In honour of the actress's birthday, we take a look through the archive
Happy birthday Audrey Hepburn! The legendary actress would have been 86 today, and to celebrate everything that made her so fabulous, we've looked through the archives. Below are 10 of the less well-known images of Hepburn, from her youth in the Netherlands to her work as a humanitarian in later life.
1. On stage in Arnhem, 1943 During the Second World War, Hepburn lived with her mother in the Netherlands and attended the Arnhem Conservatory. During this time, she developed her interest in theatre and was trained in ballet.
2. At the Ciros Club In 1950, aged 21, Hepburn was photographed at London's Ciros Club with the actress Jean Bayless.
3. With her mother in 1951 Hepburn's mother was Baroness Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch aristocrat.
4. Practising ballet, 1952 Hepburn was a trained ballet dancer and danced in the 1952 film The Secret People.
5. With Bud Fraker on set, 1954 Fraker was a photographer who took promotional stills for Hollywood movies. He took the famous photos of Hepburn with a cigarette holder for Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well as photos for Sabrina (pictured).
6. With husband Mel Ferrer, 1959 Hepburn married actor Ferrer in 1954, and divorced him in 1968. She went on to have a 13-year marriage with the psychiatrist Andrea Dotti.
7. In Green Mansions, 1959 Hepburn appeared in 27 films in her lifetime. When she became a mother, she decided to concentrate more on family. Her son Sean Ferrer recently told an interviewer, 'I suppose people could blame me for ending Audrey Hepburn's career. She knew her potential. If she had kept working, the parts were there for her, and her success professionally would have continued at a high level for years. But she wanted to be with her family.'
8. On the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's is her most famous role, though author Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe for the part. He complained that Hepburn was 'grossly miscast'.
9. With baby Sean in 1961 Hepburn had a lifelong close relationship with her sons Sean and Luca. According to Luca: 'She was actually very happy about growing older because it meant more time for herself, more time for her family, and separation from the frenzy of youth and beauty that is Hollywood.'
10. Giving a UNICEF speech, 1992 Hepburn was a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in honour of her humanitarian work. She dedicated the later years of her life to helping impoverished and malnourished children.
