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Audrey Hepburn Timeline

• 1929
Audrey Kathleen Ruston is born in Brussels, Belgium on May 4th to an English banker and a Dutch baroness. During World War II Audrey takes on the name Edda Van Heemstra. After the war, her father appends the family name to Hepburn-Ruston to include his grandmother's surname.
• 1935
Attends boarding school in Kent, England.
• 1939
Moves to Arnhem, Netherlands with her mother and two step-brothers after her parents separate and finally divorce in 1938. During the German occupation, Audrey attends Arnhem Conservatory and studies ballet. She recounts experiencing similar harrowing experiences as that of Anne Frank.
• 1945
Studies ballet under Sonia Gaskell in Amsterdam.
• 1948
Studies at famed Marie Rambert ‘s ballet school in London on a scholarship. Plays a small part in the film "Dutch in Seven Lessons". Debuts on the London stage in the chorus of the musical "High Button Shoes"; then "Sauce Tartare" in 1949; and "Sauce Piquante" in 1950.
• 1951
Debuts on the British screen as an extra in "One Wild Oat" and small roles in "Young Wives' Tales", "Laughter in Paradise", "The Lavender Hill Mob", and "Monte Carlo Baby". Stars in the Broadway production of Gigi in New York, Announces her engagement to businessman James Hanson in the December 4, edition of the London Times.
• 1953
Stars in her first Hollywood film, "Roman Holiday", with Gregory Peck. An illustration of Audrey appears on the September 7th cover of Time magazine. Meets Hubert de Givenchy, a 26 year-old fashion designer, for wardrobe fittings for her upcoming film "Sabrina". They become lifelong friends as she inspires his designs and he catapults her to a fashion icon.
• 1954
The film "Sabrina" debuts showcasing the signature look that makes Audrey Hepburn a fashion icon. Awarded an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe for her performance in "Roman Holiday". Stars in the play "Ondine" earning a Tony award for her performance. Marries American actor and director Mel Ferrer in September 25th in Switzerland.
• 1955
Suffers a miscarriage in March before shooting the film "War and Peace" alongside her new husband in spring.
• 1957
Stars in the films "Funny Face", where she shows off her dancing skills alongside Fred Astaire, and "Love in the Afternoon".
• 1959
Stars in "The Nun's Story" and "Green Mansions". While filming the western "The Unforgiven", Audrey is thrown from a horse breaking her back. She suffers a second miscarriage soon after.
• 1960
She gives birth to a son, Sean H. Ferrer, on January 17th.
• 1961
Stars as the stylish and whimsical Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and in "The Children's Hour", then "Charade" with Cary Grant the following year, and the musical "My Fair Lady" in 1964.
• 1967
Stars in "Wait Until Dark", and "Two For the Road". Separates from Mel Ferrer then divorces him the following year.
• 1969
Weds Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti and on February 8th the following year their son Luca is born.
• 1976
After an 11-year absence, Audrey returns to the cinema in "Robin and Marian" with Sean Connery.
• 1980
Separates from Andrea Dotti, and divorces him in 1982. Becomes romantically involved with actor Robert Wolders. Visits her ailing father in Dublin, Ireland, whom she had regained contact with in the mid 1960s after he left the family when she was a child.
• 1988
Appointed as UNICEF's International Goodwill Ambassador and makes her first "field mission", to Ethiopia. Over the years and until her death Audrey visits many needy countries around the world.
• 1989
Plays an angel in Steven Spielberg's film "Always".
• 1992
Narrates the nine episode PBS documentary "Gardens of the World", which debuts the following year on January 21st, and earns her a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George Bush on December 11th. Audrey is diagnosed with cancer.
• 1993
Audrey Hepburn dies on January 20th at the age of 63 in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. Robert Wolders and Audrey's sons, Sean H. Ferrer and Luca Dotti, establish The Audrey Hepburn Memorial Fund at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.