Audrey : Her Real Story

by Alexander Walker

Few stars are as loved as Audrey Hepburn, today as much as ever. Beautiful, delicate, graceful - but always warm and natural - she stole our hearts. She was also brave, working tirelessly for UNICEF in the face of her own failing health. in this moving and heartwarming biography Alexander Walker traces the extraordinary combination of luck and talent that allowed a fragile little girl,who nearly died in Hitler's occupied Europe, to conquer, in just one year, the New York stage and the Hollywood screen. Walker analyses her ascent to power andworld fame and reveals the sadness of her two failed marriages, a broken engagement, and the crushing disappointment that occupied her triumph in My FairLady. Most importantly of all, this biography reveals what no one has known until the truly terrifying family secret that tore Audrey's childhood apartand kept her forever silent about her parents.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Film, Celebrity, History

433 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Alexander Walker was a film critic and author of a number of biographies and books on the film industry.

Reviews

[Eric Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when one of my sister's gave it to me on my birthday. Just why would I care to read about the life of someone who died over twenty years ago is probably because of how much I fell in love with this actress ever since I was 10 and I first saw My Fair Lady. Sure, I eventually got over the fact that it wasn't really her singing voice, but I never forgot about her talent as an actress or her attributes as a wonderful human being. Though it's a shame the real Audrey never wrote a book about her life due to her humble nature, Alexander Walker gives his readers the next best thing in the form of a sincere but unadulterated biography. Walker provides in immense detail of Audrey's childhood years growing up without a father, struggling to survive in the Nazi occupied Netherlands, and her early youth spent arduously pursuing a career in ballet. FACT: One of the reasons why Audrey was never known to have been aggressive or argumentative is attributed to her unfortunate habit of hiding under a table whenever her disputing parents raised their voices at each other.

However, the Cinderella story of her rise to fame was only a fraction of her history, as Audrey was after all only human and was subjected to several rumored affairs with her co-stars and two bitter divorces throughout her adulthood. In this book, Walker gives us her flaws and strengths as a woman unscathed by the limelight and as a devoted mother of two boys who gave up her film career for more than eight years just so she could play an active role in their upbringing. Her tireless campaigning as a goodwill ambassador of UNICEF is also beautifully told and remembered as if Walker was with her every step of the way. Throughout the book, Walker even provides a collection of photos, from her family album to UNICEF and her work as a model before becoming an actress. Overall, I couldn't have asked for anything more candid or affectionate without the candy-coated idolizing that Hollywood loves to portray of all it's celebrities.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn's. She is, in my opinion, the greatest actress to grace the screen. She personofied beauty, elegance, and style. Her humanitarian efforts should be a guiding post for all of us to strive to attain. She was, in a word, perfection.

Why, then, did I give this book such a cold rating? Well, I have some issues with the author. His subtle racism was disturbing to say the least. I was disgusted with the way he would say about almost all of Audrey Hepburn's aquaintance something to the affect of "because of his _____ heritage, this man behaved this way, ect." Another thing was his less than subtle (indeed I'd go so far as to say blatant) homophobia when describing the first meeting between Audrey and Albert Finey before shooting their movie "Two for the Road." That was disgusting and had me recalling a brief discription of an earlier actor (whose name I have completly forgotten) whom Audrey liked, saying she must not have known (or perhaps it was that she didn't care) about said actor's bisexuality. When first reading that I thought he was saying she was unlike most people of her time. But now I'm thinking that was a slightly more subtle hint at the author's prejudices. I also did not care to have his opinions of Audrey's movies thrust upon me. Seriously, I can make up my own mind as to whether or not the movie is good. It's all well and good to site critic's statements, but to go on to say he didn't enjoy the film is just not something I care about.

But, while I am disgusted by all of that, I cannot bring myself to give the book less than three stars. What can I say? I love Audrey Hepburn.

[Tjerk Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik ben de naam Audrey Hepburn als eerste tegengekomen in een boek van Irvin Yalom, waar hij een karakter omschreef als aantrekkelijk en lijkend op Audrey. Ik was natuurlijk benieuwd en heb haar gegoogled, en inderdaad, ze was ontzettend aantrekkelijk. Maar het was nog leuker om te zien dat ze ook nog half Nederlands was! Dit was vier jaar geleden, en in de tussentijd heb ik een aantal films van haar gezien. De laatste was “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, waarna ik haar biografie ging lezen.

Hier kwam ik erachter wat een fascinerend verhaal deze vrouw had; hoe ze een Oscar won voor haar eerste film, een onmiskenbaar stijl ontwikkelde en hoe ze zich inzette voor Unicef. Helaas heeft ze ook ontzettend veel moeilijkheden gehad, ze is bijna verhongerd tijdens de hongerwinter in Arnhem, ze heeft 4 miskramen, heeft depressie en anorexia doorstaan en is overleden aan kanker.

