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Audrey Hepburn: A Star Danced
A Star Danced is a sumptuously designed celebration of Audrey Hepburn's life, containing 150 superb photographs. It tells the story of her life, from her childhood in Nazi-occupied Holland, through her early aspirations to become a ballet dancer, her début on screen to instant and universal acclaim and her years as one of Hollywood's most sought after stars, to her later life working among the poorest children of the Third World.
After a series of minor revue and film roles in London, Hepburn was spotted by Colette, who immediately case her in the central role of a Broadway adaptation of her latest novel, Gigi. Son afterwards she was offered a role alongside Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, for which she collected the Best Actress Oscar. More successful parts followed: she won the Tony award for Best Actress for Ondine, captivated audiences as Natasha in War and Peace, and was highly praised for her brilliance in a serious role in The Nun's Story.
Hepburn's dress sense was close to perfection and her clothes - many of the m by Givenchy, who dressed her for Funny Face in 1957 - placed her on the world's twelve Best Dressed Women list for several years. Her personality and sensuous yet untouchable beauty made her irresistible to the public. On Hepburn's death, Liz Taylor said, "God has a most beautiful new angel now, that will know just what to do in heaven."
After a series of minor revue and film roles in London, Hepburn was spotted by Colette, who immediately case her in the central role of a Broadway adaptation of her latest novel, Gigi. Son afterwards she was offered a role alongside Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, for which she collected the Best Actress Oscar. More successful parts followed: she won the Tony award for Best Actress for Ondine, captivated audiences as Natasha in War and Peace, and was highly praised for her brilliance in a serious role in The Nun's Story.
Hepburn's dress sense was close to perfection and her clothes - many of the m by Givenchy, who dressed her for Funny Face in 1957 - placed her on the world's twelve Best Dressed Women list for several years. Her personality and sensuous yet untouchable beauty made her irresistible to the public. On Hepburn's death, Liz Taylor said, "God has a most beautiful new angel now, that will know just what to do in heaven."
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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November 9, 2019
قدوة النساء اجمل نساء العالم الروح الحلوة والابتسامة الحلوة والوجه البريء كالملاك القوية بقلب طيب كل الكلمات لا تكفي لوصف جمالها . شمعة العالم وسط الظلام صاحبة الجمال الخالد الجمال الذي لا يشيخ ولا يموت
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles
https://youtu.be/l4U4I92MTp0
You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him
I'm an introvert... I love being by myself, love being outdoors, love taking a long walk with my dogs and looking at the trees, flowers, the sky
If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all
I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone
I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows
I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it
Your heart just breaks, that's all. But you can't judge or point fingers. You just have to be lucky enough to find someone who appreciates you
Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside but it doesn't help if you're ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up
I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it
True friends are families which you can select
And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!
For my whole life, my favorite activity was reading. It's not the most social pastime.
On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear
If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness, not my miscarriages or my father leaving home, but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough
Good things aren't supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but He expects you to do your part first
I tried always to do better: saw always a little further. I tried to stretch myself
I have learnt how to live…how to be in the world and of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch
A woman can be beautiful as well as intellectual
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others
When the chips are down, you are alone, and loneliness can be terrifying. Fortunately, I've always had a chum I could call. And I love to be alone. It doesn't bother me one bit. I’m my own company
True beauty in a woman is reflected in the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows
https://youtu.be/BMPC6C1e-EQ
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others
And...I think that's what life is all about, actually, about children and flowers
pic upload website
My own life has been much more than a fairy tale. I’ve had my share of difficult moments, but. . .
