Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Why I love Audrey Hepburn


I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan. She exudes class, grace and elegance and is a role model for me in life. These are reasons why I love Audrey:

1. She's beautiful, inside and out. To be beautiful inside and out is something to strive for in life. And I don't mean society's definition of "beautiful." Anyone can be beautiful and it begins inside and radiates outward.....which brings me to reason #2...

2. Her quotes are amazing. My fave is this one:
"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years."

3. She made Holly Golightly a symbol of class and elegance. Holly Golightly is a call girl. The money she received from men was in exchange for her "companionship" for the evening. The movie glosses over that aspect of Holly's character because audiences of the time didn't want to see such things implied about a character played by Audrey Hepburn. If you read the story by Truman Capote, you'll understand the true nature of the Holly Golightly character. The book and the movie are quite different.

4. Her charity work. Speaking of her long-standing work with children’s charities, Hepburn said, “I speak for those children who cannot speak for themselves, children who have absolutely nothing but their courage and their smiles, their wits and their dreams.” In 1994, the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund, a non-profit organization, was created in New York to continue Audrey’s international appeals on behalf of ill-treated and suffering children around the world. She was also heavily involved in UNICEF and toured the world speaking out and volunteering for this amazing charitable organization.

5. She never took herself too seriously. Contrary to her recent image, although Audrey did enjoy fashion, she did not place much importance on it. She preferred casual, comfortable clothes. In addition, she never considered herself to be very attractive. She said in a 1959 interview, "you can even say that I hated myself at certain periods. I was too fat, or maybe too tall, or maybe just plain too ugly... you can say my definiteness stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority. I couldn't conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive"

6. She loved laughter. "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." Some say, laughter is the best medicine and after seeing my grandfather fight cancer for years, I am now a firm believer in this "miracle drug."

7. She created a style all her own. The term "little black dress" defines Audrey, in other words, classic style. Many of Audrey's looks still rock the runway and streets today: oversize sunglasses, LBD (little black dress), heavy eyeliner with nude lips, updos, black flats or heels. One can easily create a Audrey Hepburn style, and that, is what you call classic. To your right is Victoria Beckham rocking the Audrey Hepburn fashion of today. The "little black dress" from Breakfast at Tiffany's, designed by Givenchy, sold at a Christie's auction on 5 December 2006, for approximately $920,000, almost seven times its pre-sale estimate. This is the highest price paid for a dress from a film. (The dress is shown in the second photo from the top.).

8. She had a pet fawn. No lie, a real fawn. When she was making her 1959 flick "Green Mansions," directed by then-husband Mel Ferrer, the animal trainer on the set suggested that she take her on-screen sidekick, a baby deer, home with her so that he would learn to follow her. She named the fawn, Pippin, and it stayed at her home and she became attached to it. It shopped with her, took naps beside her, and followed her around all day.

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