AUDREY HEPBURN
Welcome to a tribute to award-winning actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, our huckleberry friend and a commanding force of elegance and compassion.
THE PEOPLE
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
- Audrey Hepburn
FAMILY HISTORY
Maternal Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Count
Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp
27 Oct 1762 – 05 Aug 1834
b Rotterdam, Netherlands
d The Hague, Netherlands
◦ married to Hester Clifford ◦ m. 1789 until her death in 1823, 10 children
◦ founder of the first Dutch Constitution
◦ in 1812 created a precursor of the Constitution of 1814
◦ in 1813 Oct played a decisive role during the revolt
◦ in 1813 Nov restored the Dutch independence
◦ linguist English, French, Dutch, Latin and Greek
◦ met and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson
◦ met George Washington at Mount VernonMaternal Great-Great Grandfather, Count
Dirk van Hogendorp
8 Dec 1797 – 18 March 1845
b Amsterdam, Netherlands
d The Hague, Netherlands
◦ married to Marianne Cathérine jonkvrouw van Hogendorp, his first cousin
◦ studied law in Leiden University
◦ graduated with Doctor iuris utriusque in both criminal and civil law
◦ great-great-grandfather of Audrey through his oldest daughter Caroline (1831-1913)
GRANDPARENTS
Maternal Grandfather, Baron
Aarnoud Jan Anne Aleid van Heemstra
22 July 1871 – 30 Dec 1957
b Vreeland, Netherlands
d Oosterbeek, Netherlands
◦ born into a aristocratic family of Frisian origin
◦ earned a law degree from Utrecht University in 1896
◦ mayor of arnhem from 1910 to 1920
◦ governor of suriname from 1921 to 1928, appointed by Queen WilhelminaMaternal Grandmother. Baroness
Elbrig Willemine Henriette van Asbeck
15 July 1873 – 28 March 1939
b Stad Almelo, Netherlands
d Oosterbeek, Netherlands
◦ granddaughter of jurist Dirk van HogendorpPaternal Grandfather
Victor John George Ruston
12 Aug 1864 – 1940
b Vienna, Austria
d London, EnglandPaternal Grandmother
Anna Juliana Franziska Carolina Wels Ruston
23 July 1868 – 1889
b Kovarce, Nitriansky kraj, Slovakia
d Central Bohemia, Czechia
PARENTS
Mother, Baroness
Ella van Heemstra
12 June 1900 – 26 Aug 1984
b Velp, Netherlands
d Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ first husband is Jonkheer Hendrik Gustaaf Adolf Quarles van Ufford m. 11 March 1920 div. 1925, two sons: Alexander and Ian
◦ second husband is Joseph Victor Anthony Hepburn-Ruston m. 24 Sept 1926 in Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies div. 24 June 1939, one daughter Audrey
◦ in the early 1960s she lived in Los Angeles with her friend Leonard Gershe, who is the screenwriter of Audrey's movie Funny Face
◦ in the 70s, Ella lived in San Francisco and volunteered to help American soldiers that were coming back from Vietnam
◦ in the last few years of her life, she lived in La Paisible until her death. Audrey was thankful that she was able to care for her mother towards the end of her life
◦ she was buried in her childhood home of Huis Doom, NetherlandsFather, Banker
Joseph Victor Anthony Hepburn-Ruston
21 Nov 1889 – 16 Oct 1980
b Uzice, Central Bohemia, Czechia
d Dublin, Ireland
◦ half brother is William Victor Fitzgerald Ruston, same father
◦ first wife is Cornelia Wilhelmina Bisschop div. 1926
◦ second wife is Ella van Heemstra m. 24 Sept 1926 div. 24 June 1939
◦ third wife is Fidelma Alice Walshe m. 25 May 1950 until his death
◦ the last time she saw her father as a child was in 1939 when he put her on the airplane to fly to Holland, Sean shared. “[She] was never able to let go of her emotions or find peace within herself. She was truly scared on some level. The abandonment of her father was a wound that never truly healed. She never really trusted that love would stay.”
◦ reunited with his daughter in mid-August of 1964 in Dublin, Ireland
◦ favorite role of Audrey's is Eliza Dolittle in My Fair LadyThough Audrey's parents loved her, they did not know how to be affectionate physically or emotionally; the lack of parental love made her insecure almost throughout her life. However, perhaps unbeknownst to Audrey, her parents discreetly celebrated their daughter's success. Ella van Heemstra had dreams, and her daughter fulfilled them for her: "I grew up wanting more than anything else to be English, slim, and an actress." Before Joseph reunited with his daughter, he would watch her films in the theater. "He loved them all [but] thought her the most beautiful thing in the world," his wife, Fidelma, shared. Audrey believed her father was emotionally inept; he could not express himself properly; instead, he spoke to Audrey's partner, Robert Wolders, and let his sentiments be known."It was very odd, because he was on his deathbed. Audrey went in to see him, came out very disheartened, and said that 'he really had nothing to say.' And then he asked to see me. And then, this is so miraculous, he proceeded to talk to me about Audrey [and] how proud he was of her, and he knew, of course, that I was the conduit and that I would tell her later on, which I am more than happy to do."
SIBLINGS
Brother
Arnoud Robert Alexander Quarles van Ufford
05 Dec 1920 – 18 June 1979
b Batavia, Indonesia
d San Pedro Alcántara, Spain
◦ father is Hendrik Gustaaf Adolf Quarles van Ufford mother is Ella van Heemstra
◦ married to Maria Margaretha Monné until his passing on June 18, 1979
◦ two children Michael and Evelyn
◦ did not maintain much relations with Ian or Audrey
◦ lived in Japan, mostlyBrother, Executive for Unilever Corporation
Ian Edgar Bruce Quarles van Ufford
27 Aug 1924 – 27 April 2010
b Batavia, Java, Indonesia
d Lima, Provincia de Lima, Lima, Peru
◦ father is Hendrik Gustaaf Adolf Quarles van Ufford mother is Ella van Heemstra
◦ married to Yvonne Scholtens m. Nov 1951 until her passing in March 26th, 2000
◦ three children Audrey Yvonne, Sandra, and Andrew
◦ very close to his sister Audrey throughout their entire lifeAudrey described them as her brothers, never "half."
