The very inspirational actress and activist Audrey Hepburn is a role model for many people even though most only know her for her acting.
Photo By: Isabella Rivera, Photographer

By: Katelyn Liston, Reporter

Many people are noted in history for the progress they achieved in arts and entertainment, such as Betty Davis, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley. Some though are only noticed for these achievements despite their accomplishments in many other fields. This includes Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn is only noted for her beauty and strength in acting, despite her worldly contributions.

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 and began dancing at the age of 5. At 22, she starred in her first role in the Broadway production of Gigi. Hepburn received roles in 27 various films, her most famous being Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In her lifetime, she received two Academy awards, three British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, an Emmy award, three Golden Globe awards, a Grammy award, a Screen Actor’s Guild award, a David Di Donello award, and two Tony awards, among many other awards, nominations, and recognizations. It makes sense that the majority people remember her as a theatrical classic with this resume on hand.

“[Hepburn encourages others to accomplish other similar goals and tasks, for example cinematography,” says junior Bao Huynh.

Outside of these awards though, she made a lasting impression on the world. When Hepburn was only a teenager, she danced at events to raise money for the Dutch Resistance, who fought against the Nazis who occupied the Netherlands during World War II. She became sick during this time and was assisted by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and eventually dedicated herself to assisting other children in need worldwide. Ultimately, she became an ambassador for the organization and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States which recognizes merit. She was also awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, given at the Governors Awards ceremonies for an actor’s efforts in humanitarianism, for her work as an ambassador.

Too many people are recognized for their superficial value these days and the truly amazing things they have done go unrecognized.  Leonardo DiCaprio pledged $7 million toward ocean conservation, Miley Cyrus has fought against double standards in society through the usage of music, supports a total of twenty-nine causes, has contributed to forty charities, and had a homeless man accept her MTV Music Videos award to bring attention to the issue of homeless youth, and Marilyn Monroe supported and donated to many children’s groups including Jude’s Hospital, WAIF, an organization that houses homeless children, The March of Dimes parade to aid those with polio, and The Milk Fund for Babies.

Only recognizing these common heroes as pretty faces is shallow and superficial. People need to start recognizing these people for their accomplishments.

Sophomore Arige Shaukat says, “[Audrey Hepburn not being recognized] pretty much shows that we don’t like to think deep about things; if there’s something more complex about a person, [people] don’t like to think about it.”

Hepburn died on January 20, 1993, but her efforts can still be seen today throughout the world, such as in the Audrey Hepburn Society, which continues to help children in need today. Hepburn is much more than a handful of movies or a few dance recitals. She is a legendary figure that deserve much more recognition than she receives and one of the most important women to.