whatever difficulties I’ve gone through, I’ve always gotten a prize at the end
Her sexiness sort of enters through your heart not through your groin. She appeals to the heart and spirit and head. She has to do with elevation and enlightenment
If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I’d look back on all the pleasures, excitement and worthwhileness I have been lucky enough to have
For me the only things of interest are those linked to the heart
Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner, however, transcended the bleak spirit of the time, and Audrey turned more and more to music as her only means of escape from the realities of her daily life
https://youtu.be/KuQ8nG1kl8M
If I ever want to accentuate the importance of anything in any form of entertainment, it is the quality of the fairy tale . . . people go to the theatre and the cinema for the same reason that makes them like fairy tales the sense of watching something that isn’t real. The fairy tale is, to my mind, the core of entertainment
I had read nearly every book by Edgar Wallace and E. Phillips Oppenheim before I was 13. Those were real adventure books, and to me as a girl they had far more appeal than “Topsy Goes to School”
This strong response to literature, combined with her refusal to play with dolls, which she considered ‘silly’, are early indications of the paradoxes that would come to characterise her image and persona in later years. The girl who hated dolls would grow to love children and long for her own; the taste for exciting thrillers and adventure stories was superseded by her devotion to fairy stories
she was a solitary little girl, preferring to play with kittens, puppies and rabbits rather than other children. Reclusive and hypersensitive, she reacted badly to tensions and unhappiness, yet was capable of enjoyment, high spirits, and an impish and infectious sense of humour. A daydreamer who loved dressing up in her mother’s clothes, she was keenly responsive to music and, as soon as she was able to read, became an avid bookworm, much influenced by her brother Ian
While still a tiny child, Audrey manifested a passionate love of animals, flowers and the countryside, which endured throughout her life
Whatever a man might do, whatever misery or heartache your children might give you - and they give you a lot - however much your parents irritate you - it doesn't matter because you love them
When she felt she had given enough, she began to live for herself, and in living for herself she gave hope and inspiration to others who knew nothing of her legend.
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles
https://youtu.be/l4U4I92MTp0
You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him
I'm an introvert... I love being by myself, love being outdoors, love taking a long walk with my dogs and looking at the trees, flowers, the sky
If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all
I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone
I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows
I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it
Your heart just breaks, that's all. But you can't judge or point fingers. You just have to be lucky enough to find someone who appreciates you
Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside but it doesn't help if you're ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up
I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it
True friends are families which you can select
And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!
For my whole life, my favorite activity was reading. It's not the most social pastime.
On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear
If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness, not my miscarriages or my father leaving home, but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough
Good things aren't supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but He expects you to do your part first
I tried always to do better: saw always a little further. I tried to stretch myself
I have learnt how to live…how to be in the world and of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch
A woman can be beautiful as well as intellectual
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others
When the chips are down, you are alone, and loneliness can be terrifying. Fortunately, I've always had a chum I could call. And I love to be alone. It doesn't bother me one bit. I’m my own company
True beauty in a woman is reflected in the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows
https://youtu.be/BMPC6C1e-EQ
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others
And...I think that's what life is all about, actually, about children and flowers
pic upload website
My own life has been much more than a fairy tale. I’ve had my share of difficult moments, but. . .
