up in a rough situation; her childhood was harsh but she overcame a lot of it. For this reason she is a stronger person.

a picture of Audrey Hepburn taken while filming ' (www.photobucket.com)

Another main reason Audrey Hepburn is heroic is because of her amazing artistic ability. She emerged like a butterfly onto the screen. While also later becoming an amazing humanitarian to the world, as an actress she won many awards. With her big brown eyes and a matching huge brown towering hairdo she was never boring. ”Hepburn burst into the Hollywood scene with 1953’s Roman Holiday. Costarring Gregory Peck, the film tells the tale of a runaway princess who is shown around Rome by a reporter smitten with love for her love. The role landed Hepburn an Oscar at the tender young age of 24 for best actress,” (Hepburn, Audrey (1929-1993). This shows she is heroic because it was an honor for a lady at such a young age to win the extravagant Academy Award such as she did. She was grateful and thankful to be honored at the age of only twenty four. Audrey was also an amazing humanitarian to the world and won noble awards. When she grew older she wanted to give back to the world, especially to poor children in third world countries. Audrey was named Goodwill Ambassador of the international children’s relief organization, UNICEF, in 1988. “Hepburn also worked in the field nursing sick children and reporting of suffering she witnessed,” (Ferran). This shows that Audrey really cared. Going through hardship when she was little is what moved her and made her want to help people in need. It was an honor to serve as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and she put a lot of time and effort into what she believed in. Due to Audrey’s talent, her ability to overcome hardship, and her desire to give back to others, she has shown to me that she was a strong and heroic person.

Audrey Hepburn here is helping people in need and (www.photobucket.com)

“With Audrey it’s kind of unpredictable. She’s like a good tennis player – she varies her shots,” (Ferran). She is famous for her spunky and sweetly serious expressions on screen. This allowed Audrey to land roles in films such as Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn inspires many because she had very powerful artistic talents, did wonderful humanitarian work, and she overcame her past, all making her a stronger person. Audrey didn’t let anything get her down, she accomplished much through her artistic accomplishments and humanitarian work.

Works Consulted

Audrey Hepburn. 2005. Theiapolis Cinema. 14 May 2010. http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/audrey-hepburn/.

Ferran, Christine. “Hepburn, Audrey (1929-1933).” Newsmakers. Ed. Louise Mooney. Detroit: Gale Research , 1933. Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 May . 2010.

“Hepburn, Audrey (1929-1993).” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. 17 vols .Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 May. 2010.

“Hepburn, Audrey (1929-1993).” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. 17 vols .Student Resource Center – Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 May. 2010.

Zen Dan. “Hepburn, Audrey.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 5 May 2010.