AUNTS AND UNCLES
Maternal Aunt, Baroness
Wilhelmina Cornelia van Heemstra, "Aunt Meisje"
22 Jan 1897 – 10 July 1987
b Renkum, Gelderland, Netherlands
d Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ sister of Audrey's mother, Ella van Heemstra
◦ married to Graaf Otto Ernst Gelder van Limburg Stirum on September 5th, 1918 in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands
◦ given plenty of affection to little AudreyMaternal Uncle, Graaf, Lawyer
Otto Ernst Gelder van Limburg Stirum, "Uncle Otto"
13 Apr 1893 – 15 Aug 1942
b Renkum, Renkum Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands
d Gorp, Hilvarenbeek Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
◦ husband of Audrey's aunt, Wilhelmina Cornelia van Heemstra
◦ executed for resistance activities on August 15th, 1942Maternal Aunt, Baroness
Geraldine Carolina van Heemstra
30 April 1898 – 8 Nov 1965
b Rheden, Gelderland, Netherlands
d Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
◦ sister of Audrey's mother, Ella van Heemstra
◦ served as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Juliana of the Netherlands before and during World War IIMaternal Aunt, Baroness
Marianne Jacqueline van Heemstra
22 Oct 1903 – 23 Nov 1991
b Roermond, Limburg, Netherlands
d Oenkerk, Friesland, Netherlands
◦ sister of Audrey's mother, Ella van HeemstraMaternal Uncle, Baron
Willem Hendrik Johan van Heemstra
27 March 1907 – 09 Aug 1978
b Roermond, Limburg, Netherlands
d Watford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
◦ brother of Audrey's mother, Ella van Heemstra
◦ registered for military services in 1927
◦ married to Toby Barbara Bennie on 22 October 1951, in Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South AfricaPaternal Uncle
William Victor Fitzgerald Ruston
18 Dec 1901 – 05 March 1984
b Bohemia, Austria
d Worthing, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom
◦ half-brother of Audrey's father, Joseph Victor Anthony Hepburn-Ruston
◦ father is Victor John George Ruston mother is Barbara Victoria Belha
STEPPARENT
Paternal Stepmother
Alice Fidelma Walshe Hepburn-Donnelly
31 May 1926 – 09 Feb 2019
b Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland
d Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
◦ first husband is Joseph Victor Anthony Hepburn-Ruston m. 25 May 1950 until his death
◦ second husband is Henry Noel “Harry” Donnelly m. 1991 until his death in 2007
◦ generous parcel from Audrey, "She sent over one of her beautiful Givenchy suits–they cost hundreds of pounds then, thousands now, of course–and a tweed coat. Unfortunately, they were all too small for me to wear and, as they were couture creations, couldn't be altered. So, apart from being beautiful to look at, I had to tell Audrey they weren't very practical."
◦ was financially taken care of until Joseph's passing, "Are you all right?" Audrey asked Fidelma. She replied, "Yes." The monthly contributions stopped arriving at the Ballsbridge dwelling place.
◦ in 1999, Audrey's sons invited Fidelma to a charity dinner in Geneva for The Audrey Hepburn Foundation
FIRST MARRIAGE: THE FERRERS
First Husband, Actor, Rancher
Melchior Gastón Ferrer, “Mel Ferrer"
25 Aug 1917 – 02 June 2008
b Elberon, New Jersey, United States
d Santa Barbara, California, United States
◦ first wife is Frances Gunby Pilchard m. 23 Oct 1937 div. Nov 1941
◦ second wife is Barbara Channing Tripp m. 1942 div. 1943
◦ third wife (re-marry) is Frances Gunby Pilchard m. 1943 div. 19 Dec 1953
◦ fourth wife is Audrey Hepburn m. 25 Sept 1954 div. 05 Dec 1968
◦ fifth wife is Elizabeth "Lisa" Soukhotine m. 18 Feb 1971 until his death
◦ first impression was in the film theater where Audrey watched Lili three times
◦ she personally asked Gregory Peck to introduce them
◦ met in-person at Gregory Peck's flat in London in May 31st, 1953
◦ she always told Sean, "Your father was the producer of my career"
◦ his immeasurable influence in her great career, Sean shared. "If you look at her body of work and how he organized it, her short career of seventeen films lasted from 1953 till 1966—those are the years that they were married. And look where we are today, we’re still talking about her. My father had a vision and had a fantastic taste, also from a literary standpoint. He was educated, he went to Princeton University, he understood literature, he understood the value of good material, and he knew how to produce: you need and the best writer and the best director and the best makeup man and the best cameraman and this and that to create something that is perfect."
◦ after divorce, Audrey almost completely closed Mel from her life except for Sean's wedding in 1985Learn more with what happened to his life after they divorced.First Son, Film Producer, Author
Sean Hepburn Ferrer
17 July 1960
b Lucerne, Switzerland
◦ married to Karin Hepburn Ferrer
◦ three children including daughter Emma Kathleen Hepburn Ferrer and two sons
◦ her priority has always been her children, "My mother stopped working when I had to go to school, so I didn’t grow up with a famous mother. She gave up her career to be a full-time mother. She always woke me up in the morning, made me breakfast and took me to school. She never made a big deal about it, and I never thought I was a big deal. In other words, I grew up in a normal family."
