On Audrey Hepburn’s Birth Anniversary, Let’s Revisit Her Best Work

The timeless star had delivered some beautiful and poignant classics in her illustrious career.

Audrey Hepburn with Gregory Peck in ‘Roman Holiday’.

(Photo: Screenshot)

The late, inimitable Audrey Hepburn would have turned 89 today. One of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses, she made a revolution not only in Hollywood’s films but also fashion. The remarkable actress passed away in 1993 but the classics that were her legacy to Hollywood and film buffs everywhere remain timeless. On her birthday, we take a look at some of her iconic, unforgettable moments.

Roman Holiday

Hepburn had already been doing minor roles in films by the time she was cast in Roman Holiday (1953). This proved to be a turnaround moment for her, garnering her Academy, BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Actress and elevating her to stardom.

The delightful pairing of Gregory Peck and a very young Hepburn made the romantic comedy a beautiful must-watch, especially against the background of Rome and its cultural and aesthetic appeal. While Hepburn’s portrayal of the crown princess frustrated with her tightly scheduled and closeted life won her awards and hearts, her on-screen romance with Peck, who played a journalist, won many sighs from the audience – both male and female.

Peck and Hepburn, in their respective roles as the man-of-the-world journalist and the sheltered princess even today make for an amazing watch. Black and white, slow and old cease to matter, even in 2018!

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

In another iconic and much quoted film even for youngsters today, Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly brought her more accolades and admiration. This was also one of her most glamorous roles, with the famous black dress and cigar-holder going on to become a rage. Remember the photo?

The film went on to become one of Hollywood’s classics and earned Hepburn another Oscar nomination, but more importantly, it gave us moments like the one where a dressed down Holly sings Moon River in a beautifully calm and at the same time emotionally powerful scene. And then who can forget the sheer joy of the scene where Holly finds her cat, even more poignant than the one with the declarations of love that preceded it!

And some more scenes that have stayed with us – the sunglasses and cab (of course!) and Holly innocently breaking into Paul’s apartment.

My Fair Lady

Of course, this has to feature in any list of Hepburn’s classics. The story of how a sophisticated and very arrogant phonetics professor teaches a poor Cockney flower-seller girl was both hilarious and poignant at the same time. With Hepburn as the poor Eliza Doolittle, struggling to speak English the way Henry Higgins says it should be spoken, the film gave us numerous laughs and some beautiful songs (remember The Rain in Spain or the marbles in the mouth?).

The budding relationship between Eliza and Henry that grew from simply a teacher-student to friends and maybe more left imprints on the mind of everyone who watched it, and the subtle humour as Eliza improves herself and becomes sophisticated gave everyone something to laugh about in the film. Remember the father who has a complete and absolute lack of morals? Or the scene where Eliza’s sophistication leads her to be declared a Hungarian princess?

Here are some laughs from the film.

Audrey may be gone, but she made sure that she won’t be forgotten with these and more timeless performances. For those who are fans, there’s a bevy of films that you’ll already know and probably revisit from time to time. And those who want to get to know her – the above ones would be a great way to start!