General Discussion

sheshe2

(83,737 posts) Thu May 28, 2015, 09:44 PM May 2015

WOMAN HERO: AUDREY HEPBURN

Audrey Hepburn is my Hero because, though she began life as a privileged child, her parents divorced and she resided with her mother in Holland, which would soon be hit very hard by the Second World War. Rather than shrink from the hardships, she began working for the resistance in Holland. During this time she was also struggling to pursue the art of ballet. After the war ended Audrey applied her skills to the performing arts becoming a very successful stage and film figure. Instead of retiring with wealth and fame in her later years, she dedicated herself to working with UNICEF and promoting the welfare of children around the world.

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. Her mother was a Dutch baroness and her father a wealthy English banker. After Audrey's parents divorced, she moved to London with her mother where she attended a private school for girls. Later, when they returned to the Netherlands, she continued to attend private school. While vacationing with her mother in Arnhem, Holland, Hitler's army took over the town. During the Nazi occupation Audrey and her mother fell on hard times. Audrey suffered from depression and malnutrition. She was in constant danger, and witnessed horrible crimes against humanity. In the following quote she explains, "We saw young men put against the wall and shot, and they'd close the street and then open it and you could pass by again...Don't discount anything awful you hear or read about the Nazis. It's worse than you could ever imagine." She also was continually working for the resistance.

Three years after the liberation, in 1948, Audrey and her mother moved back to London, were she went to a ballet school on a scholarship and quickly began a modeling career. After being seen modeling by a producer, she was asked to perform in a part in the European film Nederlands in 7 Lessons. Audrey earned immediate distinction in the United States with her role in Roman Holiday in 1953. This film turned out to be a huge success, winning an Oscar for Best Actress. This gained her enormous popularity and more roles. From 1967, after 15 years in film, she acted only occasionally. She spent most of her time with her family and began working with UNICEF. Audrey was appointed as a special ambassador to UNICEF and became actively involved in campaigns to advance conditions for children around the world. After returning from Somalia in 1992 Audrey developed colon cancer. The disease proved to be untreatable. On January 1993 Audrey Hepburn died in Switzerland at age 63.

Audrey Hepburn inspires me because she had such a fierce drive and determination to help other people no matter what situation she was in. She was a brilliant actress and dancer as well as a humanitarian devoted to the betterment of the quality of life. She has received countless awards, including Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Certificate of Merit for UNICEF Ambassadorship, the Lifetime of Style Award (given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America) and the Living Legacy Award (given by the Women's International Centre for "Stunning contributions to humanity and enduring legacies" given posthumously in 2000) as well as many others.

http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=A_Hepburn_PCVS_CA_2008_ul

Actually, she is a shero.

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Audrey Hepburn. UNICEF

"I can testify to what UNICEF means to children, because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II," said actress Audrey Hepburn on her appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador in 1989. "I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does." As a result of her work for UNICEF over subsequent years, that gratitude is mutual.

On a mission

Soon after becoming a UNICEF ambassador, Hepburn went on a mission to Ethiopia, where years of drought and civil strife had caused terrible famine. After visiting UNICEF emergency operations, she talked about the projects to the media in the United States, Canada and Europe over several weeks, giving as many as 15 interviews a day. It set a precedent for her commitment to the organization.

In the years that followed, Hepburn made a series of UNICEF field trips, visiting a polio vaccine project in Turkey, training programmes for women in Venezuela, projects for children living and working on the street in Ecuador, projects to provide drinking water in Guatemala and Honduras and radio literacy projects in El Salvador. She saw schools in Bangladesh, projects for impoverished children in Thailand, nutrition projects in Viet Nam and camps for displaced children in Sudan.

Hepburn also worked tirelessly for UNICEF when not making field trips. She testified before the US Congress, took part in the World Summit for Children, launched UNICEF's State of the World's Children reports, hosted Danny Kaye International Children's Award ceremonies, designed fundraising cards, participated in benefit concert tours and gave many speeches and interviews promoting UNICEF's work.

Hepburn received the United States' highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in December 1992. During that year, though ill with cancer, she had continued her work for UNICEF, travelling to Somalia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France and the United States.

http://www.unicef.org/people/people_audrey_hepburn.html