◦ a deep bond they shared: "We had a wonderful relationship, not just as mother and son, but we also had a great friendship."
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him Bulgari gold and diamond earrings, gift of his father on his birth. She wore these earrings many times, even after their divorce.
◦ author of Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit, Little Audrey's Daydream with Karin Hepburn Ferrer, Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography with Wendy HoldenSean maintains the estate, curated exhibitions such as Timeless Audrey and Intimate Audrey, and worked on a 2020 documentary Audrey. He also co-produced a musical Buscando a Audrey in Madrid, Spain.A special appearance of Sean and his daughter Emma in Vogue Philippines, announcing Intimate Audrey in Manila, Philippines. The exhibition ran from August 1 to October 29, 2023. More details here: a brunch with Vogue and a look inside the exhibit.Stepdaughter
Pepa Phillippa Ferrer
19 Aug 1941
b New York City, United States
◦ mother is Frances Gunby Pilchard (Mel's first wife, div. Nov 1941)Stepdaughter, Artist
Mela Chucha Ferrer
22 Jan 1943
b Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ mother is Barbara Tripp (Mel's second wife, m. 1942 div. 1943)Stepson, Importer/Exporter
Christopher Ferrer
04 Feb 1944
b Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ mother is Barbara TrippStepson, English Professor at UCSB, Rancher
Mark Young Ferrer
19 June 1944
b Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ mother is Frances Gunby Pilchard (re-married the second time in 1943, div. Dec 1953 after Mel and Audrey fell in love during the production of Ondine)
◦ worked on the ranch with his father Mel
SECOND MARRIAGE: THE DOTTIS
Second Husband, Psychiatrist and Professor
Andrea Paolo Mario Dotti
18 March 1938 – 30 Sept 2007
b Naples, Campania, Italy
d Rome, Lazio, Italy
◦ m. 18 Jan 1969 div. 21 Sept 1982
◦ first met Audrey when he was a young boy of fourteen–during the filming of Roman Holiday, he walked up to Audrey and shook her hand
◦ upon meeting in a Greek cruise ship, Audrey did not expect to fall in love: “It just happened… out of the blue. He was such an enthusiastic, cheerful person, which I found very attractive.”
◦ occurring infidelity on his part played a huge role to the demise of their marriage
◦ maintained a friendship after divorceLearn more with what happened to his life after Audrey's passing.Second Son, Graphic Designer
Luca A. Dotti
08 Feb 1970
b Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ married to Domitilla Bertusi
◦ three children, a son and two daughters
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him Bulgari pearls and diamonds earrings
◦ author of Audrey in Rome with Sciascia Gambaccini, Audrey at Home: Memories of My Mother's Kitchen with Luigi Spinola
◦ contributed to Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen, Warrior: Audrey Hepburn by Robert Matzen, Audrey Hepburn in Paris with Meghan Friedlander of Rare Audrey HepburnLuca maintains his mother's estate, and continues to contribute to her legacy, especially in book publishing. He made television appearances where he shared stories about his mother: La Volta Buona televised on February 4th, 2024, discussing a illustrated biography of his mother, and a podcast promoting Audrey in Paris with Meghan Friedlander.
PARTNER
Partner, Spiritual Husband, Actor, Investor
Robert Wolders
28 Sept 1936 – 12 July 2018
b South Holland, Netherlands
d Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ together in 1980 until her death on 20 Jan 1993
◦ he refused Audrey's offer to be executive of her estate, truly loved her for her
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him two silver candlesticksLearn more with what happened to his life after Audrey's passing.
CONFIDANTES & CLOSE FRIENDS
Founder of Givenchy, Fashion Designer
Hubert de Givenchy
20 Feb 1927 – 10 March 2018
b Beauvais, France
d Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
◦ partner is Philippe Venet until his death
◦ first met in Paris at his atelier in 1953, near Parc Monceau
◦ collaborated with Audrey in Sabrina, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, Paris When It Sizzles, How to Steal a Million, Bloodline, and Love Among Thieves as well as to many film premieres and important events
◦ a beautiful relationship: "Little by little, our friendship grew and with it a confidence in each other. There [was never] any criticism of the other person, no upsets"
◦ his relationship with Audrey to one another "was a kind of marriage"
◦ the executor of Audrey's estate in Paris, he refused any compensation from her estate, a reflection of Audrey's refusal to be paid for promoting his work
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him two Russian iconsDoyenne of Dior Homewares
Doris Kleiner Brynner
13 Aug 1931 – 01 Feb 2025
b Zagreb, Croatia
d Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ husband Yul Brynner m. 31 March 1960 div. 1967
◦ only child is Victoria Brynner
◦ first met at Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh's 10th wedding anniversary party on Sunday, June 4, 1961, in Hollywood
◦ after divorcing Yul, Doris and her daughter moved in with Audrey, and it was Audrey who convinced her to stay in Switzerland. Later in the early 70s, Audrey helped Doris find land that is a few minutes from La Paisible, and from there, Doris built her house: "We lived more than twenty years within sight distance, just above her. She'd come up, or I'd go down for walks with the dogs. The prime time was to have a plate of spaghetti and chat, just the two of us."
◦ her daughter Victoria remembered: "My mother and Audrey Hepburn loved the simple life: gardening, going to the local market without makeup, eating pasta."
◦ personality best described as by Victoria: "My mother is determined, engaging, fun, critical at times, very precise, relentless, committed, and a great friend."
