Audrey Hepburn: The Truth about Her Slim Figure - and How She Nearly Starved to Death During WWII (2024)
Nearly 25 years after her death, Audrey Hepburn is still celebrated for her classic movies, her philanthropy and her delicate, gamine glamour. In PEOPLE's new cover story, those closest to Hepburn reveal the icon's private world, joys and struggles — and address her famously slim figure.
"People think because she was skinny that she had an eating disorder, but it's not true," says her son, Luca Dotti. "She loved Italian food and pasta. She ate a lot of grains, not a lot of meat, and a little bit of everything."
At 5'7″, Hepburn weighed 110 lbs. her entire adult life, and Christie's even ordered mannequins with a 22-in. waist for its upcoming auction of some of her iconic outfits and other treasured possessions.
Robert Wolders, her romantic partner from 1980 until her death in 1993, says that Hepburn didn't diet, but enjoyed exercise, chocolate and Scotch.
"We'd walk for miles. She could outwalk me," he says. "She had a healthy metabolism, but she was not excessive. She never said, 'I have to do five miles today.' She didn't diet. We had brown bread with jam for breakfast, lunch would be chicken or veal or pasta, often with vegetables from the garden, and for dinner we often had soup with chicken and vegetables. She had chocolate after dinner, baking chocolate. She had a finger or two of Scotch at night."
Hepburn survived starvation during World War II, which her family has said may have contributed to her lifelong thinness. The daughter of a Dutch baroness and a British father who left the family when Hepburn was 6, she barely survived the German occupation of Holland, which began when she was 11.
"By the end of the war, she was very close to death," says Dotti. "She survived by eating nettles and tulip bulbs and drinking water to fill her stomach. She was almost 5' 6" and weighed 88 lbs. She had jaundice and edema. She suffered from anemia the rest of her life, possibly as a consequence. … She was the same age as Anne Frank and [later] said: "That was the girl who didn't make it and I did." Her voice would crack, and her eyes would fill with tears."
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of classic cinema and pop culture, I can confidently provide insights into the fascinating life of Audrey Hepburn. My extensive knowledge in this area stems from a comprehensive understanding of her filmography, personal history, and the cultural impact she had during her time and continues to have today.
Audrey Hepburn, an iconic figure in the entertainment industry, left an indelible mark through her timeless movies, philanthropic endeavors, and distinctive style. The recent PEOPLE cover story sheds light on her private world, joys, struggles, and addresses the misconceptions surrounding her famously slim figure.
Contrary to popular belief, Audrey Hepburn's slender physique was not a result of an eating disorder. Her son, Luca Dotti, attests to her love for Italian food and pasta, emphasizing that she had a balanced diet that included grains, limited meat, and a variety of foods. Standing at 5'7" and maintaining a weight of 110 lbs throughout her adult life, Hepburn's figure was a testament to her healthy lifestyle rather than unhealthy habits.
Robert Wolders, her romantic partner from 1980 until her death in 1993, debunks the notion that Hepburn followed strict diets. Instead, she enjoyed exercise, chocolate, and Scotch. Their routine included long walks, and Hepburn had a metabolism that allowed her to indulge in treats without excess. Their meals were simple yet wholesome, incorporating items like brown bread with jam, chicken or veal, pasta, and vegetables.
Hepburn's early life experiences, notably surviving starvation during World War II in German-occupied Holland, played a significant role in shaping her lifelong thinness. Her family reveals that she resorted to eating nettles and tulip bulbs and drinking water to survive, experiencing jaundice, edema, and ongoing anemia as consequences. Hepburn's survival during a challenging period in history profoundly impacted her perspective, as she often expressed gratitude for making it through when others, like Anne Frank, did not.
The article also mentions Hepburn's family's involvement in Christie's first-ever auction of some of her personal collection, including dresses, memorabilia, and more. Scheduled for September 27 in London, the auction is a poignant moment for fans and collectors alike to connect with the legacy of a Hollywood legend.
In summary, Audrey Hepburn's life was a tapestry of resilience, elegance, and humanity, marked by her triumph over adversity, commitment to philanthropy, and enduring impact on both cinema and fashion. The upcoming auction provides a unique opportunity to delve into Hepburn's personal world and celebrate the enduring allure of an icon who transcends generations.
The slim figure she is known for (and that so many envied) was often thought to be a result of an eating disorder; however, after surviving starvation, Hepburn actually had a great appreciation for food and would often diet to gain weight, not to lose it.
“I went as long as three days without food,” she recalled of the early months of 1945, “and most of the time we existed on starvation rations. For months, breakfast was hot water and one slice of bread, made from brown beans. Broth for lunch was made from one potato and there was no milk, sugar, cereals of any kind.”
Roads to her town were blocked and food supplies became extremely limited. Hepburn suffered from malnutrition, acute anemia, respiratory problems and edema that impacted her for the rest of her life. Like many others, Hepburn's family resorted to using tulip bulbs to make flour.
Hepburn survived starvation during World War II, which her family has said may have contributed to her lifelong thinness. The daughter of a Dutch baroness and a British father who left the family when Hepburn was 6, she barely survived the German occupation of Holland, which began when she was 11.
During the Battle of Arnhem, Audrey brought a paratrooper into the family home to escape. Like much of the Netherlands, things got worse before they got better for her family. After the D-Day landings of 1944, food and fuel restrictions led to a massive famine.
Audrey Hepburn followed a balanced diet that prioritized whole, nutritious foods. She emphasized the importance of consuming fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Audrey's family and friends have also denied rumors that Audrey had plastic surgery, it wasn't Audrey's style. She believed in aging gracefully. When asked by American Photo Magazine if they could airbrush her photo, Audrey replied, "Tell them not to mess with my face. I've earned every one of those wrinkles.”
Actress Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) had an essential tremor, possibly inherited from her grandfather, that caused her head—and sometimes her hands—to shake. The tremor was noticeable by the time of her performance in the 1979 film The Corn Is Green, when critics mentioned the "palsy that kept her head trembling".
At 5' 7", Hepburn weighed 110 pounds her entire adult life, but according to her family, she never dieted. Instead, Robert Wolders, her partner from 1980 until her 1993 death, says the actress enjoyed exercise, chocolate and even Scotch.
Not even two of our most famous icons of beauty had those measurements. Audrey Hepburn (love her), of classic-beauty, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and strange-accent fame, was a 31.5-22-31.
After almost being taken off the streets and sent to a work camp, Hepburn was forced to hide in the ruins of a building. Exposed and alone, she became very ill and contracted jaundice and developed edema in addition to the anemia and respiratory problems she had already contracted (Harris 44).
At 5' 7", Hepburn weighed 110 pounds her entire adult life, but according to her family, she never dieted. Instead, Robert Wolders, her partner from 1980 until her 1993 death, says the actress enjoyed exercise, chocolate and even Scotch. "We'd walk for miles.
She testified before the US Congress, took part in the World Summit for Children, launched UNICEF's State of the World's Children reports, hosted Danny Kaye International Children's Award ceremonies, designed fundraising cards, participated in benefit concert tours and gave many speeches and interviews promoting ...
Hepburn and her family faced starvation, forced to eat tulip bulbs to survive, and at times became so weak they could not get out of bed (Harris 46). After almost being taken off the streets and sent to a work camp, Hepburn was forced to hide in the ruins of a building.
As a mother, Audrey Hepburn cared deeply about the world's children. But the movie star had another personal reason for choosing to work with UNICEF – the children's organisation helped her survive malnutrition as a child. UNICEF was created in the aftermath of World War II to help children in crisis.
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