British actress Audrey Hepburn is recognized as an icon of cinema and fashion. She has radiated beauty and elegance throughout her career. She has acted in many films and is best known for her classic films such as: Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's, My Fair Lady and Roman Holiday. He received many awards throughout his life, but it took a lot of hard work and determination. Many people don't know much about her, her childhood, and what she did before and after her career took off. Hepburn grew up during World War II. It was a difficult time for her, but she had extraordinary courage through it all. The problems Audrey faced in her childhood affected who she was and who she would be when she grew up. He persevered through a scary childhood and health issues he faced when he was older. Throughout his life he never stopped persevering. Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 as Audrey Kathleen Ruston in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. Hepburn's father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, was a British businessman and her mother, Ella van Heemstra, was a Dutch aristocrat. Although Hepburn's father was born Ruston, she decided to take the surname Hepburn-Ruston. Ruston mistakenly believed he was the descendant of James Hepburn, third husband of Mary, Queen of Scott. From then on, Audrey Kathleen Ruston was known as Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston, which everyone knows as Audrey Hepburn. Since Hepburn's father was a businessman, the whole family traveled back and forth between the Netherlands, Belgium and England. When her father left the family in 1935, the travels ended, and Hepburn's mother decided to take her family and live in England. But in 1939, Britain declared war on Germany, and Hepburn's mother thought she was...halfway there...there. At the time, director William Wyler was looking for a European actress to play the leading role of a princess in his new film, a romantic comedy, Roman Holiday. Hepburn was asked to audition by executives at Paramount's London office. Captivated by her performance, Wyler gave Hepburn the lead role. Gigi ran until May 31, 1952 and earned Hepburn a Theater World Award and numerous honors. When Gigi finished, Hepburn flew to Rome to star in Roman Holiday. The film was a huge success and in 1953, Hepburn received the Oscar for Best Actress when she was only 24 years old. Recognized as Hollywood's new star, Hepburn was chosen by Paramount to play Sabrina in the film Sabrina. Once again she was nominated for Best Actress, but was beaten by Grace Kelly in The Country Girl. In 1954, Hepburn met and dated actor Mel Ferrer when co-