◦ in June 2024, Doris replied to a comment about Audrey: "She was the BEST in every way! My best friend for many many years, living 5 mts away. The bad thing she ever did, was, leaving us much too soon..... ❤️😍❤️"
◦ Square is Doris' nickname for Audrey
◦ gatekeeper of secrets very protective of Audrey and Elizabeth Taylor
◦ in 1970, she established a boutique called The Veranda in Gstaad and Geneva
◦ head special client relations for Valentino in the 70s
◦ head of dior maison for nearly twenty years since 1997
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her Bulgari emeralds and sapphires brooch and earringsLearn more about Doris Brynner with Rare Audrey Hepburn's Meghan Friedlander tribute and recollection of their phone conversation.Beverly Hills Hostess, Model
Constance Emily Salkin, “Connie Wald”
13 Aug 1916 – 10 Nov 2012
b Parkersburg, WV, United States
d Beverly Hills, California, United States
◦ first husband Jerry Wald m. 25 Dec 1941 until his death 13 July 1962
◦ second husband Dr. Myron Prinzmetal but divorced
◦ two sons with Jerry Wald: Robert and Andrew
◦ met through their husbands, Jerry Wald worked with Mel Ferrer
◦ home has an upstairs bedroom called Audrey's room or Audrey's suite
◦ exclusively stays at Connie's whenever she's in Los Angeles, California
◦ nicknames for each other are Ruby for Audrey and Con for ConnieActress, Model
Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre, “Capucine”
06 Jan 1928 – 17 March 1990
b Saint-Raphaël, Var, France
d Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ husband Pierre Trabaud m. 1950 8 months later div. 1950
◦ first met Audrey through Hubert de Givenchy in the early 1950
◦ mutual friends with Hubert de Givenchy, Connie Wald, and Robert Wagner
◦ attended parties with Audrey (and sometimes Mel) and visited her on set
◦ spent Christmas at La Paisible, Sean Hepburn Ferrer recalled: "Her good friend Capucine, who was a famous Givenchy and Valentino model in the ’50s, would come..."
◦ was saved by Audrey and Robert Wolders from overdose
◦ cremated and ashes scattered in Givenchy's garden, which she lovedFormer UNICEF Executive
Christa Roth
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her a platinum, brooch by Tiffany with one pearl and two diamonds
NIECES, NEPHEWS, GODDAUGHTERS
Niece, Goddaughter
Audrey Yvonne Quarles van Ufford
10 May 1954
b Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
◦ father is Audrey's brother Ian Quarles van Ufford mother is Yvonne Scholtens
◦ trips to Paris with Audrey and other places
◦ attended Luca's christening
◦ describing her aunt Audrey, “She was very generous, Audrey, very generous, extremely generous. When you’d see her it was like a party. It was always wonderful to see her—there was nothing better.”
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her an old brooch, in the form of a W (from her grandmother), in diamondsLearn more with Robert Matzen's interview with Audrey Yvonne.Niece
Sandra Claire Quarles van Ufford
15 Oct 1958
b s-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
◦ father is Audrey's brother Ian Quarles van Ufford mother is Yvonne Scholtens
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her a pearl solitaire ringNephew
Andrew Ian Quarles van Ufford
06 Jan 1967
b Versailles, Île-de-France, France
◦ father is Audrey's brother Ian Quarles van Ufford mother is Yvonne Scholtens
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him two silver candlesticks (from his grandmother)Nephew
Michael Allan Quarles van Ufford
17 Jul 1945
b Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands
◦ father is Audrey's brother Arnold Robert Alexander Quarles van Ufford mother is Maria Margaretha Monné
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him a small oil painting, with butterfly (from his grandmother)Niece
Evelyn Joye Quarles van Ufford
02 Aug 1947
b Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
◦ father is Audrey's brother Arnold Robert Alexander Quarles van Ufford mother is Maria Margaretha Monné
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her a pearl necklace and sapphire fastenerFounder of Stardust Brands, Goddaughter
Victoria Brynner
05 Nov 1962
b Switzerland
◦ father is actor Yul Brynner mother is Doris Brynner
◦ photojournalist for Audrey's UNICEF trips
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her a Tiffany (Schlumberger) small flower, diamonds and platinum, brooch
◦ published Yul Brynner: A Photographic Journey
LA PAISIBLE FAMILY
Head Housekeeper, Head Cook
Giovanna Orunesu
b Sardinia
◦ hired in the early 1960s
◦ employed as the nanny, governess, and driver
◦ in charge of getting groceries
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her $25,000 and Tiffany earrings and pearl solitaire and small diamond soliatire
◦ passed away a few months after Audrey diedHead Cook
Tina Orunesu
b Sardinia
◦ hired with sister Giovanna Orunesu in the early 1960s
◦ she left in the mid 1970s after she marriedHousekeeper, Cook
Engracia de la Rocha
b Toledo, Spain
◦ hired in the mid 1960s
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her $25,000Groundskeeper, Gardener, Driver
Giovanni Orunesu
b Sardinia
◦ brother of head housekeeper Giovanna
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed him $25,000Managed La Paisible, Cook
Rochita Orunesu
◦ wife of groundskeeper Giovanni
◦ in Audrey's will, she bequeathed her $25,000Orunesu Children
Pierluigi and Marilena are siblings and children of Giovanni and RucchitaPierluigi's godfather is Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey's first son, and he contributed to the 2020 documentary, Audrey. He maintains his Instagram account dedicated to Audrey and his life in La Paisible.
