By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Anyone who is an Audrey Hepburn fan will be able to learn more about her life at a 2 p.m. program on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Geneseo Public Library.
The program will be presented by Leslie Goddard, historian and author who writes and lectures on American cultural history with particular expertise in women’s history. She has a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies and a M.A. in Museum Studies.
At the Nov. 6 program, Goddard will delve into the multi-faced actress’s life and struggles through her portrayal of one of Audrey Hepburn’s most well-known roles.
Facts that one may not know about Audrey Hepburn:
-That she trained as a classical ballet dancer, and she had a deep passion for the art, but her dream of becoming a professional prima ballerina was curtailed by severe malnutrition and other factors during World War II, as well as physical limitations like her height. Her intensive ballet training, however, profoundly influenced her grace, poise, and expressiveness, which became trademarks of her successful career.
-That she was 31 years old when she portrayed Holly Golightly, a 19-year-old.
-That Shirley McLaine turned down the role in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
-Her first son was born in July 1950; “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” came out in 1961.
-Her salary for the film was $750,000 (roughly equivalent to $7.3 million as of 2022), making her the highest paid actress per film at the time.
-She called herself an introvert, saying she preferred to be alone often.
-She had big feet; she wore size 10 shoe!
-Her parents split up when she was six, and her father’s departure had a huge impact on her with respect to relationships with men. (She was married twice).
-Her real name was Audrey Kathleen Ruston; didn’t start using Hepburn until 1948. (Her father, Joseph Ruston, changed the family name to Hepburn-Ruston).
