She would be 81 today. "So young?", said my brother. I know what he meant.
The ubiquitous icon, the wonderful actress, the shiny presence, the kindest woman, left us too early.
I've said that Hitch introduced me to classic movies. That's correct. But it was Audrey who showed me that the performers that happened to breath, dream, love and radiate splendor before I was born were worthy to watch. No, more than that: they deserved to be watched.
And there she was. She was Holly Golightly. She was there all dressed up eating her croissant in front of Tiffany's. She was there looking for her shoe and asking "how do I look?". She was there smiling, dancing, hiding her feelings. She was there suffering. She was there, sitting by the window, singing one of the most beautiful songs ever composed, ever written, with her own voice and her absent gaze. She was there drunk. She was there crying, in love, but not sure of anything. And it rained.
And then came "Sabrina", Billy Wilder, William Holden, Bogie, Paris, "Roman Holiday", Gregory Peck, William Wyler, Dalton Trumbo, Rome, "Love in the afternoon", Gary Cooper, Fascination, "Funny face", Stanley Donen, Fred Astaire, Givenchy, the Gershwin brothers, "War and peace", Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, "The Nun's story", Fred Zinemmann, "The Unforgiven", Burt Lancaster, "My Fair Lady", George Cukor, Rex Harrison, "Charade", Cary Grant, "Two for the road", Albert Finney...Audrey presented me so many talented people, such beautiful music and places, so many unforgettable movies.
She educated me and made me a classic film lover.
She lived, she smiled, she looked around with her big eyes. No one, ever, ever, said something negative about her. She was kind and easy to work with. She remembered the terrible war, she remembered poor little Anna Frank. She loved chocolates and cigarettes. She was generous and respected the private life of others and her own. She wanted to love; she was deceived. She loved flowers. She traveled and tried to give some comfort to the innocent, the weak; she was ill. She died. She left us too early.
But she's remembered.
What a lovely post. I love the way you describe Audrey; it is just how I see her. She would have been a wonderful 81-year-old, but at least we had her as long as we did!
ReplyDeleteThank you KC. I really appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteShe died too early. I have a book with quotes by people who knew her, and, as you said, there isn't one bad comment.
ReplyDeleteCamille
Yes, the fact that nobody ever said a negative thing about her has always impressed me, and it shows the kind of person she was. Thanks for your comment Camille (and for subscribing ^^)
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ReplyDeleteThank you KC. I really appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I love the way you describe Audrey; it is just how I see her. She would have been a wonderful 81-year-old, but at least we had her as long as we did!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to such a lovely and remarkable woman, Clara! Your salute to Audrey Hepburn touched my heart!
ReplyDeleteAudrey was an angel... We still mis you, Audrey Hepburn
ReplyDeleteAudrey was such a magnificent actress - she seemed to possess human vulnerability and strength at the same time - and her persona so admirable, that I sometimes let myself believe that she was some sort of human angel. However, I actually found out that the writer J. D. Salinger hated Audrey (but loved Anne Bancroft..). I couldn't find out why, yet it's still hard to imagine that anyone can hate her. Maybe it's just typical Salinger?
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