The only official biography of fashion and film icon and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, with the actress''s personal history, insights from her family about her philosophy of life, and an intimate picture of how she lived outside of the public eye. There are few celebrities of yesterday or today as iconic as Audrey Hepburn. From humble beginnings, growing up in the Netherlands and nearly dying of malnutrition while assisting the Dutch resistance during World War II, she would go on to be one of the biggest movies stars in history. Best known for her work in classic and renowned films such as Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany''s , Charade , and My Fair Lady, Audrey won just about every award in show business, earning the coveted EGOT designation. Offscreen, she became a darling of the public with her unique, trendsetting fashion sense (for which she also won awards), then later in life, she became the most high-profile Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her humanitarian work. More than thirty years after her death, this aspirational, inspirational, and hugely talented woman is still revered as the epitome of style, sophistication, and beauty. But while more than 300 books have been published about the phenomenon that was Audrey Hepburn, none have truly gotten under the skin of the woman who emerged from the rubble of war to become a symbol for female emancipation, resilience, and authenticity. Ranked as one of the greatest screen legends of all time, she was so much more than that and her legacy of feminism and compassion is what would have made her most proud. INTIMATE AUDREY will take the reader behind the camera to meet the real woman, the survivor, as told by those who knew and loved her.

Autorentext

Sean Hepburn Ferrer was born in Bürgenstock, Lucerne, Switzerland on July 17, 1960. For 40 years, Sean has worked in every aspect of the Entertainment industry and a series of nonprofits dedicated to continuing his mother's humanitarian legacy as a UNICEF ambassador. He is the author of the New York Times best seller Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit. Sean, together with his wife Karin with whom he not only shares his life but also his day to day business, distilled Audrey's rich life into this essential story in Little Audrey's Daydream. They split their time between Switzerland, Spain, and Florence, Italy, with their five children.

Wendy Holdenhas written dozens of novels, memoirs and biographies, many of them bestsellers. She co-wrote Goldie Hawn's memoir (A Lotus Grows in the Mud), Barbara Sinatra's memoir (Lady Blue Eyes), and Patricia Gucci's memoir (In the Name of Gucci), among many others.

Klappentext

'I came to realise my mother was a lioness. She was soft and strong at the same time and had the gentlest of hearts.' - Sean Hepburn FerrerThe deeply personal, official biography of Audrey Hepburn, full of untold stories exclusive photos and cherish memories from her son Sean Hepburn Ferrer, one of the people who knew her best.

Audrey Hepburn was many things. She was a child survivor of the Second World War. She was a symbol of timeless style. She played a runaway princess, an eccentric socialite and a nun struggling with her faith. But perhaps her greatest contribution to the world was as a selfless humanitarian in the final years of her life.

For Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey was also his mother. In INTIMATE AUDREY, he candidly recounts how the shy 'girl from across the landing' became the star we remember and love today. Featuring never-before-seen photographs and excerpts from her personal letters, this book is an intimate portrait of Audrey: as an icon, as a mother and as an altruist who drew on her own experience of hunger and suffering to advocate fiercely for children in war-torn countries.

Audrey shines in this moving portrait of a mother by her son; a visionary woman who continues to defy all expectations decades after her death.