- Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast At Tiffany's, 1961 / Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn 1929-1993

Audrey Hepburn is without a doubt one of the most famous actresses of all time. She is one of the few entertainers to have won Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. The American Film institute placed her among the five greatest female stars in the history of American cinema.

Hepburn, the only child of Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston (1889-1980), an English banker of Irish descent, and his second wife Ella, baroness van Heemstra (1900-1984), a Dutch aristocrat, had two half-brothers by her mother's first marriage. Although born in Belgium, Hepburn had British citizenship and attended school in England as a child. Hepburn's father's job with a British insurance company meant that the family often traveled between Belgium, England, and the Netherlands.

Hepburn was a keen ballet dancer and studied it during her time in Germany. She continued to train as a dancer when she moved to London in 1948. From there, she discovered acting and worked her way from being a chorus girl, in West End musicals, to a Hollywood legend in a matter of years. She gained instant stardom for her roles in Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), The Nun's Story (1959), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Charade (1963), My Fair Lady (1964) and Wait Until Dark (1967).

Hepburn's first starring role was in the Italian-set Roman Holiday (1953) as Princess Ann. Producers initially wanted Elizabeth Taylor for the role but after Hepburn's screen test, director William Wyler was so impressed that he cast her in the lead. After filming had been completed, Hepburn won the 1954 Academy Award for Best Actress for the role. Due to the instant celebrity that came with Roman Holiday, Hepburn spawned what became known as the Audrey Hepburn 'look' while her illustration was placed on the September 1953 cover of TIME magazine. Three months after the birth of her son, Sean, in 1960, Hepburn began work on Blake Edwards' Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). The film was drastically changed from the original version. Capote disapproved of many changes and proclaimed that Hepburn was 'grossly miscast' as Holly Golightly, a quirky New York call girl, a role he had envisioned for Marilyn Monroe. Hepburn's portrayal of Golightly was adapted from the original. Despite this, she was nominated for the 1962 Academy Award for Best Actress and became an iconic character in American cinema.

Her role in the comic thriller Charade (1963) earned her third and final competitive BAFTA Award and accrued another Golden Globe nomination. Hepburn's later life was devoted to UNICEF and she worked in some of the poorest regions on earth including, Africa, South America and Asia. In 1992, Audrey Hepburn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the great work she did.

When she was 63, Hepburn died of appendiceal cancer in her home in Switzerland. However, her legacy as an actress, personality and style icon has remained strong long after her death..

Breakfast At Tiffany's, 1961 / Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn / Breakfast At Tiffany's, 1961

A hot pink cocktail dress worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's, 1961, the knee-length sleeveless dress of hot pink silk, decorated all over with fan-shaped appliqués accented with small rhinestones {some rhinestones missing}, with matching pink bow to the waist - made for Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in the 1961 Paramount film Breakfast At Tiffany's. accompanied by a corresponding black and white still photograph - 10X8

This dress was worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly during the scene where she returns to her apartment from a party with Jose to find a telegram waiting for her with the news that her brother Fred, has died. Upon hearing the news Holly is devastated and, much to Jose/s astonishment, she breaks down, smashing plates and cups and tearing apart her pillows - the scene ends with Holly lying on her bed sobbing surrounding by feathers from the ruined pillows.

In the film, Audrey Hepburn wears this dress with a matching hot pink coat, shoes and tiara and earrings of pink rhinestones. Hubert De Givenchy designed all the costumes for Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany's but this gown is not labelled and also appears to have been altered to fit Hepburn as well as being altered post-filming, perhaps suggesting that this was not one designed by Givenchy, but obtained last minute during filming. The accompanying still photograph also suggest that Audrey Hepburn wore this gown for publicity purposes, as well as during shooting.

Charade, 1963 / Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn / Charade 1963

An evening ensemble by Givenchy, the two-piece cocktail outfit comprising a fitted sleeveless top and corresponding skirt of black wool moss crepe trimmed with imitation jet pailletes, lined in black silk., the top labelled inside Givenchy, Paris - made for and worn by Audrey Hepburn as Regina 'Reggie' Lampert in the 1963 Universal film Charade

Charade, 1963 / Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn / Charade 1963

A knee-length coat by Givenchy, the fitted coat of deep yellow wool with three-quarter length sleeves fastening with domed black buttons decorated with bronze coloured specks, lined with black raw silk, labelled GIVENCHY, PARIS; and a short-sleeved fitted dress of cream wool, the bodice lined with cream silk chiffon, the skirt with cream silk, unlabelled but probably Givenchy- both made for and worn by Audrey Hepburn as Regina 'Reggie' Lampert in the 1963 Universal film Charade

Funny Face 1957 / Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn Yellow Floral Dress from 'Funny Face', 1957

Hepburn stars as a reluctant model taken to Paris with Fred Astaire as her photographer and love interest. This dress was used for a montage of photographs taken in Paris showcasing Hepburn's timeless and stylish beauty. The floral dress has orange, yellow and white flowers against a yellow background with delicate green leaves, bateau neckline with short sleeves, a layered skirt with slight apron at hips.