American director Billy Wilder once said: “God kissed Audrey Hepburn on the cheek, and there she was”, Audrey was born to be a star. She never desired to be one, but against all odds, she became one of the most beloved actresses of the 20th century, an icon of elegance, and a great humanitarian. In 1953, after appearing in William Wyler’s Roman Holiday along with Gregory Peck, for which she was awarded an Oscar for Best Actress in 1954, the door to her international career opened. Her unforgettable performance in 1962’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s showed her innocence, grace and sublime talent as well; the rest is history…

Photo © Courtesy of Sean Hepburn Ferrer

Audrey was famous for her iron character and diligence. Although she was often under pressure to conform, she was always ready to get up at 5 am, work hard during her vocal training for hours on end, and be one of the last people to leave a film set. Everyone knew that she wasn’t a typical, spoiled star, she was an ordinary yet extraordinary artist.

According to Audrey,  she discovered the true meaning of life when she gave birth to her children. After quitting her acting career she became UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador in 1988. Her attitude and humanitarian work became yet another reason for people to adore her. During her work for UNICEF, the organisation registered record revenues from donations for starving children, showing that artists can use their fame for good purposes. The actress travelled to Somalia, Bangladesh and South America. She fought a silent battle with cancer for years and in 1993 she passed away in her sleep. Although she has been gone for over 20 years, Audrey Hepburn is still seen as one of the best actresses of her generation, if not all generations.

Photo © Courtesy of Sean Hepburn Ferrer

This year, Audrey Hepburn’s son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, has created a stunning exhibition – Intimate Audrey – in Amsterdam to celebrate what would have been the 90th birthday of his mother. Composed largely of unpublished photographs, the exhibition focuses on Audrey’s persona not as an icon but as an ordinary human being. It presents her to the world in a different light, and the display also includes many memorabilia, dresses and other accessories taken from her family archive. On top of that, the visitors can admire her childhood drawings, handwritten letters, and watch a series of videos showing certain chapters of her life. The exhibition has been split into sections to demonstrate the most important times of Audrey’s existence, including The Family Tree, Born and Bred in a Flemish Culture, Coming Home, From London to New York, Oscar Night and Swiss Wedding. 

Intimate Audrey opened a month ago and will run until January 31, 2020. This is one of those exhibitions that shouldn’t be missed. If anyone happens to be in Amsterdam, it would be wrong not to take advantage of going to such an exhilarating exhibition.

Photo © Courtesy of Sean Hepburn Ferrer

Written by Maggie Gogler

Edited by Roxy Simons