Audrey Hepburn
Introduction 1951 proved to be a watershed year for Audrey. A chance encounter in a hotel lobby on the French Riviera, inspired French author, Colette, to offer Audrey the lead role in ‘Gigi,’ on the Broadway stage. With characteristic discipline and effort in rehearsal, her performance was a huge success. In 1952, she won a Theatre World Award for her role.
Right: Colette with her perfect Gigi. Audrey’s unusual beauty was her ideal for her creation, the gamin Gigi. Fortunately, Audrey could sing, dance and act too.
A star was born Meanwhile, director William Wyler was ecstatic about her screen test for the lead role of Princess Ann in ‘Roman Holiday’. His confidence was justified, when in 1953, Audrey won the Academy award for Best Actress in her first Hollywood film. A star was born. Left: From chorus girl to lead: Audrey made the role of Gigi her own in Anita Loos’ adaptation of Gigi. Opposite: Established star Gregory Peck’s gracious support, allowed Audrey to ‘steal’ the movie ‘Roman Holiday’.
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Marilyn Monroe
Introduction Little Norma Jeane Baker somehow survived her dysfunctional, unstable and disruptive childhood. In 1942, in an attempt to avoid another foster home, sixteen-year-old Norma Jeane married reluctant, sometime boyfriend, Jim Dougher ty, in an arrangement suggested by her then foster parents. Norma Jeane was longing to be a loving wife with a home of her own. Patriotic Jim enlisted in the Merchant Marine in 1943, and Norma Jeane worked in the Radioplane Munitions Factory and became a model with the Blue Book Modeling Agency. Right: Mr. & Mrs. Dougher ty
Goodbye Norma Jeane It was Ben Lyon at 20th Century Fox who ‘discovered’ the newly blonde Norma Jeane, and he and his wife Bebe Daniels helped her to find her new name and persona. She was indefinably beautiful and had something more, which would make both men and women adore her – at last! Left: Marilyn Monroe emerged to walk on in several pictures like ‘Dangerous Years’ for 20th Century Fox, and this bit part in ‘Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay!’ Opposite: By 1948, Columbia had picked up her contract and she had her first major role in ‘Ladies of the Chorus’. 6
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