Audrey's favorite colors were white and pink.
Did you know that Audrey and her mom worked in the resistance during WWII? In fact, Audrey often delivered messages to other workers in her ballet shoes! !
Audrey had a Yorkie named "Mr. Famous."
Minutes after excepting her 1953 Oscar, Audrey realized she had misplaced it. She raced back to the ladies room in the Center Theater in New York, she retrieved the award.
Audrey played records while she studied lines.
A fawn was central to the filing of "Green Mansions." Audrey adopted a fawn, and named him Ip. She treated him like her own child, bottle-feeding him every 2 hours.
Audrey was terrified by horses, but she agreed to ride one for director John Huston during a scene of "The Unforgiven." She was thrown from the horse, Diablo, and she had to finish the rest of the film in a back brace.
Truman Capote actually wrote the part of Holly Golighty for Marilyn Monroe.
"Cat" was actually named Rhubarb.
Audrey had originally been told she would be singing in the part of Eliza Doolittle. Producer Jack Warner had never intended to use her voice at all! When Audrey found out, she stormed off the set, but came back and apologized the next day. ()
Audrey never cared much for champagne. When she found out she had 'won' the role as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady", she and her mother celebrated with but what else, than a beer. :^)
Speaking of "My Fair Lady", did you know Audrey was actually one of the people who wanted Julie Andrews, who had originated the character Eliza on Broadway to star in the film? When the role was offered to Audrey, she at first turned it down. "It's Julie's part," she said "She created it on Broadway, it seems only fair she should be the one to play her on screen". But Andrews was not considered "bankable" at the time, and Audrey realized that if not her, it would just end up being some other actress, so why shouldn't she at least give it a chance...
That Audrey had quite a time trying to film the now famous opening scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in which her character stands before Tiffany's, sipping coffee and eating a pastry. Audrey hated pastries! She even suggested eating an ice cream cone instead, but Blake Edwards (the director) finally coaxed her into eating the pastry, and she did it beautifully.
When Stanley Donen, the director of "Charade", first told Cary Grant about a new film he was going to make called "Charade", Grant immediately said, "I'll do it if you get Audrey Hepburn the play opposite me". Donen went to Audrey, and without even so much as looking at the script, she agreed.
Donen, Grant and Hepburn met up a short time later in Paris over dinner to discuss their upcoming project. Audrey was slightly nervous; she was meeting Cary Grant after all. Grant obviously sensed this. He asked Audrey to pass him the bottle of red wine they had ordered and when she did, she accidentally bumped her glass and it's contents went all over the table as well as Cary Grant's white suit. Audrey was mortified and completely embarrassed. Grant merely laughed it off. This pretty much broke the ice and the two became great friends.
That Audrey's son Sean Ferrer (With first husband, Mel Ferrer) is also in the film business, he even co-starred with his mother in the 1981 film, "They All Laughed". Her second son, Luca Dotti (With second husband Dr. Andrea Dotti) is an artist.
That the producers of the 1977 film, "The Turning Point" originally wanted Audrey and Grace Kelly to star in the lead roles (Which later went to Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft). Wouldn't that match have been divine?! (note : Audrey turned down the role to raise her sons. Kelly turned it down to become a Princess = )
That when Audrey first became famous, Hollywood producers wanted her to change her last name, so as not to cause any confusion with Katherine Hepburn, but Audrey said no. It was her name, period.
Audrey's costar, Richard Dreyfuss in the 1989 film, "Always" tells a story of how he and Stephen Spielberg and the rest of the film's producers were sitting around, trying to figure out who would be 'angelic' enough to play Hap. Spielberg said, "Audrey Hepburn" and everyone in the room at once dreamily sighed "Yeah."
Audrey is pretty much the only celebrity (that I know of, at least) who's career was not shrouded with controversy. In fact, the only harsh word ever spoken of her was from Roald Dahl (husband of Patricia Neal, Audrey's co-star from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") who was upset because Audrey had forgotten to mention she was taking the place of Neal at an Oscars ceremony during her time on stage (quite by accident I am sure.)
Audrey's Religious and Personal Beliefs:
As for personal and religious beliefs, I've read that her Mom was a Christian Scientist, though Audrey herself wasn't. Walker mentions in his bio that she was Calvinist... or at least raised like one. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but think Paris in his bio said she was Episcopalian. Whichever, she was a Protestant Christian. And she also said something in Paris' bio that she had no religion except a belief in nature. A belief that if you walk outside on a clear cool day among the flowers and let nature's beauty reach your heart, that you could put everything into perspective. Audrey believed in God. She was very spiritual. There were also rumors after "The Nun's Story" that she was going to become Catholic to which she responded that she was staying Protestant. She also had her children baptized... she obviously had a religious base (at least back then) besides just a belief in nature. She may have walked away from it later in life or just didn't want to talk about it. Walker in his bio says she was more about conscience than dogma... sounds kind of like Sister Luke to me. :^)
Audrey's Favorite Actors/Films/Musicians...
In these aspects, Audrey was very private, thus making it difficult to find any definate answers. But I have found that she admired the likes of Maurice Chevalier and Julia Roberts acting wise, and movie wise, she was quite fond of the 1985 Harrison Ford film, "Witness". In fact, in Barry Paris' biography, Robert Wolder recalls that just before she died, she said she saw visions of Amish people, working in the fields, like a scene from "Witness," she loved that movie, he said.
Her favorite musicians are anyone's guess, but I think it's safe to say she was quite fond of Henry Mancini, :^) She did, however adore jazz. "I like jazz best now," she said. "It makes me want to move. But I was stiff as a poker as a jazz dancer, always off beat on the simplest syncopation. That was all gradually broken down. I'm so lucky to be married to Mel Ferrer, who is such a good dancer and adores jazz."
