Oh Audrey ...

A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and if the thing happens to be Audrey Hepburn then i would say John Keats has absolutely nailed it. Trust me !!

Audrey Hepburn the legendary actress shot to fame with ‘Roman Holiday ‘ which resulted in half of the world falling in love with her while the other half went on to buy Vespa scooters (to understand this you got to watch the movie).. William Wyler the director, had originally thought of casting Elizabeth Taylor for the role, but when he saw Hepburn he could see her as the perfect choice for his Princess Anna. Actually when she had screen tested for the role he had the camera on, even after she had acted out the scene. He wanted to see how natural she was on screen, after that he got so assured that she was the right person and the rest as they say is history.

She came as a princess and became a queen on and off the screen.

After the release of Roman Holiday Audrey Hepburn shot to instant stardom and became the most sought out actress of her era. She then set an own unique style of beauty and fashion that redefined the very term of onscreen beauty. During those days being big breasted and curvaceous was order of the day, she was neither. She was literally flat chested, very tom boyish, slender with a tantalizing gamine appeal. She looked like every other girl you could meet and yet like no other girl. She had the rare blend of being extremely simplistic but at the same time exotic.

In no time she grabbed the attention of various production houses and directors at that time, hence was signed by top directors opposite screen legends like Humphery Bogart(Sabrina),Cary Grant(Charade), Fred Astaire(Funny Face) and Peter O'Toole(How to steal a Million).

It was simply impossible for anyone get over awed by her presence. Her co star Gregory peck insisted on having Audrey’s name before the titles card of ‘Roman Holiday’ along with his name as he was damn sure that she would eventually walk away with academy award for the movie. He felt it be ridiculous not to give her top billing in the title cards and indeed he had predicted rite. Billy wilder his director says she was so gracious that it was impossible for anyone not to fall in love with her after five minutes. Marlon Brando the greatest actor of our times met Audrey Hepburn only once during a luncheon and was seated next her. Though she had greeted him a shy hello, there was no response from the former. All her life after that Audrey had believed that Brando had snubbed her. But a letter from the great actor during her dying days reveals that he was speechless out of sheer respect was overwhelmed by her presence. Cary grant after acting with her in 'Charade’ was quoted saying that all he wanted for next Christmas is another movie with Audrey Hepburn and nothing else. She was regarded as a star that always treated his contemporaries with utmost respect and never had a problem with any of her co stars. The legendary Humphrey Bogart (Sabrina) was supposedly not very fond of her during the shoots and totally disliked her acting and yet Audrey had no problems with him and regarded it a great opportunity to have acted with him.

She was a screen icon whose style and fashion influenced millions of women across the globe. Every other woman wanted to look like her. While the then actress like Sophia Loren, Marlin Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor where revered beauties, they more or less looked like onscreen goddesses and made them look like a farfetched fantasy. But Audrey looked simple and had this angelic quality about her, hence more and more started idolizing her and she inspired an entire lot. She never had to be conscious of her looks or had to act as she was better than the others; her simple presence was more than enough. For once an actress had everything one could ask for; she was beautiful, intelligent and talented. She had the capacity of elevating an ordinary movie/scene to higher levels purely on her presence and performance. She was a true charmer.

Hence it was no surprise that Audrey Hepburn in her very short span career (22 movies - rather 16 movies if you would ignore her lesser know movies before Roman holiday and a couple of movies where she tried a comeback) was part of many classics. Several roles and scripts where specifically written keeping her in mind. The importance and respect that she commanded in an industry which is basically male dominant is nothing short of miracle. She went on to become a legend. It would be no exaggeration to say that show was the most beloved actress across the Globe.

For someone who has never heard of Audrey might assume that this write up might looks clichéd and over exaggerated. I for one never knew her before I stumbled upon ‘Roman holiday’ couple of months back, and then there was no looking back. Within no time I was too anxious and excited to watch all her movies. Every time she came on screen she lits up the screen with her timeless beauty and presence, adding to that I fell in love with her accent and voice. So even when she performed the simplest of scenes it looked like an orchestrated symphony which mesmerized me.

So if you haven’t still watched her movies then waste no time because as the saying goes "Audrey did the best that we could be; she was perfectly charming and perfectly loving. She was a dream. And she was the kind of dream that you remember when you wake up smiling."