Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn (http://catholichijabi.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/audrey-hepburn-348.jpg)

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone. People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revised, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone”(Audrey Hepburn). Audrey Hepburn, born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium, grew up during World War ІІ. Living in war-torn Europe, made for a difficult childhood; however surviving the war and its hardships taught Hepburn many valuable lessons. After the war, Audrey moved with her mom to England to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. Hepburn got cast in plays and eventually went on to become an award winning actress. She starred in 27 movies by the end of her career. Hepburn sadly died of cancer on January 20, 1993. Audrey once said, “Your soul is nourished by all your experiences, it gives you baggage for the future – and ammunition, if you like” (Encyclopedia of World Biography 1998). Growing up experiencing the ravages of war led Hepburn to become a dedicated humanitarian. Audrey Hepburn had the best of both worlds, as both an award winning actress and a dedicated ambassador of UNICEF, she managed to live an heroic life as a caring and selfless person.

Audrey while working for UNICEF (http://mulattodiaries.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/audrey/)

Audrey’s caring personality shined through in everything she did. She wanted to help children who weren’t as fortunate as she was: “Hepburn utilized her experiences in ministering to the world’s starving children, many of whom did not know that the beautiful woman was a movie star” (Encyclopedia of World Biography 1998). Audrey used the good in her life to help children in need. This shows how Audrey cared for the suffering children and she wanted to do anything and everything she could to help them. Audrey lived a good life, but she knew there were many people in the world who were struggling: “She also worked with the United Nations to alleviate the misery of the poor” (DISCovering Biography 2003). Audrey, a caring person, always did everything she could to help children in need. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, caring about those less fortunate than her. Through helping struggling, less fortunate children in the world, Audrey showed her caring personality.

Audrey while helping children. (http://audreyhepburn.50megs.com/custom2.html)

The definition of selfless is “having little or no concern for oneself” (dictionary.com), Audrey would definitely fall under the category of selfless. Audrey didn’t let the life of a movie star change her: “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” (Encyclopedia of World Biography 1998). She could have lived a relaxing life as a movie star but instead spent her free time doing whatever she could to help children in need. Audrey cherished her work for UNICEF, more than her award winning roles in movies: “While Hepburn’s acting was highly appreciated in her lifetime, she would doubtless prefer to be remembered as UNICEF’s hardworking fairy godmother” (DISCovering Biography 2003). Audrey acted selflessly by not caring if people knew her for the movies she starred in but for the work she did to help children in need. She didn’t help children in need to make her look good, she just wanted to help. Audrey lived a selfless life by not only focusing on herself, but also the good of children in need.

Audrey Hepburn (http://esvie.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/who-was-our-fashion-icon-of-the-60s/)

Audrey’s caring and selfless actions are responsible for her title as a hero. Audrey balanced the life of a famous movie star and a hardworking UNICEF ambassador. Her everyday actions were a reflection of her very caring and selfless personality. Audrey Hepburn inspires people because she used her celebrity status to help others, rather than making it all about herself. She successfully lived the life of both an actress and an ambassador of UNICEF. Audrey did everything she could to help children in need and to better the lives of others. People around the world think of her as an inspiration because of all of the work she did to help others. “Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others” (Audrey Hepburn). Throughout Audrey’s life she was always did what she could to help others and she wants everyone to understand that they should help people in need. Audrey Hepburn’s caring and selfless personality truly makes her a hero.

Works Consulted

“Audrey Hepburn.” 2010. Biography.com May 6, 2010.

Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research,1998.

Hepburn, Audrey (1929-1993). DISCovering Biography. Online ed. Detroit: Gale,2003.

UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Laura B. Tyle. Vol. 5. Detroit: UXL, 2003. p886-888.