Linguistically Lyrical :
Audrey was actually quite fluent in several languages, including English, French, Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish. Wow, right?! I'm still dealing with English! (ha ha! lol)
Humphrey Bogart never really liked Audrey. During the filming of "Sabrina" he called her "a rank amateur that needed a dozen takes!" Of course, his comments could also be attributed to the fact that he was angry at the producers for choosing Audrey as the lead instead of his wife, Lauren Bacall.
While Audrey was filming "Sabrina", Billy Wilder sent Audrey to Paris to get several stylish and sophisticated designer Parisian originals to help her fit into the part better. At the time, Ms. Hepburn was not exactly "world renowned" and so when Hubert de Givenchy heard that the great film star, Ms. Katherine Hepburn was to pay his shop a visit, he was absolutely ecstatic! Imagine his surprise when he opens his door only to find skinny little doe-eyed Audrey standing there. Needless to say, he was very disappointed and told her he was far too busy to design something for her and she should "Choose something off the rack". While Audrey was browsing, they became engrossed in a conversation and before he knew it, Givenchy was entirely under her spell! They remained great friends and in fact, Hubert was one of Audrey's closest confidants until her death in 1993.
Roman Holiday: the two main parts were originally intended for Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor.
In Roman Holiday, the scene where the Audrey Hepburn says goodbye to Joe (Gregory Peck), Hepburn couldn't produce the necessary tears, causing director William Wyler to complain at the number of wasted takes. She then burst into tears and the scene was filmed successfully. Many thanks to Becky for submitting the two bits of "Roman Holiday" trivia!
The only thing in life Audrey felt sure about was having children and being a mother. While trying for, what was eventually Sean she went through 2 miscarriages. After that she was on the set of A Nun's Story in Africa and decided that if God wanted her to have a child she would. After realizing this she found out she was pregnant with Sean. Thanks Lauren!
Also, her pregnancy with Luca kept her in bed for the last 6 months. She stayed in bed so that she would not lose her baby. Thanks Lauren!
The name, "Audrey" actually mean "Of noble strength" and "Regal". How fitting, = )
In Rome, the day of her death, many people brought flowers near the river Tevere where the scene from "Roman Holiday" when Audrey and Gregory danced was filmed. Thanks Luca!
Marilyn Monroe is infamous for singing to president Kennedy on his birthday in 1962, but most people do not know that Audrey Hepburn serenaded John F. Kennedy with her rendition of "Happy Birthday Mr. President" on his final birthday in 1963. Thanks Shelby!
Audrey "died" three weeks after she was born. She had a terrible whooping cough, and when her heart stopped, her mother reanimated it by spanking her. Audrey's son Sean Ferrer later related that this "had an effect on her whole life, as if she'd been given a second chance." Thanks Manuella & Paige!
Audrey's father walked out on their family when Audrey was six, leaving them with no idea where he was headed. Audrey later related it to be "the most traumatic event in my life." Thanks Manuella!
During WWII, Audrey suffered from asthma, jaundice and other diseases due to malnutrition, including anemia and severe edema. Thanks Manuella!
Remember Audrey's phrase "Eu acho que você está gostando do açougueiro" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's"? In that scene she was listening to Portuguese which is not from Brazil (where her character was intending to move). And despite this she did it with a Brazilian brogue (São Paulo). Thanks Manuella!
Audrey's first grandchild was born just after she passed on. Sean named her 'Emma Audrey' after his mother.
As far as anyone knows, Audrey was not anorexic! This is a common misconception due to her thinness, but please consider these facts before making rude asumptions: First of all, Audrey was trained as a ballet dancer, and therefore always held the figure and strict habits of a dancer. Secondly, she grew up during the holocaust! As a child, she was extremely malnourished. She once had to eat tulip bulbs to stay alive! And lastly, genetics. Audrey had a long string of very thin ancestors!
During the filming of Roman Holiday, William Wyler wanted to put Audrey to the "ultimate Hollywood test". He had informed the camera man to keep the film rolling once she thought she was done. During the scene where the princess flings herself to the bed, Audrey was told she could relax and go home. But still she stayed. "I didn't hear anyone say, 'Cut!'. Only one man has the right to say that and I will not move untill I hear him." Audrey was a success, and no wonder Wyler loved her. She was the perfect actress. Thanks Eliza!
Katherine Hepburn and Audrey may have been distantly related because they each had a great great grandfather named James, but James was a very common name at the time. Thanks (again) Eliza!
Audrey was offered the part of the Empress Alexandra in the 1970s film, "Nicholas and Alexandra," but turned it down because she wished to stay home with her children. Thanks Kathi!
Audrey was introduced to Mel Ferrer by Gregory Peck, who was a great friend of both. Thanks Manuella!
Audrey had loved children since she was a child, so when she was very small, everytime she went out with her mother if she ever saw a baby, she would hover around it in awe. Her mother was very shy with this and often had to pry Audrey away from the baby carriage. Thanks Manuella!
After her dear dog “Mr. Famous” died, Mel Ferrer gave her another Yorkshire. Thanks Manuella!
Audrey's idea of a perfect evening? She loved to take an evening walk with her 3 dogs and watching some television and go to bed early. Thanks Manuella!
Audrey loved sour apples! She would always eat them after dinner as a dessert.
Audrey's Salary for :
My Fair Lady - $ 1.1 million
The Unforgiven - $200,000
War and Peace - $130,000
Sabrina - $15,000