whatever difficulties I’ve gone through, I’ve always gotten a prize at the end
Her sexiness sort of enters through your heart not through your groin. She appeals to the heart and spirit and head. She has to do with elevation and enlightenment
If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I’d look back on all the pleasures, excitement and worthwhileness I have been lucky enough to have
For me the only things of interest are those linked to the heart
Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner, however, transcended the bleak spirit of the time, and Audrey turned more and more to music as her only means of escape from the realities of her daily life
https://youtu.be/KuQ8nG1kl8M
If I ever want to accentuate the importance of anything in any form of entertainment, it is the quality of the fairy tale . . . people go to the theatre and the cinema for the same reason that makes them like fairy tales the sense of watching something that isn’t real. The fairy tale is, to my mind, the core of entertainment
I had read nearly every book by Edgar Wallace and E. Phillips Oppenheim before I was 13. Those were real adventure books, and to me as a girl they had far more appeal than “Topsy Goes to School”
This strong response to literature, combined with her refusal to play with dolls, which she considered ‘silly’, are early indications of the paradoxes that would come to characterise her image and persona in later years. The girl who hated dolls would grow to love children and long for her own; the taste for exciting thrillers and adventure stories was superseded by her devotion to fairy stories
she was a solitary little girl, preferring to play with kittens, puppies and rabbits rather than other children. Reclusive and hypersensitive, she reacted badly to tensions and unhappiness, yet was capable of enjoyment, high spirits, and an impish and infectious sense of humour. A daydreamer who loved dressing up in her mother’s clothes, she was keenly responsive to music and, as soon as she was able to read, became an avid bookworm, much influenced by her brother Ian
While still a tiny child, Audrey manifested a passionate love of animals, flowers and the countryside, which endured throughout her life
Whatever a man might do, whatever misery or heartache your children might give you - and they give you a lot - however much your parents irritate you - it doesn't matter because you love them
When she felt she had given enough, she began to live for herself, and in living for herself she gave hope and inspiration to others who knew nothing of her legend.
July 10, 2018
Added July 6, 2018.
July 10, 2018 - Finished reading it. This was a wonderful walk down memory lane, recalling many special moments. Well written with many details. 5 stars.
There are various publishing dates on record: Paperback Published 1993; Published June 15th 2012 by Arcade Publishing (Kindle Edition); also: Published January 3rd 2017 by Arcade Publishing.
July 6, 2018 - Borrowed from public library (SALS), reading in my browser. As an extra bonus, there are photos along with the text showing Audrey at various stages of her life, with other celebrities included.
Although I've read or listened to other biographies of Audrey Hepburn, I thought I'd see if this added anything new to what I already know (or have forgotten).
The other audio that I listened to about Audrey (in 2015) was: Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn BY Donald Spoto. (In fact, years before that I had read the whole book!) Yes, she was enchanting!
July 10, 2018 - Finished reading it. This was a wonderful walk down memory lane, recalling many special moments. Well written with many details. 5 stars.
There are various publishing dates on record: Paperback Published 1993; Published June 15th 2012 by Arcade Publishing (Kindle Edition); also: Published January 3rd 2017 by Arcade Publishing.
July 6, 2018 - Borrowed from public library (SALS), reading in my browser. As an extra bonus, there are photos along with the text showing Audrey at various stages of her life, with other celebrities included.
Although I've read or listened to other biographies of Audrey Hepburn, I thought I'd see if this added anything new to what I already know (or have forgotten).
The other audio that I listened to about Audrey (in 2015) was: Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn BY Donald Spoto. (In fact, years before that I had read the whole book!) Yes, she was enchanting!
December 21, 2018
There are now many biographies available on Audrey Hepburn. Even back when this particular book was first published in 1993, there were already a few biographies available. Unfortunately for the author, Audrey passed away while she was still writing this book, and as a result, she was unable to interview many people to flesh out this book. (She says as much in the foreword).
While the fresh grief prevented Audrey’s family and friends from speaking about the life that had just ended, I feel that this book could have been better despite the limitations put on the author. For one, she is yet another biographer who gets Audrey’s birth name wrong, and it’s such a nagging point now that I’ve made it a basic bar that biographies must get over to be any good. Perhaps it’s because this book repeats a lot of urban legends and hearsay that surrounded Audrey Hepburn for quite a long time, and is still being debunked. I can’t say for certain, because the author never cited her sources!
I will say that I like that the book is oversized and features quite a lot of lovely pictures of Audrey. I’m a sucker for a Hepburn picture book, so that’s one nice thing I can say about A Star Danced. Unfortunately, that’s about the only nice thing I can say about it, because Karney sometimes spills more ink discussing the plots of Audrey’s films, or the glowing reviews she received, rather than her personal life.
In all, this book feels very uneven, and the ending is very hasty. It never stood out out amongst the field of Audrey Hepburn biographies, and now I can see why.
