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Birth
Audrey Kathleen Ruston (later Hepburn-Ruston) is born to an aristocratic family in Ixelles, Brussels. Her family moves between three countries throughout her childhood on account of her father's job. -
Father Leaves
Considered by Audrey to be the most traumatic event of her life, her father left the family suddenly in 1935. He never visited Audrey and her mother, though he continued to influence Audrey's education, and she didn't see him again until adulthood. In the 1960s, she reestablished contact with him through the Red Cross and supported him financially until his death. -
Attends the Arnhem Conservatory in the Netherlands
Hoping to avoid the risk of a German attack after Germany declared war on Britain, Audrey's mother moved her out of Britain and into Arnhem in the Netherlands. She attended the Arnhem Conservatory, a boarding school, from 1939 to 1945. It was there that she began to dance. -
Uncle Dies, Family Moves to Velp
Following Nazis executing her uncle, Audrey and some family moved to Velp, where her grandfather lived. In Velp, Audrey danced to raise money for the Dutch resistance, volunteered at a hospital, and even temporarily housed a British paratrooper. She also witnessed many traumatic events in Velp and throughout WWII, including Dutch Jews being transported to concentration camps. -
Impacted by the Dutch Famine
In the winter of 1944, Audrey and her family were significantly impacted by the Dutch famine, during which German forces prevented the distribution of food and fuel around the Netherlands. Like many families during the famine, she resorted to using tulip bulbs to make flour. The malnutrition Audrey suffered during the famine made her gravely ill in 1945, and its effects continued to affect her for the rest of her life. -
Stars in Roman Holiday
Audrey had her first star role in a film in 1953, playing Princess Ann in the film Roman Holiday. The film's astounding success led to her acting career taking off, as well as a number of awards: an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress in a Leading Role, and a Golden Globe award for Best Actress -- Motion Picture Drama. -
Birth of First Son
Audrey's first son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, is born to her and her first husband, Mel Ferrer. -
Birth of Second Son
Luca Andrea Dotti was born to Audrey and her second husband, Andrea Dotti. -
First UNICEF Field Mission
Audrey went to Ethiopia for her first UNICEF field mission in 1988. The trip devastated her, and she had UNICEF send food when she was heartbroken by the sight of children in an orphanage in Mek'ele in danger of starving to death. Two simultaneous civil wars in Ethiopia had prevented past deliveries from reaching many areas of the country. Audrey went on many more missions after, visiting Turkey, Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Sudan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Somalia, and more. -
Appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF
Audrey started working with UNICEF in the 1950s, narrating two radio programs for them. When she was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador over 30 years later, she said she wanted to repay her gratitude for having received aid from the organization during the German occupation. -
Diagnosed with Abdominal Cancer
A laparoscopy in early November 1992 revealed a form of abdominal cancer belonging to the group pseudomyxoma peritonei that had grown over several years to coat Audrey's small intestine. -
Death
Audrey passed away while sleeping in her home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland.