Audrey Hepburn

May 4, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929, in Belgium and grew up there before relocating to the Netherlands, where she began her ballet studies. When Hepburn began acting while working as a model and dancer in the early 1950s, she swept the entertainment world off its feet. When Hepburn was 24 years old, she starred in her first major U.S. film, “Roman Holiday,” for which she won her first Academy Award’ a year later. We want to honor Hepburn’s name, not only for her major achievements in Hollywood, but also for her humanitarian work and everything else that made her one of the greats.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Audrey Kathleen Ruston

Nickname:

Aud

Birth date:

May 4, 1929

Death date:

January 20, 1993 (age 63)

Zodiac Sign:

Taurus

Height:

5' 7"

Net Worth:

$55 million

Background

The world gained one of its most prominent names in acting history when Audrey Kathleen Ruston — better known as Audrey Hepburn — was born on May 4, 1929, in Ixelles, Belgium. Hepburn went to school in England, where she got her citizenship from her father but moved to the Netherlands in 1939 with the onset of World War II. Even though Hepburn was experiencing many challenges during that time, she still managed to start studying ballet in Amsterdam. Hepburn began using her talents in the 1950s when she started performing and working as a model and dancer. In 1951, she appeared in her first Broadway play. In 1953, Hepburn won her first and career-launching part in the award-winning “Roman Holiday” — barely two years after she first took the stage.

After the premiere of “Roman Holiday,” the movie roped at several awards in 1954. Hepburn received three awards for her role, including a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, and a British Academy Film Award. However, this was only the beginning for Hepburn as she took the stage in 1954 to co-star in “Ondine” with Mel Ferrer. Hepburn and Ferrer fell in love during their time as co-stars and got married the same year on September 25. After the pair suffered a few miscarriages, their first and only son Sean Hepburn Ferrer was born on July 17, 1960, in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. It was also during the 1960s that Hepburn starred in two of her most well-known movies — “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) and “My Fair Lady” (1964).

Hepburn started making changes in her life as she decided to go into semi-retirement in 1967 and got divorced from Ferrer in 1968. Hepburn crossed paths with Andrea Dotti, and they immediately fell in love with each other and tied the knot on January 18, 1969. At the age of 40 and one year after marriage, Hepburn gave birth to her second son, Luca Dotti, on February 8. Hepburn was also a big humanitarian and received recognition for her work in 1976. She started her journey as a UNICEF ambassador in 1988. Hepburn received the devastating news of her appendix cancer in 1992 and laid her head to rest on January 20, 1993. Hepburn’s legacy is still going strong, and her sons continue to bring honor to their mother’s name in various ways.

Career timeline

1953

She Stars in Her First Major Film

Hepburn’s first major U.S. movie is “Roman Holiday,” which leads to her winning various awards.

1954

One Year, Three Awards

Hepburn wins three awards for her role in “Roman Holiday” including the Academy Award for ‘Best Actress,’ the Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actress,’ and the BAFTA Award for ‘Best British Actress.’

1988

A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Hepburn becomes a UNICEF ambassador for which she receives many honors afterward.

1992

The Diagnosis

Her battle starts when she gets diagnosed with appendix cancer.

Why We Love Audrey Hepburn

She was an EGOT
Hepburn won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony Award. She is also one of a few people who have the honor of being an ‘EGOT.’
Her name is still well-known
Her name is still well-known by even the younger generations. A huge reason for this is because her sons continued to honor her name and what she stood for.
Her actual lifelong dream
Hepburn never dreamt of becoming a part of the rich and famous in Hollywood. Her lifelong dream was to get married, have children, and have a big family.

5 Surprising Facts

Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hepburn’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star shines bright on 1652 Vine Street in Los Angeles.
The origin of her stage name
Her stage name ‘Hepburn’ originated from her father’s last name.
Her love for dancing
Her passion for dancing started early in her life as she first started dancing at the young age of five.
A tulip breed is named after her
During World War II, Hepburn had to eat tulips to survive and a new hybrid breed of tulip was named after her.
English wasn’t her only language
Hepburn could speak a total of five languages including French, English, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian.