A chance encounter with a world-famous author transformed 22-year-old Audrey Hepburn from a struggling ballet dance in London to an acclaimed actress on Broadway.
            Born in England and raised in Holland, Hepburn witnessed the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II. Her family lost everything when the Germans invaded in 1940, and Hepburn at age 11 started helping the Resistance by delivering secret messages and documents she hid in her shoes. She also started dancing in underground performances and dreamed of becoming a ballet star as an escape from the misery around her.
            After the war, she moved to London with her mother and pursued ballet full-time. Although she applied herself rigorously, she eventually realized that her odds of success were extremely small, that her talents weren’t sufficient in such a highly competitive field.  While auditioning for ballet troupes, she decided also to start trying out for musicals in London. After getting cast in a bit part in the musical High Button Shoes, she landed walk-on roles in several European films. One of those jobs led her the luckiest day of life.
            Not long after her 22nd birthday, Hepburn traveled to the French Riviera, where she had landed a tiny part in the film Nous Irons à Monte Carlo. While strolling across a hotel lobby with members of the film crew, Hepburn was spotted by the renowned French author Colette. In Hepburn’s natural beauty and grace, Colette saw the walking embodiment of the main character of her novel Gigi. She approached the young dancer and insisted that she star in the Broadway musical version. Hepburn jumped at the opportunity.
            She flew to New York and gave a formal audition for the show. Although the director found her reading disappointing, Hepburn got the lead role at Colette’s insistence.  Hepburn’s biggest asset was her elegance, her biggest liability her voice. She worked tirelessly with a vocal coach all the way up to opening night.
            The show premiered on November 24, 1951, and though it got low marks overall, critics across the board praised Hepburn’s performance. She even won a Theatre World Award.
            She became in instant star, and Hollywood came clamoring. After a six-month run on Broadway, she was cast opposite Gregory Peck in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in dozens of classics, including Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and My Fair Lady.