Audrey stond bekend om haar vriendelijkheid, warme persoonlijkheid, elegantie, toegankelijkheid, bescheidenheid en haar toewijding aan Unicef, waar ze de laatste jaren van haar leven zich met hart en ziel heeft ingezet, zelfs al heeft ze daardoor een post-traumatische stressstoornis ontwikkeld door het zien van de meest gruwelijke effecten van honger in arme landen.

Al met al een boek dat goed leesbaar is en erg volledig. Het is realistisch en interessant, ondanks de vele namen die genoemd worden (en soms het googelen waard waren). Het was interessant om in haar leven te duiken en mijn respect voor haar is vertienvoudigd!

[Paulo Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, it answered many questions I had about Audrey’s life letting you in just enough, just like when she was alive.

[Nicci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in love with this remarkable woman. What an incredible life she led.

"It isn't age or even death that one fears as much as loneliness and lack of affection...I think I'd never worry about age if I knew I could go on being loved or having the possibility of love." - Audrey Hepburn



*3 Stars: Biographer could have done a better job. The writing was not the strongest, but still a fascinating read.

[Justyna Esz-Em (Ważę Słowa) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dwie gwiazdki za tych 60 stron, na których nie było głupot

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting biography. I loved that Audrey and Sophia Loren were such a fabulous friends!

[Abbie Lemieux]

This book is definitely one of the best Audrey Hepburn biographies out there. The facts about her life are completely accurate. The author also took the most influential points in her life and illustrated it in a way that the reader was able to get inside her mind and emotions during those periods of her life. The author covered everything from her childhood to her stardom to her charity work in a light that is exactly what she deserves.

[Tenielle Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for its glamorous perspective of a glamorous woman. However, I felt at times that she was glamorised a bit too much. It's written as if Alexander Walker has some paternal attachment to Audrey (which is ironic considering her estrangement from her real father). He writes with a pervading pride about her achievements both on screen and as part of the UNICEF team and strongly defends her flaws, often trying to validate them by depicting others in Hollywood as villains. Thus, the distinction between fact and fiction becomes something ambiguous. For instance, was Alfred Hitchcock really a closet misogynist or simply blunt and impatient for the sake of his films?
Also, to what extent was the film industry the cause of her recurring eating disorder? Was it really brought on primarily by the stress of a busy schedule, or was it some deep-seeded psychological issues brought on by the hardships she experienced in World War II? If it is the latter, why is this not explored?
I'm also left feeling hungry for more knowledge of her charity, the details of which are briefly skimmed over after an elaborate and in-depth description of her acting career.

Ultimately, the desire for more answers has left me somewhat dissatisfied with the book and, sadly, I still feel a bit distant from Audrey, as if she is simply an idol immortalised by the silver screen instead of a real life person with real flaws and a real potential for being disturbed by the cruelty of life. Although Audrey's many strengths depicted by Walker are admirable, his inability to thoroughly interpret her psyche, makes her seem inhuman. Perhaps this is all the more reason for Audrey to remain one of my Hollywood heroes, or perhaps it is all the more reason for me to feel disillusioned about fame.

[Anne Ayres · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is hard to tell if this is just a difference of the times or even cultural, but his writing felt condescending towards the subject. He often wrote about what she "needed" when it came to her personal relationships. He also repeatedly referred to the subject as having "bouts" of anorexia. Both of these observations bothered me throughout the book

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book over all, as it really dove Into the facts and events of Audrey's life in alot of detail. My only issue was that the author seemed rather obsessed with Audrey's beauty, aesthetic and specifically her weight, and while I can completely understand she is inpart imoritalised and idolised due to her stunning looks there is so so much more to this incredible woman than I feel is portrayed here, I would of loved to learn more about her work with unicef and her life outside of Hollywood.

But over all, an interesting read especially in regards to her issues in Hollywood with some of the most well known and Iconic movies but in all honesty it wouldn't be one I would rush to recommend.

[Jennifer Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't know much about Audrey Hepburn or her life going into this book. It was a very interesting read that had a few proofreading errors. She was obviously a very talented woman who had been through a lot in her life and still managed to do meaningful things to help other people.Like the Julie Andrews book the controversy over "My Fair Lady" was mentioned.I could have done without the index.It kind of repeated at the end of the book with page 315 being done twice.The book was quite good and quite a journey through the life of a legend.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book if you're interested in Audrey beyond just her screen star years. It's thorough in its scope. I did skip through a section on her dad where it droned on and on. The book left me with the impression that the author was quite infatuated with his subject; Audrey could do no wrong! I suppose, however, that in order to write a lengthy biography, one must be fairly obsessed. The latter part of Audrey's life was the most interesting to me, and this book covers it well.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Audrey Hepburn! This book, written by a British film critic who interviewed her several times, is a love letter, and why not? It contains some new (and some speculative) information about Audrey's father, and covers her stellar career and failed marriages with a British spin. Otherwise, there's nothing really new here, but I liked the writer's style and adore his subject as much as he does. Her real story is still fascinating more than 25 years after her death. Rest in peace, Audrey.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't speak to this biography vs another, but it seemed a comprehensive and neutral enough look at Hepburn's life from beginning to end. Pace was good and gave enough extra detail, beyond what the average person would know, to feel like the type of bio that unveiled a person's "real life." Though for Hepburn, it's clear that there will never be a full understanding of her inner thoughts or motivations, and she will remain a bit of a mystery. I learned that with certainty because of this bio.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never an Audrey Hepburn fan, but I saw her on a special about the Oscars so I checked this book out at the library. She had an interesting childhood and successful career. The author does not dig very deep, but I do not regret reading it. She does not come across as very "bright," but maybe she was just too trusting?

