The Legacy of Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is undoubtedly one of the most famous actresses of all time. Her impact on the film industry, the world of fashion, and her philanthropy is still remembered today. The iconic eyebrows, micro-fringe, collection of Givenchy garments, and the life she dedicated to helping those in need are some of the most definitive features of Audrey. Her legacy is not just associated with her iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s role, but so much more. 

Early Life

Born May 4th, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium, Audrey Kathleen Ruston was the daughter of Baroness Ella Van Heemstra, a Dutch noblewoman. Her father Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston (who later changed his name to Hepburn-Ruston) was born to English and Austrian parents. For part of her youth, Audrey studied at a boarding school in England whilst during the Second World War she studied in the Netherlands at the Arnhem Conservatory. 

After WWII, Audrey pursued her continued interest in dance and the arts, studying ballet in Amsterdam as well as London. Whilst taking part in some smaller roles on the British Theatre stage, she soon landed her first feature film role in the 1951 film One Wild Oat. However, at just twenty-two years old, Audrey’s starring role in Gigi on Broadway caught the eyes of many. Just two years after that, one of her most notable films debuted–Roman Holiday (1953), in which she starred alongside Gregory Peck. Her performance wowed critics and audiences across the world and she consequently won an Academy Award for her work. 

This was just the beginning of Audrey’s silver screen takeover as she soon became a fashion icon and a prominent philanthropist figure.

Her Work On and Off Screen

Just one year after Roman Holiday, Audrey starred in one of her most momentous pieces of work: Sabrina (1954). She continued her reign over Hollywood and the film industry by starring in Funny Face (1957) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), based on Truman Capote’s novel of the same name. It wasn’t long until she had a stacked filmography by starring in some of the most famous cinematic works in history. 

As well as her acting career, Audrey became a fashion icon who is still studied and idolized today. Her love for Hubert de Givenchy and her partnership with the brand stayed constant throughout her work on screen. The memorable black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, worn as her character Holly Golightly stood looking into the shop window of the iconic jewelry brand whilst eating a croissant, is one of her greatest looks–if not the greatest Audrey look. Her iconic Givenchy ensembles were seen in many films, such as Sabrina (1954), which marked her first on-screen partnership with the designer. Whilst Audrey is known for her acting talent, we can’t not talk about her impact on the fashion world when we look at her legacy.

Towards the end of the 60s, Audrey retired from acting so she could dedicate herself to family life, starring in a few films in the 70s and 80s. She became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in the late 1980s, making more than 50 trips with the charity. She traveled to Bangladesh to look at their schools and saw the services available for children in Thailand and camps for displaced children in Sudan, as well as many more journeys. Audrey’s work for UNICEF exuded passion. Not only did she make many trips for UNICEF but she also took part in the World Summit for Children, gave many speeches and appearances promoting the charity’s work, launched UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children reports, and participated in many more events with the organisation. Audrey’s work for UNICEF did not go unnoticed and ultimately became a defining part of her legacy. In 1992, she received the highest civilian award in the US, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That same year, although ill with cancer, she continued her UNICEF work traveling to Kenya, France, the US, the UK, Switzerland, and Somalia. Audrey was an unstoppable force when it came to helping others.

Audrey Hepburn died on January 20th, 1993 at her home in Switzerland from appendiceal cancer, just a month after she received her US Presidential Medal of Freedom award. The loss of Audrey left a mark on the film industry, world of fashion, and philanthropic history, and she is still remembered today as one of the most legendary faces in pop culture. Audrey illuminated the screen and hearts of many and continues to be one of the greatest inspirations in the world.