"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."
-Audrey Hepburn
Interesting Facts
Born as Audrey Kathleen Ruston on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium.
Parents: Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston (father), a British banker, and Baroness Ella van Heemstra (mother), a Dutch aristocrat.
Fluent in 5 languages: English, Dutch, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Growing up, she studied ballet in England and the Netherlands, which she started at 5 years old.
Used the name Edda van Heemstra while living in the Netherlands during World War II.
During World War II, she helped with fundraising for the Dutch resistance by having ballet performances in order to receive donations.
One of the twelve people who have won all four the prestigious American entertainment awards: the Academy Awards (Oscars), Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, and Tony Awards.
Had 2 children from previous marriages: Sean (with Mel Ferrer) and Luca (with Andrea Dotti).
Became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1988. After World War II, she received the same medical and food help from UNICEF, which she suffered malnourishment as a teenager during the Dutch famine in 1944. Her role and position came full circle, which was an opportunity to give back and help children in need, similar to what she received from her experience.
Died on January 20, 1993 in Tolochnaz, Switzerland. The cause of death was from appendiceal cancer.
Selected List of Filmography
Roman Holiday (1953)
Sabrina (1954)
War and Peace (1956)
Funny Face (1957)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Selected List of Awards and Honors for Acting and Humanitarian Works
Academy Awards: 2 wins (Best Actress for Roman Holiday and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award) and 5 nominations
Golden Globe Awards: 3 wins (Best Actress for Roman Holiday, the Henrietta Award for World Film Favorite- Female, and the Cecil B. Demille Award) and 10 nominations
Grammy Awards: 1 win and nomination (Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales)
Tony Awards: 2 wins (Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for Ondine and Special Tony Award recipient) and 1 nomination
Emmy Awards: 1 win and nomination (Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming for Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn)
Screen Actors Guild Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commander of the National French Order of Arts and Letters)
Hollywood Walk of Fame
UNICEF: International Danny Kaye Award for Children and the Sindaci per L'infanzia (Mayors for Children) Award
Presidential Medal of Freedom for her humanitarian work with UNICEF
The Pearl S. Buck Foundation's Women's Award
"I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it."
-Audrey Hepburn
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