Audrey Hepburn, a Belgian-born actor and humanitarian, who became one of Hollywood’s best-known and most beloved stars with her leading roles in films such as Roman Holiday (1953), Funny Face (1957), and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).

She was born Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston in Brussels. Her father was a British banker and her mother a Dutch baroness. Hepburn was educated at private schools in England and the Netherlands. During World War II she suffered oppression and malnutrition while living in the Netherlands with her family during the Nazi occupation of 1944 to 1945.

Audrey’s career began as a model, and began to act in films in 1951. She starred in many movies, including War and Peace (1956), The Unforgiven (1960), Charade (1963), and My Fair Lady (1964). She won an Academy Award as best actress for her role in Roman Holiday, and was nominated for best actress for her roles in Sabrina (1954), The Nun’s Story (1959), Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Wait Until Dark (1967).

In 1988 Hepburn became a special ambassador to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and spent the last years of her life working for needy children, especially in Africa and Latin America.

Audrey passed away in Switzerland on January 20, 1993 after a courageous battle with cancer of the colon.

Culled from the IMDB Biography of Audrey Hepburn.