Have you noticed how some of the most inspirational and iconic heroes are the ones that turn their life’s tragedies into inspiration for others? There is simply no denying that people love a good underdog story. There is also nothing like seeing someone come from nothing and make it big. While there have been tons of people that have gone through this in the past, there are also those that have overcome things that people never even knew about and still made it big. This was the case for Audrey Hepburn. She is without a doubt one of the biggest icons of this generation and past, but she also faced and overcame a lot that people never even knew about.

They still wouldn’t know about these tragedies today if it wasn’t for the release of her new documentary. This documentary explores the traumas that the fashion icon overcame to make it to where she is today. A lot of these tragedies were unexplored by the public and still would be today if it wasn’t for this new documentary. That being said, this is just one of the major reasons that Audrey is much more than just an average fashion icon.

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Garbed in an elegant black dress, sporting a dazzling necklace of pearls with hair in a chic updo topped with a sparkling tiara is just one of the many of the iconic scenes that Audrey Hepburn created over the years. That being said, this is likely one of the most memorable. And, this is because it was the image that the Hollywood star donned in the still snapshot from ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s,’ the hit 1961 movie where she played Holly Golightly. This character was based on the messy, lovable eccentric socialite from Truman Capote’s 1958 novel of the same name, but when it came right down to it, none of that mattered.

As iconic as the image is still today, it is nothing of the real individual. This is exactly what director Helena Coan sets out to show in the new hit documentary ‘Audrey: More Than An Icon.’

Problems Stemmed From Birth

Most don’t know it or won’t know it until they set eyes on this new documentary, but Audrey’s troubles stem all the way back to her childhood. Born in Belgium during the early thirties to a Dutch noblewoman and an Austrian banker, Audrey was introduced into the world at extremely troubling times. Not only were the times troubling and uncertain for her and her family but they were the same for the entire continent of Europe. The Nazis were invading and anything was left to chance. Her father soon walked out on the family after the forces occupied the country and this left Audrey and the rest of her family dealing with poverty, displacement and undernourishment.

While she still had dancing to turn to during this horrible time of uncertainty and need, this was something that was also eventually ripped from her. It was these struggles that would start the foundation for what this fashion icon became today.

A Move To Amsterdam to Study Dance

Anyone that places bets with quality online gambling sites like Agen Bola and seen Audrey dance would tell you without a doubt to put money on her hitting it big. After being forced to flee to Amsterdam, Audrey took up the study of dance, in particular ballet. This is where she, as a teen, transition into the theater to earn extra cash for her family. This would lead to her eventual casting in a series of British musical comedies during the early ’50s. This eventually led to her landing one of the most crucial roles of her life, ‘Gigi’ on Broadway.

These are just a few of the things that are covered during the first twenty-odd years of her life. While Coan breezes through these moments, the highlights and most significant events during these times are covered. These are also just a few of the reasons why Hepburn’s origins should be celebrated for things other than her performances and abilities.

Conclusion

There is simply no denying that Audrey had one of those up and down childhoods that would lead to some of her biggest successes, but these are not the only reasons she is where she is today. With true talent and an eye for fashion, Audrey really had the talent and skill to make it big.

By Karen Benardello

As a graduate of LIU Post with a B.F.A in Journalism, Print and Electronic, Karen Benardello serves as ShockYa's Senior Movies & Television Editor. Her duties include interviewing filmmakers and musicians, and scribing movie, television and music reviews and news articles. As a New York City-area based journalist, she's a member of the guilds, New York Film Critics Online and the Women Film Critics Circle.

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