Audrey Hepburn Success Story

 Audrey Kathleen Ruston with Marilyn Monroe

At that time Audrey was practising ballet and would dance for groups of people so that she could collect a little money to buy food. When the war ended in 1945, she and her mother moved to London. Here at the age of 16, she joined ballet classes which she learnt for 3 years. She wanted to be a ballet dancer and went to the Ballet Rambert to be part of their production. But she was advised that her tall height (5ft 7 in) combined with her poor nutrition during the War would not allow her to become a Prima Ballerina.

Early Life

She worked as a part-time model apart from working as a chorus girl in the London Musicals. Though it paid well she realized that her voice was not strong enough and needed to be developed further. She started taking elocution classes with actor Felix Aylmer. But she was spotted by a casting director who suggested that she register with the British film studio as a freelance actress. As soon as she registered, she got a chance to play minor roles in many films. But her first major role came as a supporting actress in the film Secret People (1952) in which she played a ballerina.

Begining

Soon she was selected for playing the role of ‘Gigi’ in Broadway Play by the same name. The play was widely appreciated and ran for 219 performances. This impressive debut performance gave her a ‘Theatre World Award.’ Soon another big success followed her. Her performance in ‘Roman Holiday’ helped her win an Academy Award for Best Actress. She followed that up with another sensational performance in the film ‘Sabrina’ (1954). She also did a play called ‘Ondine’ that year which became a huge success.

Career

Whatever Audrey was touching was turning into gold. She was on the path of superstardom. She had become one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. She continued to impress in movies like War and Peace (1956), Funny Face (1957), The Nun’s Story (1959). Her role in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ gave her much fan following. Again she dazzled the audience with her performance in ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964). Now she was becoming more popular than her male compatriots as well.

" Opportunities don't often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them." -  Audrey Kathleen

She had reached the pinnacle of fame and was one of the most popular person in the world at the peak of her career. Audrey had gone from being a girl who had lay hungry and suffered the consequences of the Second World War to being one of the most decorated artists of the 20^th century. Her dedication to her art gave her success after success. The films she has acted in have gone on to become classics and her roles have still retained the iconic status they maintained decades back. 

Audrey Hepburn Biography