|
Audrey Hepburn A true angel in this world 1 Audrey Hepburn thrilled audiences with starring roles in noteworthy films like Breakfast at Tiffany's Sabrina Roman Holiday My Fair Lady War and Peace and Always. 2 Despite her success in the film domain the roles she most preferred portraying were not in movies. She was an exemplary mother to her two sons and a UNICEF (the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) Ambassador of Goodwill serving victims in war-torn countries. 3 As a young girl during the Nazi occupation of her native Holland Audrey Hepburn was aware of the brutality death and destruction of war. She was hungry and malnourished as her family was bankrupted as a result of the invasion. Audrey's father abandoned the family and two of her uncles were taken captive and killed. Audrey was grabbed off the street by Nazis and placed in line to be sent to a work camp. When the guards glanced away she darted off barely escaping and huddled in a cold foul basement full of rats. 4 The little girl who would become the world's most magical actress began as an anonymous refugee confronting life's horrors and fragility firsthand. But she refused to allow her spirit to be afflicted by the desperate reality of her young life. Instead she transcended those challenges but never forgot what it felt like to suffer to be hungry alone and helpless. 5 After the war Audrey and her mother left Holland arriving in London as poor immigrants. Her dream of becoming a prime dancer drove her into a rigorous schedule at a famous ballet school. Later she was spotted by a producer and eventually landed a role in the film Roman Holiday starring Gregory Peck one of Hollywood's top leading men. 6 Soon Audrey was transformed from a malnourished immigrant to an internationally famous movie star. Director Billy Wilder complimented her saying "Audrey walked beautifully she spoke beautifully." Although she won many Academy Awards and other honors for acting Audrey felt that her most significant work was humanitarian work with those in need and as the mother to her two sons. She suffered through two divorces and from her memories of the war. Yet Audrey never let her sadness overcome her or jeopardize her hope for a brighter future. Audrey finally met her soul mate Robert Wolders and spent the last 12 years of her life with him. 7 Becoming famous never changed Audrey's generous and compassionate character. She felt a deep sense of responsibility to alleviate suffering of those in need especially children. Friends said Audrey had a complete lack of ego and accepted and appreciated others as they were. 8 Though she became very wealthy she owned only one home in Switzerland. For Audrey it was a paradise where she could hide from the world with her beloved family work in her garden and take long walks in nature. 9 In 1988 Audrey was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF designed to provide emergency food and healthcare to children suffering the destruction of war or other catastrophes. In that role her lifelong passion for helping those in need found its greatest calling. 