Audrey Hepburn
The life and work of a movie star and fashion icon are recounted in Michele Botton’s graphic biography Audrey Hepburn.
Hepburn was known for her films and sense of style, but the book reveals that there was much more to her. Abandoning her dream of becoming a ballerina, young Audrey took minor roles in films before her breakout role on stage in “Gigi.” With a strong desire to have a family, she sought romance and marriage as her star rose with classic films including Sabrina and Roman Holiday. Despite her strong dedication to her family and children, two of her marriages failed. Later in life, she created a new role for herself as a UNICEF Ambassador, traveling the world and drawing attention to the needs of children in developing countries.
The book connects events across time with clear storytelling. For example, being helped by United Nations workers near the end of World War II and visiting a leper colony in Congo before filming the movie The Nun’s Story influenced Hepburn’s later work with UNICEF. Her mother’s words of advice after her father left were also impactful: “You always have to give more love than you receive.”
The full-color illustrations portray Hepburn in all her charm and grace as a child, during her peak years as an actress, and as an older woman. The art style captures Hepburn’s cute, perky personality but also conveys the emotion behind her disappointments and frustrations.
Audrey Hepburn is an enlightening graphic biography about the private and public lives of a Hollywood legend.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
