Audrey, Part 4: Comeback and Charity Work

From the seventies onward, Audrey Hepburn appeared in few films, focusing on her family, and later, UNICEF. After having her son Luca in 1970, her marriage became strained due to Andrea Dotti's unfaithfulness. However, she starred in two films in the seventies: comeback movie and period piece Robin and Marian with Sean Connery in 1976 and Bloodline in 1979 with James Mason, Ben Gazzara, and Romy Schneider. In 1980, she separated from Andrea Dotti and moved in with Dutch actor Robert Wolders, though she was still married to Dotti until '82. She called her years with Robert the happiest in her life, and was with him until her death. In 1981, she starred for the last time in They All Laughed, which was overshadowed by the murder of the director's wife. Audrey began to do humanitarian work for UNICEF, which she had supported her entire career, this time making several trips to third-world countries to help and promote awareness. 1987's Love Among Thieves with Robert Wagner, a made-for-TV movie, was panned by all but devoted fans, and Audrey made a cameo in the Steven Spielberg film Always before officially becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She still remembered the pain of war from the 40s, and devoted much of the rest of her life to visiting and helping poorer countries. She filmed PBS's Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn before heading off on a trip to Somalia in 1992. She came back with abdominal pain, which doctors eventually discovered was a rare form of cancer that had metastasized from her abdomen to her appendix. After chemotherapy and operations, the cancer could not be fully removed. Audrey passed away in 1993, leaving a legacy of style, grace, and kindheartedness.

(Photos: my scans from Audrey Hepburn.)

Audrey, Part 3: Holly and Mod

After she had her first son, Sean, with husband Mel Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn began filming what is perhaps the most iconic role of her career: Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Holly was a quirky callgirl, "a lopsided romantic, a dreamer of dreams," in producer Martin Jurow's words. The part (originally intended for a sexier actress like Marilyn Monroe) had to be toned down to fit Audrey's grace. The signature Holly Golightly look: Givenchy black dress, up-do, and diamonds layered with pearls have become synonymous with Audrey's image. Next up in her career was a movie with a rather shocking theme: The Children's Hour in the same year, where she played opposite Shirley MacLaine as teachers accused of lesbianism. In 1963, she worked with Cary Grant in Charade. Her next film, the rather unfortunate but gorgeous Paris When It Sizzles, is notable only for Givenchy's creation of her new signature perfume, Interdit and the fact that her costar attempted to romance her despite Mel Ferrer. The musical My Fair Lady was much more successful, despite the fact that Audrey's voice was dubbed over. She made three more films in the sixties: the comedy How To Steal A Million, the comedy/drama Two For The Road where she sported mod Mary Quant, and the drama/thriller Wait Until Dark. After 1967, Audrey decided to step away from her career and focus on her personal life, divorcing Mel Ferrer (citing his temper and control issues) and taking care of her son, Sean. She met and fell in love with Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti on a cruise in 1968, and she married him the following year (when she was forty and he was thirty). She had another son, Luca, in 1970.

(Photos: my scans from Audrey Hepburn.)