Photo: IMDB
Many women of younger generations may know Audrey Hepburn for her beauty and grace as one of the most memorable fashion icons of the 1950s. While these new generations of fans place gigantic posters of Audrey on their walls as a testament to her work (and fashion prowess), they're wondering what she's really about. Who are you, beautiful lady, with your signature little black dress and long cigarette?
Actress, dancer and humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn was the ideal personification of femininity, gentility and all around perfection — for the majority of her life. Her spirit stays alive through her Academy Award-winning movies, Tony Award-winning plays, her dedication to UNICEF and her very own children's foundation. Women and men alike looked up to her throughout her life (and still do) for her great talent and powerful humanitarian efforts.
But out of the public eye, what kind of secrets did she keep?
As you’ll see in the gallery below, her life was just as dramatic as it was in the cinema. Somehow, it seems as if she couldn’t escape the drama of the movies, as it flooded into her own life as a wife and a loving mother. Audrey was not immune to the heartache of real life and love by any means. Read on to find out the fabulously scandalous things you never would have guessed about Audrey Hepburn.
Photo: IMDB
1. Her first serious love was with James Hanson.
Hepburn's first serious love was with James Hanson (a young British businessman). They were engaged in 1952, but after setting a date and having the dress made, she realized that the nature of both their careers would keep them apart for too long. Hepburn gave the dress to an Italian couple, who have it to this day.
Photo: IMDB
2. Also in the 1950s, she dated theatrical producer Michael Butler.
Also in the 1950s, Hepburn dated the American theatrical producer Michael Butler. Butler would go on to produce the musical Hair.
Photo: IMDB
3. During the filming of Sabrina, she began dating William Holden.
During the filming of Sabrina, Hepburn began a relationship with actor William Holden, who was already married. Hepburn had planned to marry Holden and start a family with him, but dropped the idea when she learned he’d had a vasectomy.
Photo: IMDB
4. In 1954, she met and fell in love with American actor Mel Ferrer.
In 1954, Hepburn met the American actor Mel Ferrer at a cocktail party hosted by lifelong friend Gregory Peck. After working together on the play Ondine, they eventually fell in love and married in Bürgenstock, Switzerland in September of that year.
Photo: IMDB
5. With Ferrer, she had two miscarriages.
With Ferrer, Hepburn had two miscarriages (the first in 1955 and the second in 1959), before giving birth to the couple's only child, a boy names Sean Hepburn Ferrer born in July of 1960. She would have two more miscarriages, in 1965 and 1967.
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6. During her marriage to Ferrer, there were rumors of infidelity.
During her marriage to Ferrer, there were rumors of infidelity on both sides, with Ferrer having a girlfriend and Hepburn having an affair with her co-star Albert Finney.
Photo: IMDB
7. After 14 years together, she and Ferrer divorced.
After 14 years together, Hepburn and Ferrer divorced in December of 1968. She would speak to him only two more times for the rest of her life.
Photo: IMDB
8. Soon after her divorce, she fell in love with Andrea Dotti.
Soon after her divorce, Hepburn met and fell in love with Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti while traveling with Princess Olimpia Emmanuela Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi. She stated that she fell in love with him while exploring Greek ruins. The couple went on to marry in January of 1969.
Photo: IMDB
9. She had one son with Dotti, Luca, born in February of 1970.
Hepburn had one son with Dotti, Luca, born in February of 1970. His birth was followed by another miscarriage in 1974.
Photo: IMDB
10. Once again, infidelity was present in her marriage.
Once again, infidelity was present in her marriage. Dotti took to younger women, while Hepburn had an affair with another actor, Ben Gazzara.
Photo: IMDB
11. They divorced after 13 years together.
The couple divorced after 13 years together, finalizing the end of their marriage in 1982.
Photo: IMDB
12. She spent the rest of her life with Dutch actor Robert Wolders.
Hepburn spent the rest of her life (from 1980 to 1993) with the Dutch actor Robert Wolders. In 1989, she declared the time they had spent together the happiest of her life.
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