French Biographer Explores Life of Audrey Hepburn in New Book

Audrey Hepburn poses with her Oscar for best actress for the film "Roman Holiday" on March 25, 1954 | AFP Photo
Audrey Hepburn poses with her Oscar for best actress for the film "Roman Holiday" on March 25, 1954 | AFP Photo
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French Biographer Explores Life of Audrey Hepburn in New Book

Audrey Hepburn poses with her Oscar for best actress for the film "Roman Holiday" on March 25, 1954 | AFP Photo
Audrey Hepburn poses with her Oscar for best actress for the film "Roman Holiday" on March 25, 1954 | AFP Photo

Audrey Hepburn has been the star of many books before and after she left this world. French biographer Guillaume Evin has recently released a new book revolving around the journey of the British star whose movies still charm cinema lovers 50 years after she ended her career, and around 30 years after her death from cancer. Evin wrote many popular books about several stars including Steve McQueen, Brigitte Bardot, and Alain Delon, in addition to many others about the Scottish actor Sean Connery and his character in the James Bond movies.

Hepburn, who was born in Belgium, amazed Hollywood with her exceptional talent in the 1950s, although she wasn't blonde and chubby actress like the stars of that time. She was so skinny, with black hair, two wide eyes, and the uncanny fitness of a ballerina. These characteristics caught the attention of many famous fashion designers, mostly the French Hubert de Givenchy who built a strong decades-long friendship with her.

Thanks to her unique personality, she managed to break into the exclusive club of actresses who won the four top cinema awards: Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar. She was awarded the 1954 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Roman Holiday" directed by William Wyler and co-starred by Gregory Peck. She also won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for her performance in the same movie. In 1955, she was awarded a Henrietta Award for World Film Favorite. She was also a prominent humanitarian activist who focused on helping children as a UNICEF ambassador. After her death, Hepburn won a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her humanitarian work.

The book highlights many phases of the British star's journey, starting from a miserable childhood in a boarding school, the Second World War, and her struggle with her father, who was a Nazi supporter and abandoned his family and divorced her mother. However, the skinny girl who never thought she could survive the war found her way to the big screen, fame, and stardom. Yet, the 38-year-old Audrey decided to give up on acting at the peak of her success to dedicate her life to her two sons, and used her fame to serve the children care associations in poor countries.

Released by Casa editions, the 200-page book was issued with a box including a brochure and a CD of the "Love in the Afternoon," one of Hepburn's iconic movies. It was directed by Billy Wilder and screened in 1957. She co-starred it with the great Gary Cooper, playing a young woman who falls in love with a manipulative older man. The CD features a new edition of the movie restored by Carlotta Films.

Hepburn also inspired a series produced by the Wildside Company. Her son Luca Dotti co-wrote the script of the series which depicts the amazing life of an unforgettable actress and her subtle roles in movies like Funny Face and My Fair Lady. Luca, Hepburn's son from her Italian husband took his ideas for the series from a 2015 book entitled Audrey at Home. The series followed a movie about Hepburn starred by Jennifer Love Hewitt in 2000.

In a recent interview with The Sun, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, 60, her other son from her American husband, actor Mel Ferrer, said his mother lived many emotional failures despite her outstanding career. The interview discussed a documentary entitled "Audrey: More Than an Icon" that explores the "deep pains she hid behind her beautiful smile." Ferrer added that his mother always opened up to him about what she was facing with teary eyes, and asked for his advice, but he was a little boy and he didn't know how to help her.



Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference
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Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission, in collaboration with the Heritage Commission, launched on Monday an open call for participation in the twelfth edition of the Red Sea Conference, scheduled for April 9 to 12, 2026, at the forthcoming Red Sea Museum.

The museum is housed in the historic Bab Al-Bunt building, located in the heart of Jeddah Historic District, which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014.

The event aligns with Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to boost its cultural and academic presence in the region and to activate the role of museums as vital platforms for cultural knowledge and exchange.

‏Since its inception in 2002, the Red Sea Conference has established itself as a leading international forum for the interdisciplinary study of the Red Sea as a unique historical and geographical corridor.

Past editions were hosted by renowned institutions including the British Museum, the University of Southampton, the University of Exeter, the University of Tabuk, the Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale", the University of Warsaw, the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, the University of Crete, and the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.

‏The conference will explore a rich array of interdisciplinary themes, including the Red Sea as a dynamic space shaped by cultural and geographical boundaries, its role as a major artery of ancient maritime trade and exchange, and the relationship between people and the environment over time.

Participants will also examine the archaeological landscapes of ancient cities and ports, approaches to preserving cultural and underwater heritage, and the lasting impact of cross-cultural interactions across Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean.

‏In support of scholarly research and to encourage broad participation, the organizers have announced the availability of five travel grants for researchers whose papers are accepted. These grants will cover travel, accommodation, and registration fees, with preference given to applicants from the Red Sea region and developing countries.

‏By hosting the Red Sea Conference, the Museums Commission and the Heritage Commission underscore the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to foster cultural dialogue, strengthen international collaboration, and highlight the enduring role of the Red Sea as a living archive of human history and civilizations.