This review was originally written for The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn.
While the fresh grief prevented Audrey’s family and friends from speaking about the life that had just ended, I feel that this book could have been better despite the limitations put on the author. For one, she is yet another biographer who gets Audrey’s birth name wrong, and it’s such a nagging point now that I’ve made it a basic bar that biographies must get over to be any good. Perhaps it’s because this book repeats a lot of urban legends and hearsay that surrounded Audrey Hepburn for quite a long time, and is still being debunked. I can’t say for certain, because the author never cited her sources!
I will say that I like that the book is oversized and features quite a lot of lovely pictures of Audrey. I’m a sucker for a Hepburn picture book, so that’s one nice thing I can say about A Star Danced. Unfortunately, that’s about the only nice thing I can say about it, because Karney sometimes spills more ink discussing the plots of Audrey’s films, or the glowing reviews she received, rather than her personal life.
In all, this book feels very uneven, and the ending is very hasty. It never stood out out amongst the field of Audrey Hepburn biographies, and now I can see why.
This review was originally written for The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn.
September 6, 2017
After a serious reading drought I finished this book finally. It's a great book! As a long time fan of Audrey Hepburn I have read many biographies on her, this one is in the top 5. I liked how it went through her childhood in Holland, horrors and all. Her life was seriously changed because of the Nazi occupation and it shaped the rest of her life. I also liked that it focused on her desire to be a mother and the difficulties she had getting and staying pregnant. The pictures are wonderful. I'm going to buy a hard copy so I can see the pictures in color. A must read for any serious Audrey fan!
March 22, 2023
This book wasn’t a snoozer, but it wasn’t overly interesting either. There were a few instances where Audrey’s personal experiences were shared but not much there in the way of in-depth personal information. It was more like a review of her movies and oh, by the way, this is what was going on in her life at the time of each one. A lot more detail on the movies and the business of making them than on Audrey and her family themselves. It wasn’t awful but I don’t necessarily recommend it unless your goal is to learn more about the movies she made and who her costars, directors, producers, costumers, camera man, etc. were.
September 29, 2018
I almost put this in the "To the Charity Shop" pile, then looked inside at the fantastic photos of Audrey and put it back on the shelf.
February 11, 2022
Lovely pictures but it’s really quite boring and judgemental
July 28, 2019
First of all, remember that 3 stars signifies that I liked it. I am not a movie buff nor a seeker of movieland gossip. I'm old enough to remember Audrey's appearance in her early movies, and reading this book was like meeting an old friend. I remembered nothing about her life, only that she was a darling girl and her movies were wonderful. In this book I learned a lot more about her and both her movie-actor life as well as her personal life.
There were parts of the book that I found slow; Robyn Karney, the author, was in the movie field herself and lots of what she wrote about the mechanics of getting a movie from "idea" to "screen" was not particularly of interest to me. But overall, I enjoyed the book, learned a lot, and would sure like to see some of those old movies again. And it was a real treat to see the many, many pictures of her throughout her life.
Yep, I liked the book. Glad I read it.
There were parts of the book that I found slow; Robyn Karney, the author, was in the movie field herself and lots of what she wrote about the mechanics of getting a movie from "idea" to "screen" was not particularly of interest to me. But overall, I enjoyed the book, learned a lot, and would sure like to see some of those old movies again. And it was a real treat to see the many, many pictures of her throughout her life.
Yep, I liked the book. Glad I read it.
October 25, 2020
I didn't know anything about Audrey Hepburn before reading this book. But now I do! She was an amazing person. This book is easy to read, very enjoyable, with lots of great pictures of her and pictures from her movies. I had only seen the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's a few times before I bought it along with several of her other movies without even seeing them any other way first! She was such a great actress!
May 5, 2017
I love her even more now!
Written by someone who obviously adored Audrey. Yet it comes across as completely honest and sincere. The back stories are always so interesting!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has seen any of her movies. She will always be "My Fair Lady"!!