PERSONAL STAFF
Nanny
Greta Hanley
◦ personal nanny to little Audrey in the early 1930s
◦ reunited on 30 September of 1988 in Dublin, IrelandHead Cook
Florida Broadway
◦ first hired in California during My Fair Lady
◦ recommended by Leonard Gershe, writer of Funny Face
◦ traveled and lived with the Ferrers for two yearsNanny
Gina
◦ first nanny for Sean Hepburn Ferrer
◦ spoke exclusively Italian with the FerrersNanny
Jolanda de Mattei
◦ nanny for Luca DottiDriver
Franco
◦ family driver in Italy
AGENTS AND PR
Theatrical Producer, MCA Talent Agency
Jack Lawson Dunfee
19 Oct 1901 – 13 Sept 1975
b Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom
d Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, United KingdomHollywood Agent
Kurt Frings
1909 – 29 Aug 1991
b SwitzerlandPublic Relations, Rogers and Cowan
Henry C. Rogers
19 April 1914 – 28 April 1995
b Irvington, New Jersey, United States
d Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ fired for creating a compensation contract with Givenchy without Audrey knowing, both remained good relations after–never bringing up the perfume incident again
BALLET EDUCATION
Ballet Teacher
Winja Marova
◦ first ballet lessons with Audrey from 1941 to mid-1944 at the Arnhem Conservatory
◦ referred her to Sonia Gaskell in 1945Dance Director, Choreographer
Sonia Gaskell
14 April 1904 – 09 July 1974
b Vilkaviškis, Lithuania
d Paris, France
◦ educated Audrey in Amsterdam from 1945 to 1948
◦ recommended Audrey to audition for RambertDance Teacher, Dance, Pedagogue, Ballerina
Cyvia Rambam, "Dame Marie Rambert"
20 Feb 1888 – 12 June 1982
b Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
d London, England
◦ an offer was accepted from Audrey to attend the Marie Rambert School of Ballet in 1948
◦ advised Audrey to give up the dream of being a ballerina due to her height and muscle development that resulted from the lack of nutrition caused by war.
◦ during the filming of Love in the Afternoon, Audrey would take an hour of ballet lessons with Rambert
DANCING COACH
Ballet Coach, Choreographer, Dancer
Lucien Legrand
◦ employed at the Paris Opera Ballet
◦ trained and practiced dance rehearsals with Audrey in Funny faceChoreographer, Dancer
Katherine Mary Dunham
22 June 1909 – 21 May 2006
b Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States
d New York City, United States
◦ coached Audrey in Green Mansions for the rite-of-passage ceremonyChoreographer, Dancer
Hermes Joseph Panagiotopoulos, "Hermes Pan"
10 Dec 1909 – 19 Sept 1990
b Memphis, Tennessee, United States
d Beverly Hills, California, United States
◦ coached Audrey in My Fair Lady
ACTING COACH
Stage Actor
Sir Felix Edward Aylmer Jones, "Felix Aylmer"
21 Feb 1889 – 02 Sept 1979
b Corsham, Wiltshire, England
d Pyrford, Surrey, EnglandStage and Film Actress
Kathleen Mary Nesbitt, "Cathleen Nesbitt"
24 Nov 1888 – 02 Aug 1982
b Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
d London, England
◦ co-starred and coached Audrey in Gigi on BroadwayStage and Film Actress
Laura Constance Hardie, "Constance Collier"
22 Jan 1878 – 25 April 1955
b Windsor, Berkshire, England
d New York City, United States
SINGING & VOCAL COACH
Actress, Singer, Author
Catherine Louise Fink, "Kay Thompson"
09 Nov 1909 – 02 July 1998
b St. Louis, Missouri, United States
d New York City, United States
◦ co-starred and coached Audrey in Funny FaceActress, Singer, Author
Susan "Sue" Seton
1906 – 30 Dec 1991
b Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
d New York City, United States
◦ coached Audrey in My Fair LadyProfessor of Phonetics at University of California (UCLA)
Peter Nielsen Ladefoged
17 Sept 1925 – 24 Jan 2006
b Sutton, London, England
d London, England
◦ cockney lessons with Audrey for My Fair Lady
MAKEUP AND HAIR
Makeup Artist
Alberto de Rossi
1917 – 13 March 1975
b Rome, Italy
◦ collaborates with his wife, Grazia de Rossi, who was a hairdresser
◦ worked and supervised Audrey's makeup in Roman Holiday, War and Peace, The Nun's Story, Charade, How to Steal a Million, and Two for the Road
◦ traveled with Audrey and Mel to work on film locations, events, and photoshootsHairstylist
Grazia de Rossi
◦ worked on Audrey's hair in War and Peace, The Nun's Story, How to Steal a Million, and ◦ Two for the Road
◦ traveled with Audrey and Mel to work on film locations and eventsMakeup Artist
Walter "Wally" James Westmore
13 Feb 1906 – 03 July 1973
◦ worked and supervised Audrey's makeup in Sabrina, Funny Face, and Breakfast at Tiffany'sHairdresser
Louis Alexandre Raimon, "Alexandre de Paris"
06 Sept 1922 – 12 Jan 2008
◦ styled Audrey's hair in many events and photoshoots
◦ created hair accessories from Audrey's hairHairdresser
Sergio Russo
◦ recommended by Alexandre de Paris when Audrey moved to Rome
◦ confided to Audrey of his depression and she arranged an appointment between him and her husband Dr. Andrea Dotti
PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographer
Pierluigi Praturlon
EXECUTIVE, LAW
Executor of the Estate of Audrey Hepburn
George MullerAttorney
Oliver Bourgeois
◦ location Lausanne, Switzerland
◦ admissions 1967, Vaud, Switzerland
◦ areas of law include arbitration, business law, corporate law, taxation, company law
◦ languages French, English, German
FASHION DESIGNERS
Founder of Maison Valentino, Fashion Designer
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani
11 May 1932 – 19 Jan 2026
b Voghera, Lombardy, Kingdom of Italy
d Rome, Lazio, ItalyFounder of Ralph Lauren Corporation, Fashion Designer
Ralph Lifshitz, "Ralph Lauren"
14 Oct 1939
b New York City, United StatesFashion Designer, Author
Jeffrey Banks
03 Nov 1955
b Washington D.C., United States
◦ worked as a design assistant for Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein
◦ had sent 25 flower specimens in a bouquet for Audrey
◦ contributed to Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Beautiful Uncertainty by Tom Santopietro
FRIENDS FROM TINSELTOWN
Actor
Eldred Gregory Peck, "Gregory Peck"
05 April 1916 – 12 June 2003
b San Diego, California, United States
d Los Angeles, California, United States
married to Veronique Peck, who was also good friends with AudreyActress, Philanthropist, Dame
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
27 Feb 1932 – 23 March 2011
b London, England
d Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ Elizabeth remembered Audrey's protectiveness, "I remember once I went to Gstaad, and we met at a mutual friend's house. And I had a new boyfriend, and she went up to him and said, 'You be very careful of my friend. If you are not nice to her or good to her, and if you don't appreciate her inner beauty, then I'm gonna come after you.' She meant it."
