In 1951, a 22-year-old Audrey Hepburn—then a recent European export—made her Broadway debut as the star of Gigi, a stage adaptation of Colette’s hit novella. Hollywood took note of the gamine ingénue with heavyweight acting chops, and two years later the world fell in love with the actress, as Princess Ann, in Roman Holiday. (A role that earned the “O” in her EGOT.) Now a new book of photographs, Audrey: The 50s (Dey Street Books) from David Wills, celebrates the person and the decade that gave us Funny Face and Sabrina, among many others. What follows is an exclusive preview, including some never-before-seen shots of the timeless icon.
- Audrey Hepburn, wearing Givenchy, poses on location during the filming of Funny Face (1957) at the Jardin des Tuileries.
- Hepburn and co-star Gregory Peck play cards on a break during the filming of Roman Holiday (1953).
- Hepburn chats with Peck, director William Wyler, and the crew on location for Roman Holiday at the “Wall of Wishes,” in Rome.
- The Lady in Red Givenchy descends the Daru Steps—with the Winged Victory of Samothrace as a backdrop—at the Louvre in Funny Face (1957).
- Hepburn and co-star Cathleen Nesbitt in Broadway’s 1951 hit Gigi. Hepburn was named one of the “Promising Personalities” at the Theatre World Awards for her performance.
- Billy Wilder directs Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in a scene from Sabrina (1954).
- A still from Funny Face, by Bud Fraker. The late Fraker, who was the head of publicity photography at Columbia and then Paramount Studios, would later be responsible for the iconic still shots of Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
- Hepburn kicks back on her Manhattan apartment’s terrace in 1954.
- Hepburn and Ferrer, photographed in 1956 next to their Ford Thunderbird (from the same year) outside their home in Beverly Hills.
- A portrait of a leading lady, by Bud Fraker, c. 1953.
