Dancer, actress, style icon and a truly beautiful woman - it's all about Audrey Hepburn. She is rightfully ranked third in the list of the greatest actresses in the United States, compiled by the American Film Institute. She lived for 63 years, but left her mark far beyond the film industry.
Real princess
Audrey Hepburn - born Audrey Kathleen Ruston. She was born on May 4, 1929 and has always been a real princess. And no wonder: her mother, Ella Van Heemstra, was a Dutch baroness by birth. Audrey's father is Joseph Victor Ruston-Hepburn. Parts of his surname accompanied the actress all her life. The first was written in her metric, the second - in the credits of Hollywood credits. But the mother's name saved the girl during the war. The year 1944 turned out to be especially difficult for the Dutch - people were dying of hunger and cold. But soon humanitarian aid began to flow into the country. Never forgetting this, in the future, Audrey Hepburn sought to respond with gratitude for the help. She began to appear on UNICEF programs. And then she herself was actively involved in charity work.
Since childhood, Audrey has danced. Even during the war, starving, she danced around. If she had not gone to Hollywood, then, according to the assurances of her choreographer, she would certainly have become an outstanding ballerina. But it was Oscar who was waiting for her. For the first time, Hepburn played a serious role in 1951. Here the girl's hobbies are combined, because in the film she played a ballet dancer. Other proposals followed immediately, and after only three years she was already holding the statuette in her hands as the actress who performed the best female role. This happened thanks to the movie "Roman Holiday". Chiseled, beautiful, with a noble profile and stately bearing, she seemed to be playing herself - a princess. And the same as herself - kind, sincere, open to the world.
So she became a real Hollywood star with all the ensuing consequences: endless filming and whirlwind romances. But she was always true to herself in her unique style. She had an exquisite taste, she knew how to emphasize the main thing and hide everything unnecessary. The little black dress is a godsend that the actress showed all women in the cult film Breakfast at Tiffany's. This image was created with the help of Count Givenchy. This is how their friendship was born. So the definition of "Oscar winner" was added to the "style icon".
For the sake of others
In Audrey's case, the beautiful wrapper was just an addition to the main thing - her desire to help other people. She became the official ambassador of UNICEF. This was already a serious work, to which Hepburn gave all of herself to help children in the poorest countries of Latin America, Africa, Asia. She herself traveled to different countries and even independently learned the languages spoken there. But most importantly, she sought real help for them. Audrey Hepburn made her last trip to Somalia. This was in September 1992. In the same year, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But the award was already received by her son.
The actress died on January 20, 1993. On a trip to Somalia, a fatal illness manifested itself. The woman started having severe abdominal pains. The doctors did not have the opportunity to make an accurate diagnosis; they recommended that she immediately return and be examined. But did she think of herself? Hepburn was involved in community affairs in Somalia for six full days. In the United States, during her hospitalization, she was told that she had colon cancer. The doctors hoped for a positive outcome, because after a month they successfully performed the operation and removed the tumor. However, soon Audrey Hepburn again experienced severe cramps and pains. This only meant that the cancer cells were preserved in the body and had already grown.
The patient knew that there were only a few months left to live. But this knowledge allowed her to spend her last days the way she wanted. On her last Christmas, she was really happy, because she was with her most beloved people. Hepburn died with her family.
