Audrey Hepburn Said She Would Take Her Family To Australia Before She Died: 'That Dream Kept Us All Going'

Mar 28, 2022 by apost team

It's been more than 28 years since famous Belgian-born actress Audrey Hepburn died, but her memory has certainly not been forgotten. Known as a talented actress and a kind-hearted humanitarian, Hepburn's legacy has continued to live on in Hollywood and also in the stunning small village of Tolochenaz in Switzerland, where she spent the last 30 years of her life.

Born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium, Hepburn was raised by her mother after her father decided to leave them when she was only six years old. Her family moved around a bit afterward, first moving to England and then to the Netherlands, where she started taking ballet lessons. She later made her film debut, and the rest is history.

The talented actress went on to receive plenty of awards and accolades for her work in the classic Hollywood movie industry. She starred in a handful of movies, including "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Roman Holiday." Hepburn made sure to use her platform to help those in need and dedicated the latter part of her life to giving back to others and investing in charities and organizations.

Before she died of cancer in 1993, Hepburn had lived a stunning life full of beauty, love, and warmth. She was known by people from all over the world and made genuine connections with those in the Swiss village she spent the last 30 years of her life. 

The star passed on, surrounded by her sons and long-term partner, Robert Wolders. Keep reading to find out more about the period leading up to Hepburn's death.

In 1945, Hepburn moved to Amsterdam with her mother and siblings, where she began taking prestigious ballet lessons. She was dedicated to the arts and, in 1948, made her film debut in "Dutch in Seven Lessons." She later moved to London and found part-time work as a model while pursuing a career as a ballerina. However, her career as a dancer didn't pan out as planned, resulting in Hepburn redirecting her focus to acting.

The rising actress began landing roles in various television shows before she earned her first main supporting role in 1952 in "Secret People." The following year, Hepburn starred in "Roman Holiday." Director William Wyler loved her screen test so much that he decided to cast her. It turned out that critics loved her, too, as the role earned her a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress, an Academy Award for Best Actress, and a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Hepburn's career as an actress was quite successful, as she went on to star in the 1961 romantic comedy "Breakfast at Tiffany's," which was received well by both critics and fans. 

Using her platform for good, Hepburn first began working with UNICEF in the 1950s and was later appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in 1989. She went on various missions to help starving children and spread awareness on ways other people could help.

Having accomplished so much in her life, Hepburn decided to live a more peaceful life during the last three decades she was alive by residing in the small town of Tolochenaz, Switzerland. According to USA Today, the village has about 1,800 residents.

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Robert Matzen, the author of "Warrior: Audrey Hepburn," explained how much the Swiss town meant to her. "She always felt grounded at that place, with its garden and fruit trees," he said. "She was never happy if she was away from there for too long."

Hepburn's youngest son, Luca Dotti, shared that in the months before his mother's death, she kept her family's spirits up by planning a trip. "She was sick in bed but talked about taking us all to Australia because she had heard it was very beautiful," he recalled. "That dream was what kept us all going."

The actress's older son, Sean Ferrer, spent a lot of time with his mother in the weeks leading up to her passing. The experience of being there for her left a mark on the film producer. "I remember the important things that she left us with," he shared. "And the conversations that we had in the last few weeks."

According to the star's long-term partner Robert Wolders, who she called Robbie, Hepburn was in good spirits until the very end. "There was no resentment, no bitterness," he said. "She even said it might have been the best time of her life because she felt the boys and I closer to her than ever."

Hepburn's son Sean honored his mom by sharing how he felt about her passing. "She died at 63, which is young," he said. "But she had lived a very full life. I think 63 years as Audrey Hepburn would equal 120 years of experience for somebody else."

Are you a fan of Audrey Hepburn? What is your favorite movie of hers? Let us know and be sure to send this along to your friends and family.