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January 20: Audrey Hepburn Survived Nazi Occupation Before Becoming Hollywood's Icon
How a starving wartime teenager who carried resistance messages became cinema's most elegant star
Audrey Hepburn was born January 20, 1929. Before Hollywood fame, she survived Nazi occupation in the Netherlands, carried resistance messages in her shoes, and nearly died of starvation.
Key Facts
Birth Date
January 20, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium
Birth Name
Audrey Kathleen Ruston
Wartime Location
Arnhem, Netherlands during Nazi occupation
Resistance Work
Carried secret messages hidden in her ballet shoes
Wartime Weight
Dropped to 88 pounds from malnutrition
Health Impact
Developed anemia, respiratory issues, and edema
First Major Role
Roman Holiday in 1953 won her an Oscar
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe instead
UNICEF Ambassador
Visited over 20 countries for starving children
Final Years
Devoted last five years entirely to humanitarian work
Quick Stats
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium |
| Wartime Home | Arnhem, Netherlands from 1939 to 1945 |
| Ballet Training | Studied under Sonia Gaskell in Amsterdam |
| Oscar Wins | Best Actress for Roman Holiday at age 24 |
| EGOT Status | One of only 21 people to win Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony |
| UNICEF Years | 1988 to 1993 as Goodwill Ambassador |
| Countries Visited | Ethiopia, Turkey, Central America, and more |
| Humanitarian Reason | Said she knew what hunger felt like from the war |
About January 20: Audrey Hepburn Survived Nazi Occupation Before Becoming Hollywood's Icon
Audrey Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on January 20, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. Before she became Hollywood's most elegant star, she was a starving teenager in Nazi occupied Netherlands who risked her life carrying resistance messages hidden inside her ballet shoes. That wartime trauma shaped everything she later became.
The Teenager Who Carried Messages for the Dutch Resistance
When Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, eleven year old Audrey watched soldiers march through Arnhem. Her family changed their last name from the English sounding Ruston to the Dutch van Heemstra to avoid suspicion. Young Audrey performed silent ballet recitals to raise money for the resistance and carried secret messages in her shoes because soldiers rarely searched children.
Surviving the Dutch Famine That Nearly Killed Her
During the Hunger Winter of 1944 to 1945, Nazi forces blocked food supplies to the Netherlands as punishment for resistance activity. Audrey survived on tulip bulbs, grass, and water. Her weight dropped to just 88 pounds. She developed severe anemia, respiratory problems, and edema from malnutrition. United Nations relief workers who arrived after liberation likely saved her life.
Why Truman Capote Hated the Breakfast at Tiffany's Casting
Capote wrote Holly Golightly specifically for Marilyn Monroe. When Paramount cast Audrey instead, he called it the most miscast film he had ever seen. Audrey worried constantly that she was wrong for the role. Director Blake Edwards had to convince her daily that her vulnerability made Holly more sympathetic than Monroe's sensuality ever could.
The Little Black Dress That Changed Fashion Forever
Givenchy designed the iconic black dress Audrey wore in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's. That single costume became the most famous dress in cinema history and permanently changed how women dressed for evening occasions. Audrey and Givenchy maintained a 40 year friendship that defined elegant simplicity in fashion.
From Starving Child to Saving Starving Children
Audrey spent her final five years working full time for UNICEF, visiting famine zones across Ethiopia, Central America, and Asia. When asked why she devoted herself so completely to hungry children, she answered simply that she knew exactly what starvation felt like. The little girl who survived on tulip bulbs dedicated her last years to ensuring other children never experienced the same.
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Historical Analysis
⚡Historical Significance
- •
Audrey Hepburn's survival of Nazi occupation and the Dutch Hunger Winter shaped her lifelong commitment to humanitarian work with starving children.
- •
Her casting as Holly Golightly against author wishes demonstrated how directors could reinterpret literary characters for cinema.
- •
She became one of only 21 people to achieve EGOT status, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
📝Critical Reception
- •
Critics initially questioned whether the elegant Hepburn could portray Capote's edgier party girl character.
- •
Her Oscar win for Roman Holiday at age 24 established her as a serious dramatic actress, not just a fashion icon.
- •
Film historians now consider her vulnerable interpretation of Holly Golightly superior to what Monroe's sensuality would have delivered.
🌍Cultural Impact
- •
The Givenchy little black dress she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's became the most famous costume in cinema history and permanently changed women's fashion.
- •
Her partnership with designer Hubert de Givenchy defined elegant simplicity for four decades.
- •
Her UNICEF work inspired a generation of celebrity humanitarian ambassadors.
Before & After
📅Before
Before Audrey Hepburn, Hollywood glamour emphasized curves and sensuality exemplified by stars like Marilyn Monroe. The fashion industry catered to fuller figures and dramatic silhouettes.
🚀After
After Audrey Hepburn, elegant simplicity became aspirational. Her gamine look and partnership with Givenchy created the modern aesthetic of understated sophistication. She proved that vulnerability and grace could be more compelling than traditional Hollywood glamour.
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Did You Know?
•
Audrey carried secret Dutch resistance messages hidden inside her ballet shoes because Nazi soldiers rarely searched children
•
She survived the Hunger Winter eating tulip bulbs and grass and weighed only 88 pounds at liberation
•
Truman Capote called her Breakfast at Tiffany's casting the most miscast film he ever saw
•
The little black dress Givenchy designed for her became the most famous costume in cinema history
•
She spent her final five years working full time for UNICEF because she knew what starvation felt like
⭐
Why It Still Matters Today
•
Audrey Hepburn remains one of the most searched classic Hollywood actresses with sustained annual interest
•
The little black dress she popularized remains a fashion staple referenced in every major designer collection
•
Her transition from actress to full time humanitarian established the template for celebrity activism
•
Her wartime survival story adds depth beyond the glamorous image most people associate with her name
•
UNICEF continues to honor her legacy through ongoing programs she helped establish
🧠
Test Your Knowledge
How much do you know? Take this quick quiz to find out!
1. How did young Audrey Hepburn help the Dutch Resistance during World War Two?
2. Who did Truman Capote originally want to play Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
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Original Insights
•
Audrey's family changed their name from the English sounding Ruston to van Heemstra to avoid Nazi suspicion during occupation
•
She performed silent ballet recitals because music would attract German soldiers and raise money for the resistance
•
United Nations relief workers who arrived after liberation may have saved her life with emergency food supplies
•
Director Blake Edwards had to convince Audrey daily that she was right for Holly Golightly despite her constant doubts
•
She specifically requested UNICEF assignments in famine zones because she understood starvation from personal experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Audrey Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on January 20, 1929 in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. Her family moved to the Netherlands before World War Two. She later changed her name professionally and became one of the most iconic actresses in cinema history.
This article is reviewed by the Pagefacts team.
Editorial Approach:
This article reveals the wartime trauma behind Hollywood's most elegant star, showing how a starving teenager who carried resistance messages became a humanitarian who spent her final years helping other starving children.
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