Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn 1929-93, film actress, b. Brussels as Audrey Kathleen Ruston. The daughter of an English banker and a Dutch baroness, she and her mother lived in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation. Moving to London, she studied ballet and acting, modeled, danced, and played bit parts before being cast in the title role in the Broadway production of Gigi (1951). Thereafter, except for one other stage role ( Ondine, 1954, Tony Award), she worked exclusively in films. Hepburn's luminous beauty, elfin slimness, unplaceably patrician accent, and blend of wistful simplicity and worldly chic are particularly evident in such roles as the young princess in Roman Holiday (1953; Academy Award), her first star turn; the chauffeur's daughter in Sabrina (1954); clerk turned model in Funny Face (1957), and the fabulous Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). She was a major star of the 1950s and 60s, playing opposite many of the era's leading men. Her other films include War and Peace (1956), The Nun's Story (1959), Charade (1963), My Fair Lady (1964), and Wait until Dark (1967). She retired in the late 1960s and devoted much of her life to humanitarian causes, becoming (1988) goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Occasionally she returned to the screen, gracing such unremarkable films as Robin and Marian (1976) and Always (1989).

Bibliography: See memoir by her son S. H. Ferrer (2003); biographies by A. Walker (1994), B. Paris (1996), and D. Spoto (2006); J. Vermilye, The Complete Films of Audrey Hepburn (1995).

Hepburn, Audrey (1929–93) US actress, b. Belgium. Her ingénue performance in Roman Holiday (1953) won her an Academy Award for best actress. A succession of similiar roles in films such as Sabrina (1954) and Funny Face (1957) earned her further popular success. Other credits include Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and My Fair Lady (1964). She later became involved in charitable and humanitarian work.

like¹ / līk/ • prep. 1. having the same characteristics or qualities as; similar to: there were other suits like mine in the shop they were like brothers she looked nothing like Audrey Hepburn. ∎  in the manner of; in the same way or to the same degree as: he was screaming like a banshee you must run like the wind. ∎  in a way appropriate to: students were angry at being treated like children. ∎  such as one might expect from; characteristic of: just like you to put a damper on people's enjoyment. ∎  used in questions to ask about the characteristics or nature of someone or something: What is it like to be a tuna fisherman? What's she like? 2. used to draw attention to the nature of an action or event: I apologize for coming over unannounced like this why are you talking about me like that? 3. such as; for example: the cautionary vision of works like Animal Farm and 1984. • conj. inf. 1. in the same way that; as: people who change countries like they change clothes. 2. as though; as if: I felt like I'd been kicked by a camel. • n. used with reference to a person or thing of the same kind as another: the quotations could be arranged to put like with like I know him—him and his like. ∎  (the like) a thing or things of the same kind (often used to express surprise or for emphasis): did you ever hear the like? a church interior the like of which he had never seen before. • adj. (of a person or thing) having similar qualities or characteristics to another person or thing: I responded in like manner the grouping of children of like ability together. ∎  (of a portrait or other image) having a faithful resemblance to the original: “Who painted the dog's picture? It's very like.” • adv. 1. inf. used in speech as a meaningless filler or to signify the speaker's uncertainty about an expression just used: there was this funny smell—sort of dusty like. 2. inf. used to convey a person's reported attitude or feelings in the form of direct speech (whether or not representing an actual quotation): so she comes into the room and she's like "Where is everybody?" 3. (like as/to) archaic in the manner of: like as a ship with dreadful storm long tossed. PHRASES: and the like and similar things; et cetera. like anything inf. to a great degree: they would probably worry like anything. (as) like as not probably: she would be in bed by now, like as not. like enough (or most like) archaic probably: he'll have lost a deal of blood, I dare say, and like enough he's still losing it. like ——, like —— as —— is, so is ——: like father, like son. like so inf. in this manner: the votive candles are arranged like so. the likes of inf. used of someone or something regarded as a type: she didn't want to associate with the likes of me. more like inf. nearer to (a specified number or description) than one previously given: he believes the figure should be more like $10 million. ∎  (more like it) nearer to what is required or expected; more satisfactory. of (a) like mind (of a person) sharing the same opinions or tastes. like² • v. [tr.] 1. find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory: I like all Angela Carter's stories people who don't like reading books I like to be the center of attention. 2. wish for; want: would you like a cup of coffee? I'd like to rent a car I'd like you to stay [intr.] we would like for you to work for us. ∎  (would like to do something) used as a polite formula: we would like to apologize for the late running of this service. ∎  (not like doing/to do something) feel reluctant to do something: I don't like leaving her on her own too long. ∎  choose to have (something); prefer: how do you like your coffee? ∎  [in questions] feel about or regard (something): how would you like it if it happened to you? • n. (likes) the things one likes or prefers: a wide variety of likes, dislikes, tastes, and income levels. PHRASES: if you like 1. if it suits or pleases you: we could go riding if you like. 2. used when expressing something in a new or unusual way: it's a whole new branch of chemistry, a new science if you like. I like that! used as an exclamation expressing affront. like it or not inf. used to indicate that someone has no choice in a matter: you're celebrating with us, like it or not. not like the look (or sound) of find worrying or alarming: I don't like the look of that head injury.