[Kim Daly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book hasn't aged well, and some of its comments were questionable even in the 90s. For instance, saying that Audrey's father had the 'manipulative charm of the Irish' because it was in his blood is not OK. And these types of comments never end. Hepburn dies in a white saviour complex which nowadays would make people uncomfortable.

[Lee-Anne Veage · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read about an iconic actress from the golden age of cinema... one of the first movie stars to really work tirelessly and raise awareness of the work UNICEF do. Very nicely written, in an honest way capturing some of her essence, lived experience and human frailties. I'm very glad I read this.. and even though I know she died 20 years ago, it still made me sad. Truly a great read.

[månǒ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Audrey, then this is a must read. Her story is most intriguing. A truly AMAZING person both on screen & off screen.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story that beautifully details Audrey's life and work.

[Anna Vickery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning all about this screen icon's life.

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good biography of the beloved star.

[Marci]

It was a well written account of Audrey's life

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Hepburn should be named Woman of the Year. Every year. Forever. Plus a day.

[Piper Winchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting biography on Audrey Hepburn

[zasou.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Audrey Hepburn? Who doesn't aspire to her grace and her elegance? I have read better biographies, less judgemental ones, less dense ones too, but this was still interesting.

[Amanda Seale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight men didn’t deserve Audrey Hepburn.

[zoe olesker · Rating 2 out of 5]

i absolutely adore audrey hepburn, but found the book to be a smidge boring and hard to finish for such a remarkable woman, actress, philanthropist/humanitarian, etc.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
British film critic and film-star biographer Walker (Fatal Charm: The Life of Rex Harrison) here offers a comprehensive, if somewhat superficial, life of Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), the actress who "redefined a feminine ideal" with her gamine looks and winsome charm. Walker's prose is lifeless as he recounts his subject's childhood in war-torn Europe and her early stage and film career. But Hepburn's fans will find it worthwhile to stick with him: both the narrative and the writing itself become more lively as he discusses the heyday of her career, her sometimes turbulent love life and her work with Third World children for UNICEF. While Hepburn, who was always reluctant to reveal herself to the press, remains a curiously elusive figure, Walker's critical skills and extensive knowledge of the film industry serve him well as he charts the development of her acting career and assesses her place in cinematic history. An affectionate tribute to a screen legend, this biography nevertheless reveals more about Hepburn the star than it does about Hepburn the woman. Photos.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc."
- Amazon -

[Alondra Maldonado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Kathleen Ruston Hepburn: dancer, actress, model, fashion icon, humanitarian, friend, mother, the list goes on. One of the most recognized faces to be hit the silver screen of the Hollywood Golden Age. She brought beauty, grace, and charm. She is adored around the world to this day and has remained one of the worlds most iconic actresses and fashion icon. I myself have only been a fan for a short amount of time, but can say that this being the first biography I read of her, I had known most of the information already. Its a great read to know the young girl who grew up during the Second World War to become one of Hollywood's greatest actresses, to a humanitarian who once said, "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." Also I have seen quite a handful of her movies and even a film biography of her.

In the book Audrey Hepburn: Her Real Story, Alexander Walker examines each period of Hepburn's life giving full credit to the ones he feels "wrote the book": people he interviewed who were related, close, had worked with or associated with Hepburn. He himself had spent some time with Hepburn as well. Her life was not phenomenal and peachy all the time- as he described; it was a lifelong struggle to escape the burden of her family history, and to overpower the demons of her life. He offers a spitting image of the woman behind the icon whose search for happiness was composed by her insecurity, eating disorder, and the inability to find lasting love. These were only a few of the factors to what made her the extraordinary person she was. Her life struggles that led to success that led to being a compassionate and giving person are what made the legend she is today.

As being an Audrey Hepburn fan, it was no challenge for myself to be immediately captivated by this biography book. Alexander Walker did an exceptional job in the information portion of this book with well accuracy, but I would have to agree with the many reviews I've looked over, that it could have been a bit more well-written. Overall, it was an easy read, entertaining book. Fan or not, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing more about this 5'7", 118 lb., 34"-20"-36", brown-eyed, brunette, legendary beauty.