Did you know that Audrey Hepburn was born in Ixelles?
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress, model, dancer and humanitarian. Recognized as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during Hollywood’s Golden Age.
The 25th anniversary of her death is an occasion to rediscover who she was.
This exceptional woman born to Joseph Ruston, the Director of the Brussels branch of the Bank of England and Ella Van Heemstra. They married in 1926 and lived at 48 rue Keyenveld, Ixelles, which at the time was the commune for students, artists, and intellectuals. Much of her childhood was spent in Belgium, England and the Netherlands.
Thought she was initially destined to be a dancer, she took up theater at the end of the 1940’s. The success of the Broadway play Gigi in 1951 opened the doors to cinema for her. In 1953, at the age of 23, she receives the Oscar for best actress for her role in Roman Holiday. Some of her most successful movies are Sabrina (1954), War and Peace (1956) based on the Tolstoy novel, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964).
The success of the Broadway play Gigi in 1951 opened the doors to cinema for her. In 1953, at the age of 23, she receives the Oscar for best actress for her role in Roman Holiday. Some of her most successful movies are Sabrina (1954), War and Peace (1956) based on the Tolstoy novel, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964).
She gradually stopped her career as an actress to focus more on humanitarian aid. She traveled several times to Africa and Latin America for UNICEF, for whom she became a Goodwill Ambassador in 1981. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 1992.
A month later, Hepburn died at her home in Switzerland at the age of 63.
And so, to commemorate and rediscover the footprints of this Hollywood icon, with support from the Commune d’Ixelles, this past 14th of February the ASBL Itineraries brought us along to discover her childhood home but also through her relationship with fashion and dance. Three exceptional, guided tours took place. Additional tours are organized for the 4th of May.
