Audrey Hepburn photographed wearing Givenchy by Norman Parkinson, 1955. Copyright: Norman Parkinson Ltd/Courtesy Norman Parkinson Archive
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Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon, a major photography exhibition exploring her fascinating life and career has just opened at National Portrait Gallery, London.
This
exhibition chronicles the rise from her early years in the Netherlands,
and as a dancer and chorus girl in London’s West End, to her becoming a
stage and screen icon, and culminating with her philanthropy work in
later life.
On display are more than 70 photographs of Audrey
Hepburn beginning when she was nine years old, formal portraits, and
photographs taken while on set during movie productions. Many which have
never been on public display, making this a remarkable exhibition.
Highlights
of the display include images of her early work in London as a fashion
model taken by photographer Anthony Beauchamp for the department store
Marshall & Snelgrove. Also included are portraits taken by some of
the most leading photographers of the twentieth century, including
Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn and many others.
Included in the exhibition are vintage magazine covers, from the Picturegoer in 1952 to the front cover of Life Magazine featuring Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961.
Born
in Brussels to a Dutch Baroness and an Anglo-Irish Father in 1929,
Hepburn moved to London from Amsterdam in late 1948 to take up a ballet
scholarship at the Rambert Ballet School in Notting Hill. After many
stage performances as a chorus girl in the West End, Hepburn made her
first screen debut in British film. Her critically acclaimed stage
performance Gigi in New York, 1951 introduced Hepburn to American audiences, which propelled her career internationally.
During
the 50’s and 60’s, Audrey Hepburn’s career flourished with several
movie roles and she was the first actress ever to win an Academy Award,
Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for a single performance. It was her
leading role in Roman Holiday, 1953.
Hepburn worked as a Unicef ambassador from 1988 until her death in 1993.
In
an era of fashion icons, Audrey Hepburn is no doubt at the top of the
list. Her grace, beauty and humanitarian work has made her the world’s
first truly international star.
Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon runs until October 18, 2015.
If
you go, National Portrait Gallery is conveniently located within a two
minute walk from Trafalgar Square. Open daily 10 am - 6 pm, Thursdays
& Fridays until 9 pm. Nearest Underground: Leicester Square /
Charing Cross.
Read all articles by Edward Quan
About the Author: Experienced luxury
fashion buyer Edward Quan
has worked with the most prestigious designer brands across Europe and
America and shares his inspiration for effortless style on his website, StyleDrama.com.
He has a passionate, yet intelligent way of describing his subject and
has a keen eye for detail. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