◦ A friend asked Audrey about stardom, "Oh, come on, I'm not a movie star. Liz Taylor is a movie star."Actor
James Maitland Stewart, "Jimmy Stewart"
20 May 1908 – 02 July 1997
b Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
d Beverly Hills, California, United StatesActor, UNICEF Ambassador
Roger George Moore
14 Oct 1927 – 23 May 2017
b Stockwell, London, England
d Crans-Montana, Switzerland
◦ recruited by Audrey to be part of UNICEF: "Audrey Hepburn originally asked me to get involved with Unicef. She was my neighbour in Switzerland; at the first press conference we did together, everyone only wanted to ask us about movies, but she wouldn't let them. She'd turn every question back to the problems facing the world's children."
◦ remembered with fondess: "She was a wonderful lady. Beautiful, elegant, refined, passionate and so very caring. She gave more of herself than you can ever imagine and touched our lives. It was awful to see her health decline and her body fail but I'm so very grateful that she changed the course of my life."Actor, UNICEF Ambassador
Peter Ustinov
16 April 1921 – 28 March 2004
b London, England
d Genolier, SwitzerlandDirector, Producer, Screenwriter
William Blake Crump, "Blake Edwards"
26 July 1922 – 15 Dec 2010
b Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
d Santa Monica, California, United StatesActress, Singer, Author
Julia Elizabeth Wells, "Julie Andrews"
01 Oct 1935
b Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
◦ taught little Luca how to whistleHusband and wife, Blake Edwards and Julie Andrews, would spend Christmas with Audrey in Gstaad, Switzerland throughout the 1970s.Film Director, Screenwriter
Samuel Wilder, "Billy Wilder"
22 June 1906 – 27 March 2002
b San Diego, California, United States
d Los Angeles, California, United States
◦ wife Audrey Young m. 1949 until his death in 2002Actress
Deborah Jane Trimmer, "Deborah Kerr"
30 Sept 1921 – 16 Oct 2007
b Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland
d Botesdale, Suffolk, England
◦ first met when they both played on Broadway, Audrey in Gigi and Deborah in Tea and SympathyActor, Photographer
Yuliy Borisovich Briner, "Yul Brynner"
11 July 1920 – 10 Oct 1985
b Vladivostok, Far Eastern Republic
d New York City, United States
◦ married to Doris Brynner, one daughter Victoria
◦ other children are Yul "Rock" Brynner, Lark Brynner, Mia and Melody
◦ he loved the duck prepared by Audrey's cook, Florida Broadway: "Once when Yul Brynner came to dinner, I made this roast duck and, oh you never heard such carrying on over a duck in all your life."Actor
Robert John Wagner Jr., "Robert Wagner"
10 Feb 1930
b Detroit, Michigan, United States
d Botesdale, Suffolk, EnglandActress
Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone, "Sophia Loren"
20 Sept 1934
b Rome, Kingdom of Italy
◦ neighbors in Switzerland
◦ after giving birth to her first child, Carlo Ponti Jr., Audrey would come over and cook pasta for herActress
Ingrid Bergman
29 Aug 1915 – 29 Aug 1982
b Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden
d London, England
◦ turned down The Nun's Story role and recommended Audrey to screenwriter Robert "Bob" AndersonActress
Leslie Claire Margaret Caron, "Leslie Caron"
01 July 1931
b Boulogne-sur-Seine, Paris, France
GOOD FRIENDS
Anna Cataldi
Tanja Star Busmann (Countess Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff)
Countess Lorian Franchetti Gaetani-Lovatelli
Nan Boissevein-Fisk
Honoria
BOYFRIENDS, LOVERS, FIANCÉE
Marcel Le Bon
James Hanson, “Jimmy”
William Holden, “Bill”
Robert Anderson, “Bob”
Albert Finney, “Abby”
Prince Alfonso de Bourbon-Dampierre
Ben Gazzara
Sources: Lives of Adventure by Robert Matzen, robertmatzen.com, April 23rd, 2021; Blindsided by Robert Matzen, robertmatzen.com, June 5th, 2019; The Sale of a Lifetime by Dana Thomas, The Style Files, June 25th, 2026; Miss Aluminum: A Memoir by Susanna Moore, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, April 14, 2020; Audrey Hepburn by Barry Paris, Penguin Publishing Group, October 29th, 1996; Audrey at Home: Memories of My Mother's Kitchen by Luca Dotti with Luigi Spinola, Harper, June 16th, 2015; Baron Aarnoud van Heemstra, Humanitarian Governor of Suriname and Grandfather of Audrey Hepburn by David P. Steensma and Robert A. Kyle, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, September 2019; From Hollywood’s Heyday to Fashion’s Inner Circle – the Life and Times of Doris Brynner by Natasha A. Fraser, Sotheby’s, January 16th, 2026; Ella van Heemstra, Time Note; Biographies / Mel Ferrer's Family, melferrer.com; Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto, Crown, October 9, 2007; In the Moment: My Life as an Actor by Ben Gazzara, Grand Central Publishing, October 3rd, 2004; Jeffrey Banks Dishes About Ralph Lauren, Audrey Hepburn and More by Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, September 19th, 2025; Portrait of the artist: Roger Moore, actor by Laura Barnett, The Guardian, November 28th, 2011; Sir Roger Moore wanted to