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Audrey Hepburn

by Nicole from San Diego

Audrey Hepburn (http://houseoflavandeblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/audrey-hepburn.html)
Audrey Hepburn (http://houseoflavandeblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/audrey-hepburn.html)

      "I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go." (Langston Hughes) This quote from the remarkable Langston Hughes successfully demonstrates the motivations and beliefs of Audrey Hepburn.  Audrey, born as Edda Kathleen van Heemstra Hepburn- Ruston, came into this world on May 4, 1929, in Brussels Belgium.  As a child, Audrey lived in a home that was filled with love but also anger. Her parents got a divorce when she was very young, leaving her with mixed emotions while growing up. After being sent to boarding school in London, World War II began and Hepburn realized the positive impact she could have on other peoples lives. Later, she began her career as an actress where many of her films are now classics. Finally, after settling down, she began to work with the children's relief organization UNICEF (Audrey Hepburn) There she could become the person she wanted to be.  Through all of her life Hepburn has always stayed true to herself, persevering even when nothing else seemed to go right.  Audrey Hepburn possessed selfless traits that gave her the opportunity to explore our world helping those who didn't have as much as she had. Her acts of unwavering courage heedlessly drove her to the places that not many other people ventured.  She soon became not only a renowned movie star but a star that shined from within lighting the way which brought her courage no matter where she was.

 

http://audreykathleenhepburn.wordpress.com/about/early-life/ ()
http://audreykathleenhepburn.wordpress.com/about/early-life/ ()

      Audrey Hepburn showed her true colors of bravery and courage when a lady of her ways and means had to. She realized that many people have illnesses but only a few are given a "second chance" at life; "Three weeks later, she contracted a near-deadly case of whooping cough. Eventually, after one particularly severe coughing attack, Audrey's heart stopped, and she began turning blue. Her hysterical nanny summoned Ella [Audrey's mother], who revived her daughter by praying fervently while swatting her behind. Audrey's son Sean has speculated that the awareness of a second chance at life motivated her through all her years." (Audrey Hepburn) Instead of fretting about her illness, Audrey took her experience and made it a part of her, a characteristic of never giving up. After this experience, she never backed down from a goal or dream because she was given a second chance. Her "second chance" filled her desire to helping others who may not have a possibility of receiving that help; "Some of the money she earned teaching dance and piano to younger girls at the conservatory was given to the underground, for which she claimed to have worked constantly, despite the grave danger." (Audrey Hepburn) As a young girl Hepburn started to find her calling; giving back to others. She was determined to help her mother and family, no matter how miniscule it would be. Audrey Hepburn is truly a star from within, shining even as a young girl just learning the hardships that life and warfare can bring.

            "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."(Audrey Hepburn) Her lucid words inspired others to believe that no matter where you are, no matter who you were, you are never alone. She showed us how we can never be quick to judge someone else and only look for their perfections and not their flaws. Learning that putting others before yourself will eventually give you the things you never imagined. Her courage carried her through life inspiring others to never give up even when things got rough. Audrey Hepburn never asked to have it all, yet it came to her. She never thought she would have gotten as far as she did in the world of Hollywood, but she did. Her drive kept her propelling forward to greater things.  She never backed down, although at times she may have wanted to. She made her doubt the reason to push on. Next time when you find yourself giving up or losing hope, ask yourself, "What would Audrey do?" In more ways than one you may find yourself pushing harder, becoming more persistent, and achieving above all of your expectations. There is no better feeling in the world then being proud of your accomplishments instead of regretting your short comings for the rest of your life.


Audrey working with UNICEF (http://me1ka.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-is-for-icon.html ())
Audrey working with UNICEF (http://me1ka.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-is-for-icon.html ())

       Hepburn was a confident woman constantly putting others before herself. She was a dynamic woman who not only cared about the arts and acting but also for the welfare of others; "In turn, Hepburn yielded to a calling other than acting, preferring to spend her time with her two sons and working for UNICEF. "If there was a cross between the salt of the earth and a regal queen," Shirley MacLaine told People, "then she was it." An articulate and impassioned spokeswoman, Hepburn was named the goodwill ambassador for the international children's relief organization UNICEF in 1988. Instead of using the title for travel privileges and charity balls, Hepburn worked in the field, nursing sick children and reporting on the suffering she witnessed." (Audrey Hepburn) As time went on Hepburn started taking less and less time away from herself and focusing on what she found more important, her family and the desperate children in the poor countries she visited. Hepburn's work could have been easy but she used what she loved to do and began to help others that were far less fortunate than her. She found herself in a daze to help the suffering children and had no regard for the dangers she could be facing. She began promoting the cause and spreading the word in every way possible; "Soon after becoming a UNICEF ambassador, Hepburn went on a mission to Ethiopia, where years of drought and civil strife had caused terrible famine. After visiting UNICEF emergency operations, she talked about the projects to the media in the United States, Canada and Europe over several weeks, giving as many as 15 interviews a day. It set a precedent for her commitment to the organization."(UNICEF People) Instead of just visiting the countries and observing the conditions, Hepburn felt that she needed to do more and be able to speak for those that weren't being listened to. She began going above and beyond her criteria, overwhelming herself just to keep her work moving along through the air for each new sponsor to hear. Audrey Hepburn, through her articulate ways, was able to bring forth a new kind of humanitarian work and was prepared to endure anything that UNICEF threw her way.

 

Works Cited Page

"Audrey Hepburn: a biography" / Martin Gitlin. P. cm. - (Greenwood biographies, ISSN 1540-4900) Includes bibliographical references to index. ISBN 978-0-313-35945-3 (alk. Paper)

 "Audrey Hepburn." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 314-316. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.

"UNICEF People." UNICEF. Ed. UNICEF. UNICEF. Web. 28 Mar. 2012

Page created on 4/20/2012 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 4/20/2012 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

IMDb - Shows all of the performances and movies Audrey has been in
UNICEF official site - Explains the help Audrey gave and contributed to their organization
Audrey Hepburns official site - Hepburns official fan site