Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is timeless in her appeal to millions of movie fans and fashion followers. Ian Woodward captures Audrey's legendary public status whilst giving an insight into the trials and tribulations of her fluctuating personal life.Woodward divides his biography into five chapters, starting with "War and Peace" - a scary and brutal account of Audrey's childhood in Nazi-occupied Holland. The author reveals the awful reality that Audrey and many others faced during this time, but shows that she found dance and performance as an escape mechanism.Next, "English Rhapsody" shows Audrey developing as a ballet dancer in the United Kingdom. At this stage, the fantasy world of Hollywood movies was not even in her sights.In "Hollywood Romance", Woodward details Audrey's breakthrough into A-List movies with the classic fairy-tale "Roman Holiday" and reveals her rumoured interactions with some of her leading men, and her ill-fated marriage to Mel Ferrer. Woodward highlights that Audrey was more surprised than anyone when she broke through as an actress as she had never had an acting lesson! The author charts the development in Audrey's career including her performances in "Sabrina", "Funny Face" and "The Nun's Story", and describes how Audrey started working with Hubert de Givenchy who became her life-long friend and fashion guru."Motherhood" shows how Audrey changed her lifestyle when she became a mother, but continued to make movies, including "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "My Fair Lady". Woodward sympathetically shows how Audrey struggled to find true happiness in her personal relationships, despite motherhood and a phenomenally successful movie career.Finally, "The Eternal Phoenix" illustrates Audrey returning to Rome and marrying Andrea Dotti. Woodward paints a relatively negative picture of both of Audrey's husbands, and if half of what the author states is true, Audrey seems to have been badly let down by the men she trusted. Woodward reveals Audrey found possibly her best relationship towards the end of her life with Robert Wolders - probably the only time she was truly happy in a relationship. Also, her charitable contribution to UNICEF is documented.Woodward's biography paints a wonderful picture of Audrey - she comes alive with the energy and joie de vivre that makes her image so enduring. Throughout the book, the author successfully shows that there were two Audrey's - a glamorous screen goddess and fashion icon, but also a quiet and relatively normal wife and mother. Overall, it is a fair portrayal of the "Fair Lady of the Screen".

Thought I was going to really enjoy reading the life of one of my favourite stars. This book, however, is a bit tedious in places, and repetitive. Having said that, I learnt a lot about Audrey Hepburn that I never knew, what a strong character she was, and all she went through in the war. a reasonable read.

A beautiful book of a beautiful lady who was in possession of an even more beautiful soul. RIP to humanity`s sweet Angel & thank you for all you did & your legacy.

My friend loves this book. Another gift for her. With an iconic image of a beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Not just a talented actress, but ballerina and resistance fighter!

I read this book sometime ago so can't remember the details. However I can remember that I enjoyed reading it. It helped me know and understand Audrey H and her life, better.