make movie with pal Audrey Hepburn, M16, December 12th, 2009; The Fashion of Audrey: December 15, 1971 by Eduardo Sousa, The Fashion of Audrey; Rare Audrey Hepburn: January 29, 2014 by Meghan Friedlander, Rare Audrey Hepburn; Audrey: Her Real Story by Alexander Walker, St. Martin's Griffin, December 15th, 1997; EXCLUSIVE: Audrey Hepburn's will revealed! Breakfast at Tiffany's star bequeathed two Russian icons to favorite designer Givenchy and diamond brooch to Yul Brynner's daughter - but only two silver candlesticks for lover Robert Wolders by Karen Ruiz, Daily Mail UK, December 15th, 2017; Drusilla Beyfus, Hubert de Givenchy: My relationship with Audrey Hepburn was 'a kind of marriage', The Telegraph, July 11th, 2015; Paloma Simón, Victoria Brynner: "Mi madre y Audrey Hepburn amaban la vida sencilla: la jardinería, ir al mercado local sin maquillaje, comer pasta”, Revista Vanity Fair, January 29th, 2026; Sean Hepburn Ferrer on ‘Intimate Audrey’: “You walk around like it’s a personal visit and a personal experience”, November 2nd, 2019, Film Talk; Audrey Hepburn: The Return of a Superstar!, 1979, Clipping.
WITS AND GIN
"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."
- Audrey Hepburn, Vanity Fair May 1991
ROME – Audrey Hepburn has learned to cook in five languages, but her favorite recipes are still those from her native Holland. “The Dutch treat that is a real treat to me is a bowl of good, filling Dutch soup with sausages swimming in it,” she said, closing her eyes like a child recalling remembered goodies.Audrey, who recently has been filming “The Nun’s Story” in Rome, explained that to her and her countrymen the expression “Dutch treat” has nothing to do with who pays the bill. To really “go Dutch” is to do something some very substantial eating.THE PRINCIPAL meal is at night and may start with oysters, mussels, herring or a thick soup. The Dutch pride themselves on heavy meat and chicken dishes, and have a deserved reputation for the best gravies in the world.The cheese course is a ritual with Edam, Leiden, Gouda and Alkmaar among the favorites. Then comes a pudding dessert, fruit and tea or coffee.Audrey is disappointed that her American husband, Mel Ferer, does not share her enthusiasm for the Dutch dessert called Gort met Preinen.When Audrey cooks Dutch style, these are some of her favorite recipes.
GORT MET PRUIMEN
Audrey: “It’s a wonderful porridge of groats with stewed prunes on it. Maybe you have to grow up with a dessert like that to appreciate it.”
ARCHIVE
The most invaluable way to discover the real Audrey Hepburn is through her letters, interviews, and articles she wrote herself, including reports from people who knew her.
ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS
WRITTEN BY AUDREY HEPBURN
MY FURRED AND FEATHERED FRIENDS
A charming story where Audrey describes her experiences working with the animals from work: Felix the monkey and the exotic birds from The Nun’s Story, Ip the muntjac from Green Mansions, as well as her very own Yorkie, Famous. 1959.
AUDREY HEPBURN'S FASHION FORMULA
In Paris, Audrey wrote about her own personal journey with fashion and her guide for wearing and buying clothes. This Week Magazine, November 11th, 1961.
THE SECRET OF MY HAPPINESS
Often private, Audrey shared intimate details of her life with husband Mel Ferrer, her son Sean, her Yorkie Famous, and life in her little cottage in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Photoplay, December 1961.
FRANKLY AND INTIMATELY
Audrey detailed when she received the call that she had won the role of Eliza Dolittle in the musical My Fair Lady. Woman’s Own, January 30th, 1965.
MY SUCCESS SECRETS
Audrey contributed a piece to the Australian magazine detailing the illustrative journey of her career. New Idea Magazine, pg. 5, July 9th, 1966.
MY FASHION TIPS
At 58 years old, Audrey dots down her golden rules of fashion, what she likes to wear at home, and her beauty secrets. New Idea Magazine, pg. 29, February 20th, 1988.
WRITTEN BY MEL FERRER
THEIR HOMES IN MALIBU AND BEVERLY HILLS
Her first husband, Mel Ferrer, reflected on his life with Audrey and spoke about their homes, the filming of The Unforgiven, and her deer companion. Architectural Digest, pg. 160, March 2006.
WRITTEN BY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO AUDREY HEPBURN
Written by Anita Loos, playwriter of Broadway's Gigi, The American Weekly, pg. 11, September 12th, 1954.
AUDREY HEPBURN'S EXQUISITE LEGACY
Written by Peter Bogdanovich, the director of They All Laughed. Premiere 1999.
AUDREY, DARLING
Written by Leslie Caron, an Actress and Friend, Vogue UK, pg. 180, April 1993.
REMEMBERING AUDREY
Written by Bob Willoughby, Photographer, InStyle, pg. 188, June 2002.
INTERVIEWED BY A JOURNALIST
LES CONFIDENCES D'UN COUPLE
An exclusive find from the 4May1929 collection. Conducted in French, the translated one-on-one interview with Audrey and her husband, Mel Ferrer, is a rare and honest insight into their troubled marriage. Lectures D’hui, October 10th, 1964.
