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Audrey Hepburn Birth
Audrey Hepburn was born on the 4th of may, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium. Although she was born in Belgium, but attended school in England since her dad had British citizenship -
Her early childhood
Her dad left her when she was 6. She attended school and ballet until 1939, when her mother sent her to the Netherlands to live since she thought it would be safer for her since world war 2 was starting. Since where she was, in the Netherlands was nazi occupied, Audrey Hepburn's mother decided to change her name to Edda Van Heemstra to be safe. -
Adolesence
Though the war was happening Audrey continued to do ballet and keep on learning. After the war Audrey decided to go back to England to continue studying and doing ballet, When she was 15 she became a doctor's assistant during the ‘bridge too far’ battle and hunger winter in 1944. Also in that time, Audrey was working for the resistance against Germany by forging illegal papers and performed illegal dances called, “Black Evenings” -
Adulthood
During her early 20s, she studied acting and worked as a model and a dancer. She also got some small parts in films and changed her name back to Audrey Hepburn and was credited as Audrey as well. Audrey caught the eye of a french novelist Collette, who thought Audrey would be perfect for the main character in its stage adaptation of his novel gigi. Though she had very little experience, Audrey wooed fans in its opening on broadway 1951. After such great success she decided to continue to act -
Career
On her second movie, Audrey hepburn showed the world how well she could play a tom boy wittiness and a regal bearing in one movie, this charmed audiences around the world and earned her an academy award for best actress in a film! She took a break in acting to spend more time with her family in 1968, but eventually returned in 1976. In 1988 she began a new career as a special goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. -
Significant Events
She devoted herself to humanitarian work, visiting famine stricken countries including Latin America, Africa and Asia. Audrey also performed speeches in Canada and the U.S giving almost 15 interviews a day, She visited children in schools in Bangladesh, created services for impoverished children in Thailand, and started nutrition initiatives in Viet Nam and camps for impoverished children in Sudan. -
Awards
She then spoke in front of the U.S congress, took part in the world summit for children in need, took place in international award ceremonies and participated in benefit concerts and tours where she did speeches promoting UNICEF. All this led to her winning the United States highest civilian award and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 1992. Even though that year she had fallen ill with cancer. -
Legacy
Audrey Hepburn is now known worldwide for her irresistible charm, her amazing movies and big heart! Though she is mainly remembered for her outstanding movies and beautiful stage performances, Audrey proved to the world that you can be a world renowned actor and still help people in need. As Audrey hepburn stated “Giving is living, When you stop giving, you stop living.”