10 She turned down three million dollars to pen her autobiography and instead accepted one dollar a year in the more conscientious role as diplomat for UNICEF. For seven months out of each of her last five years she and Robby left the peace and beauty in their cozy home to embark on outreach trips into some of the most difficult places on earth. From Bangladesh Sudan India Vietnam Kenya Ethiopia Central and South America to Somalia Audrey Hepburn traveled representing UNICEF making over 50 emotionally draining and physically dangerous missions into bleak destinations to raise world awareness of wars and droughts. Having been a victim of war she understood the blessing of being the beneficiary of food clothing and most of all hope. 11 Audrey felt it was wicked that billions of children were deprived of simple joys and drowned in overwhelming misery. She believed deeply in the ideology that all people share in the duty to care for those in need. Audrey Hepburn was always ready to lead by example. She said: "When you deny childhood you deny life." She saw UNICEF's work as an integral sacred force in people's lives and said of UNICEF's results "Anyone who doesn't believe in miracles is not a realist." 12 In 1992 Audrey was stricken by cancer. She Robby and her two sons returned to their home in Switzerland for their last Christmas together. 13 Audrey's long-time friend and world-famous French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy spoke to his cherished friend for the last time just before she died. He said she was "... serene at the end because she knew she had achieved everything with perfection". 14 Audrey Hepburn's passion for service was enduring. Even as her life ended at 63 years of age she remained a gracious woman who perpetually signified simplicity charity charm and kindness. 15 The majesty of Audrey Hepburn's spirit of social responsibility and dedication lives on in her words: "Remember if you ever need a helping hand it's at the end of your arm. As you get older remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself the second is to help others." And "For beautiful eyes look for the good in others; for beautiful lips speak only words of kindness; and for poise walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." 奥黛丽·赫本——人间天使 奥黛丽·赫本在《蒂凡尼的早餐》、《龙凤配》、《罗马假日》、《窈窕淑女》、《战争与和平》和《直到永远》等出色电影中主演的许多角色让观众为之陶醉。 尽管在电影界获得成功，但她最愿意塑造的角色却并不在影片中，而是做两个儿子的模范母亲和联合国儿童基金会亲善大使，为饱受战争蹂躏的人们服务。 作为一名在纳粹占领下的祖国荷兰生活的小女孩，奥黛丽·赫本清楚战争所带来的野蛮、死亡和破坏。由于受到侵略，家庭破产，奥黛丽经常食不果腹，营养不良。她的父亲抛弃了家庭，两个舅舅也被俘，并且惨遭杀害。奥黛丽被纳粹分子从大街上抓走，与准备被押往劳役营的人放在一起。趁卫兵不注意，她飞快地跑开，惊险逃脱了，蜷缩着躲在一个满是耗子、又冷又脏的地下室里。 这个日后将成为世界上最具魅力女星的小女孩刚开始只是一个无名难民，直面生命中的恐惧和脆弱。不过她并没有让自己的精神受到幼年生活中残酷现实的影响。相反，她克服了种种挑战，而又从没忘记那种受苦挨饿、孤立无助的感觉。 战后，奥黛丽和母亲离开荷兰，到达伦敦，成了贫穷的移民。奥黛丽梦想成为一名一流的舞蹈家，这驱使她去了一所著名的芭蕾舞学校，接受严苛的训练安排。后来，她被一位制片人发现，并最终得到机会，在好莱坞顶级男演员格列高利·派克主演的电影《罗马假日》中饰演一角。 很快，奥黛丽就从营养不良的移民变成了国际知名的影星。导演比利·怀尔德称赞她说：“奥黛丽行姿优美，言谈优雅。”尽管她数度获得奥斯卡金像奖和其他演艺荣誉，奥黛丽觉得自己最重要的工作还是为那些需要帮助的人开展人道主义服务，以及当好两个儿子的母亲。她经历了两次离婚，并忍受着战争记忆带给她的悲伤，然而，奥黛丽从不让这些悲伤支配自己，或者影响自己对美好未来的向往。最后，奥黛丽遇到了她的灵魂伴侣，罗伯特· 沃尔德斯，并和他一起度过了人生的最后12年。 成名从没改变奥黛丽慷慨大方、慈悲为怀的性格。她怀有一种强烈的责任感，要减轻生活困难的人——特别是儿童——的痛苦。朋友们说，奥黛丽一点都不自我，并且接受和欣赏别人的一切。 尽管她十分富有，但奥黛丽只有一套住房，在瑞士。对奥黛丽而言，它是一个天堂。在那里她可以和心爱的家人一起避开尘世，在花园劳作，在大自然里悠然散步。 1988年，奥黛丽被任命为联合国儿童基金会亲善大使，这个基金会专门为受到战争或其他大灾难伤害的儿童提供紧急食品援助和卫生保健。亲善大使这个角色让她毕生帮助有困难的人的热情化为了神圣的使命。 别人出三百万美金请她写自传，她拒绝了。但她却接受了每年一美元的联合国儿童基金会大使这个更需责任心的角色。在生命的最后五年里，每年她和罗比都有七个月离开他们温馨居所的静谧和美丽，启程外出到地球上最困难的一些地方去。从孟加拉国、苏丹、印度、越南、肯尼亚、埃塞俄比亚、中南美洲到索马里，奥黛丽·赫本代表联合国儿童基金会四处奔走，承担了五十多项劳心劳力、危及生命安全的任务，深入到荒凉之地，唤起世界人民对战争和旱灾的关注。因为自己曾经也是战争受害者，她理解得到食品和衣物的援助，尤其是获得希望，是多大的幸福。 奥黛丽觉得，太多的儿童被剥夺了简单的快乐而陷入无边的痛苦之中，这是一种罪恶。她坚信一个理念：所有人都有责任去关心那些需要帮助的人。奥黛丽·赫本始终都身为表率。她说：“当你放弃童年，你就放弃了生命。”她将联合国儿童基金会的工作看作人们生活中不可分割、神圣的力量，谈到其成果时她说：“任何不相信奇迹的人都不是一个现实主义者。” 1992年，奥黛丽患了癌症。她和罗比、两个儿子回到他们在瑞士的家，一起度过了最后一个圣诞节。 奥黛丽的老朋友、世界著名的法国时装设计师于贝尔·德·纪梵希在她去世前，最后一次和他的挚友说话。他说她“……最后是安详的，因为她知道她已经完美地实现了一切”。 奥黛丽· 赫本对服务的热情是持久的。即使在她63岁生命终止的时候，她仍然充满着关爱，永远象征着纯朴、仁爱、魅力和善良。 奥黛丽的社会责任感和奉献的伟大精神在她的话语中得以传扬：“记住，如果你在任何时候需要一只手来帮助你，你可以在自己手臂的末端找到它。随着你的成长，记住你还有一只手，一只用来帮助自己，另一只用来帮助别人。”“要想有美丽双眸，就要善于发现他人优点；要想双唇动人，只说和善之辞；要想镇定自信，谨记自己始终与大家同行。” |
