HEPBURNY

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) dir. Blake Edwards

Audrey Hepburn as Gabrielle van der Mal THE NUN’S STORY 1959 | dir. Fred Zinnemann

Edith Head’s costume design sketches for Audrey Hepburn — in Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), & Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

How to Steal a Million (1966) dir. William Wyler

Audrey Hepburn and William Holden in Paris When It Sizzles (1964)

She was absolutely stunning and perfect in her role in “Roman Holiday,” 1953. She had a kind of aura around her, as if she were born to play the part (of a princess). I called my agent, George Chasin, and told him I wanted her to have co-star billing, because it was obvious to me that she was going to be a big star and maybe win the Academy Award. Chasin gave me an argument… and I said, ‘Look, George, just do it! It’s really the princess’ story.’ And I thought, ‘She’s so terrific in this and I’m going to look like a jackass if it says “Gregory Peck in ‘Roman Holiday.’” It was absolutely clear to me that equal billing was the way it ought to be. — Gregory Peck ( October 8, 1989 )

The picnic scene, forced Miss Hepburn on to a diet of one daily plate of cereal-only for a week. That was to repair the damage done during the filming of the picnic, during which she ate 20 portions of chicken, a sack of potato chips, and more than a gallon of ginger ale. —excerpted from The Sydney Morning Herald archive ( dated January 9, 1958 )

THE KISS: Two dressing rooms were assembled for Audrey, especially for the final sequence—one for taking off her wet clothes, the other for putting on dry ones. They were labeled “Wet Hepburn” and “Dry Hepburn.” When it came time for the kiss, Blake held out for eight takes, each one straining Peppard’s neck more than the last. To give the camera the best view of the leading lady, the actor had to tilt his face just so, and the awkward angle, he claimed, threatened his look of rapture. But they did it again (and again) with Audrey ducking into “Wet” and emerging from “Dry,” and at long last, with the warmish studio rain pouring down around him, Blake Edwards had the last shot he wanted. High-angled and wide, his camera tilted down on Paul and Holly ensorcelled in a kiss. Breakfast at Tiffany’s was now a love story.  —Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson

Audrey Hepburn on the terrace of the Restaurant Hammetschwand at the summit of Bürgenstock, Switzerland, circa 1955.

People associate me with a time when movies were pleasant, when women wore pretty dresses in films and you heard beautiful music. I always love it when people write to me and say ‘I was having a rotten time and I walked into a cinema and saw one of your movies, and it made such a difference.’ Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929 - January 20, 1993)

People associate me with a time when movies were pleasant, when women wore pretty dresses in films and you heard beautiful music. I always love it when people write to me and say ‘I was having a rotten time and I walked into a cinema and saw one of your movies, and it made such a difference.‘ Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929 - January 20, 1993)

Gregory Peck: She was scintillating in that first film, and was never anything less in Sabrina, Charade, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, My Fair Lady – in all those films she made with those other fellows. I think of Audrey as a “spunky lady”, as funny as she is beautiful, one of a rare breed in the tradition of Irene Dunne, Katharine Hepburn, Myrna Loy, Carole Lombard and Jean Arthur. However, “regal” is the best one word description of Audrey on the screen. She is is, was and will always be the most regal of screen actresses. There will never be a sequel to Roman Holiday, but without a doubt, the Princess went on to become a Queen.