AUDREY AT 50
Celebrating the big five-o, Audrey gave an exclusive on her personal style, beauty routine, and her role as Elizabeth Roffe in the thriller Bloodline. Woman’s Own, March 1979.
US INTERVIEW: AUDREY HEPBURN
A two-hour interview where Audrey discussed the war, her parents, her co-stars, her role in UNICEF, and her life with Robert Wolders. US Weekly, October 17th, 1988.
VIDEO CONTENT
DOCUMENTARIES & VIDEO ESSAYS
A list of biographic videos that explore the real-life events of Audrey Hepburn and recommended short videos that analyze a specific segment in her life.
TREASURES
Books and DVDs were the earliest acquisitions of my Audrey Hepburn collection; as years go by, I manage to add unique pieces from her official estate as well as her handwritten letters. I am immensely honored to be the caretaker of these items and to share them with fellow fans and collectors.
CHRISTIE'S
FROM THE OFFICIAL AUDREY HEPBURN ESTATE
LA GRIFFE AUSONI SHOES
The undimmed star of the collection that is protectively stored in my glass cabinet.
EMPORIO ARMANI VEST
A knitwear stitched with floral patterns that was worn on her friend’s birthday.
ENAMEL EARRINGS
Italian earrings with a centered paste with a beige enamel frame.
RED SILK CARNATION
Audrey’s love for flowers holds no bounds; it's one of my sacred treasures.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MILTON H. GREENE
A gelatin silver print from Look, a biweekly magazine that ran from 1937 to 1971.
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON PHOTOGRAPHS
A series of gelatin silver prints.
LETTERS FROM AUDREY
HANDWRITTEN IN HER USUAL TURQUOISE OR BLUE INK
CONNIE WALD
A Christmas card that she drew for UNICEF addressed to one of her best friends.
LILLIAN GISH
A two-page letter written to her co-star in the western film The Unforgiven.
RENEE JOURDE
Addressed to the salon of Givenchy, the letter is entirely in French.
GARSON KAUIU
Responding to a gift she received from a New York resident.
AUTOGRAPHS
SIGNATURES ON BOOKS, POSTCARDS, AND PHOTOS
ONDINE: A RANDOM HOUSE PLAY
Signed by Audrey Hepburn, Mel Ferrer, and almost the entire cast of the Broadway show.
GARDENS OF THE WORLD: THE ART & PRACTICE OF GARDENING
Signed by Audrey Hepburn and Penelope Hobhouse.
SIGNED PUBLICITY PHOTO
Love in the Afternoon photo signed by Audrey Hepburn and co-star Maurice Chevalier.
SIGNED ARGENTINA POSTCARD
Audrey's portrait by Bud Fraker for Paramount that was signed in the early 50s.
SIGNED POSTCARD
Audrey's portrait by Bud Fraker for Paramount that was signed on Dec 9th, 1991.
Audrey Hepburn's greatest role
By Jimmy Carter
Audrey’s greatest role by Jimmy Carter, Asbury Park Evening Press, 21 Feb 1993, pg. 47.
On a day when most of the country was riveted on the inauguration celebration in Washington, the news of her death was sobering to me and millions of others. Decades after she made the movies that immortalized her, the elegant Audrey Hepburn still claimed the affection of a nation.But there was another Audrey Hepburn, one who received only fleeting mention in most of the news accounts of her death. This Audrey, every bit as charming and ingenuous as the young woman who once captivated Hollywood, was a powerful symbol of hope for children in every part of the world.This was the Audrey Hepburn whom I knew, an eloquent commander in the war against poverty and deprivation. She is mourned not only by movie buffs and entertainers, but by the thousands of people from all walks of love who answered her call to action.It was not easy for Audrey Hepburn to assume the very public role of goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Despite her acting talent, she was nervous about speaking in public. She was a very private person who never liked to discuss her personal life, and nearing 60 at the time she became involved with UNICEF, she had been enjoying a restful retirement. Her first foray into the world of war and famine, in a visit to Ethiopia in 1988, was emotionally wrenching. It also met with some skepticism: in a book about the famine, a Washington Post reporter later referred to her as UNICEF’s “designated weeper.”But Audrey Hepburn soon proved how misleading a characterization that was. There was nothing self-seeking or fraudulent about her work with UNICEF – she simply loved children and believed in her responsibility to help them. She had grown up in war-torn Europe, surrounded by conditions similar to those of children in developing countries.Audrey Hepburn was not simply another celebrity humanitarian – she set the standard. Last year, she gave the keynote address at Brown University’s World Hunger Awards, an honor reserved for leaders in international development and nutrition. Shortly before she died, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Not long before she died, Audrey taped a television message in several languages urging factions in the former Yugoslavia to respect a cease-fire. Thanks in part to her effort, 200,000 children received medicine and blankets for the winter. She also traveled to Somalia, where she visited the most devastated areas and helped renew public outrage over the situation there.Audrey Hepburn helped shape some of the momentous events of our time, including the World Summit for Children in 1990 and the achievement of the world’s immunization goal in 1991. She was remarkably persuasive in her wholehearted belief that we would one day end the twin scourges of preventable disease and malnutrition.Now it is up to us to fulfill her vision, to give children who suffer from neglect a collective voice as resonant and powerful as Audrey’s. In countries like Somalia and the former Yugoslavia, Liberia and Cambodia, El Salvador and Mozambique, we must continue pressing for progress. We know how Audrey would have wanted us to honor her memory – not with endless good-byes, but with greater determination than ever.Our leading lady has made her exit, but the show must go on.□ Former President Jimmy Carter is chief executive officer of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga., where he is actively involved in The Task Force for Children Survival.
THE PEOPLE
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
- Audrey Hepburn