Audrey - Luciferrin
9.5” x 6” 60lb paper
Rapidograph pens
India Ink
Born on May 4th, 1929, to the daughter of a Dutch Baron, Audrey Kathleen Ruston would go on to be known as Audrey Hepburn, Hollywood royalty, international trendsetter and beauty icon.
And so much more..
(circa. 1938)
Spending her well rounded childhood growing up between Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands, she learned to speak five languages: Dutch and English from her parents, and later varying degrees of French, Spanish, and Italian.
In 1935 Audrey’s father Joseph, would abruptly abandon his wife (the Baroness Ella van Heemstra) and daughter, moving to London where he became heavily involved in the Fascist movement taking foothold throughout Europe.
He would not visit young Audrey again, causing her to claim the period as “the most tragic event in my life”.
[As a side note: Sometime in the 60’s Audrey would locate her father in Dublin Ireland through the Red Cross Association.
Although a cold and detached man, Audrey would financially support him until his death.
Bastard that he was.]
At a young age she would take up ballet in Amsterdam and go on to hone her craft later in London, 1948, featuring in several West End theatrical productions.
In 1951, Audrey (as she would simply be known among the two Hepburns) was cast in the lead for the Broadway smash hit Gigi, having been hand selected by playwrite Colette
Parlaying her newfound success she would go on to be cast as the female lead in 1953’s international hit film Roman Holiday, opposite Gregory Peck, and would later win an Academy Award, Tony Award and BAFTA for the singular outstanding performance.
The rest, as the say...
After a long string of successful hits such as:
- The Nun’s Story (‘59)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s (‘61)
- My Fair Lady (‘64)
as well as many other well received classics, Audrey would grow to become an ’It girl’ for the ages; later being inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
Deservedly so.
Towards the end of her very public life on film, Hepburn would be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from BAFTA, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and the Special Tony Award.
As of 2018, Audrey is one of only 12 actors in film history to have won the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards.
As she retreated from the public eye, Audrey would dedicate her time and accrued reputation as a humanitarian, helping bring attention and resources to some of the most poverty stricken regions of South America, Africa and Asia.
In 1992 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador .
Sadly, one month later while celebrating Christmas with her family in Switzerland, she would pass away in her sleep due to appendiceal cancer.
There are a great many tales, anecdotes and facts that I have not included, as this was meant to be a short narrative of a storied life and famed career.
I just simply wanted to shine a spotlight on a brightly glowing star among the many other golden stars of a bygone era.
Happy Birthday Audrey
For more information on this uniquely special individual, please visit:
http://beingaudreyhepburn.com/