Written by someone who obviously adored Audrey. Yet it comes across as completely honest and sincere. The back stories are always so interesting!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has seen any of her movies. She will always be "My Fair Lady"!!
October 15, 2019
This is a well-written and well-illustrated biography of Audrey Hepburn's screen career. It includes a chapter of her young life and experience helping the Dutch resistance to Nazi occupation and ends with a brief chapter covering her post screen years, but the emphasis is on the movies so it remains somewhat superficial. I enjoyed the book but I was hoping for much more.
March 22, 2023
I gave this 4 and a half stars, because as enjoyable as it was, it left out a lot of information as well. For example, did Audrey ever see her father again after WW2? What happened to her eldest brother? When and why did Audrey change her name from Edda? I have many more questions after reading the book. But as a filmography and a lightly touched on life of Hepburn, it was a very good read.
May 15, 2017
Inspiring biography
I enjoyed reading this biography of a glamorous larger than life, legendary actress. It was a wonderful chronicle of her life, her work in films and her humanitarian efforts.
I enjoyed reading this biography of a glamorous larger than life, legendary actress. It was a wonderful chronicle of her life, her work in films and her humanitarian efforts.
June 2, 2017
A lovely portrait of a beautiful icon .
Although not an in depth biography of her personal life. An excellent overview of her movies and the impacts of her life. Well worth the trip of this enjoyable read.
Although not an in depth biography of her personal life. An excellent overview of her movies and the impacts of her life. Well worth the trip of this enjoyable read.
April 19, 2018
Not very detailed, only key events and some of her major films are pictured in this book. Also I'm not satisfied by the print quality of this book. I'm collecting her picture books but this one's definitely not a keeper.
January 28, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I've always enjoyed Audrey Hepburn movies, have seened most of them. This book gave you a great view of all her movies. It also included a look at her young life in Nazi-occpied Holland. Wonderful book, worth reading,
October 6, 2021
What Can Be Said About Audrey Hepburn That Hasn't Been Said Already?
Two of my favorite all time movies are Audrey Hepburn's, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday. I try to catch either movie whenever I can.
Two of my favorite all time movies are Audrey Hepburn's, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday. I try to catch either movie whenever I can.
August 4, 2017
Well written book. Great photos. Left me wanting to know more though.
December 14, 2017
Well written. Lots of information I never knew.
August 29, 2017
One of my favorite actresses of all time, she was a real lady.
September 15, 2017
Admiration
I enjoyed this book. It made me think that I would have liked to have known Audrey Hepburn and would have been honored to have her as a friend.
I enjoyed this book. It made me think that I would have liked to have known Audrey Hepburn and would have been honored to have her as a friend.
December 6, 2017
Audrey
If you are a fan of Audrey Hepburn, this is the book for you. Miss Hepburn was a truly gifted actress.
If you are a fan of Audrey Hepburn, this is the book for you. Miss Hepburn was a truly gifted actress.
April 8, 2018
Charming
June 20, 2018
Outstanding
Written so well, spanning her remarkable life, commitments, loves. Great read and yes, recommended. If Hollywood could only produce another Hepburn...
Written so well, spanning her remarkable life, commitments, loves. Great read and yes, recommended. If Hollywood could only produce another Hepburn...
September 17, 2020
very informative about her life. I always admired her as an actress. She did live a charmed life.
unfortunately she died too young.
unfortunately she died too young.
October 10, 2020
A well balanced biography. Information on her childhood was particularly interesting, since I knew nothing about her early life. She lived a rich life.
November 6, 2021
Who doesn’t love Audrey Hepburn? This book reinforced the image of a thoroughly classy lady. It was a delightful read.
January 20, 2025
Enjoyable biography of a lovely person and wonderful actress. Well written though nothing ground-breaking.
September 1, 2021
Well written. I loved reading about her life and struggles. She truly was a beautiful person.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews