Meeting Audrey

Thursday, October 8, 2009


While working on the book for Audrey, I've been lucky enough to get to research her dreamy era for cues on dresses, buildings, streetcars, hats and important places like the old Fulton Theater in New York where she first performed as "Gigi" and made her American debut. (Can you hear me squealing in delight?)

Really though, what I've most enjoyed were the surprise little things I've found along with the nuts-and-bolts research...really beautiful and quiet moments in movies and interviews that let me peek into her heart and not just her life's timeline. As an added bonus in making biographical art, I feel I have made a dear new friend. Audrey did not have an easy life by any means, but seemed to glean joy from most any circumstance (which is not always easy!) making her luminous. I especially love one biographer's (Pamela Clarke Keogh) take on Audrey's lifestyle, "This decision to live in joy takes moral courage, and is, ultimately, one of the truest expressions of style." ♥

If you have 5 minutes to spend with Audrey, watch this video from behind-the-scenes of one of her last efforts, an Emmy-winning PBS series, "Gardens of the World". Make sure you watch it through until the very very end! Enjoy.

7 comments:

Amanda Laurel Atkins said...

Great post, Julia!
I love Audrey's spirit so much, too. When I was an angsty teen who felt out of place, I took so much comfort in my books about her, and her outlook on life. I'll have to watch the gardens clip immediately! This isn't a quote from her, but it's something she herself quoted often from a Danish proverb: "don't fret; it will turn out differently anyway." It always helps me through stressful times. :)
xoxo

Nina Crittenden said...

What a rare and lovely lady.

www.juliadenos.com said...

Aw thanks Amanda! Such a perfect quote too...

Angela said...

I just can't get over how she held on to her youthful beauty even in old age. She still looks so vibrant and elegant and gorgeous. I hope I can look that good too! LOL!

Mai Kemble said...

what a priveledge to get to work on anything related to Audrey Hepburn!! :) super inspirational~
I am curious to see the work you did for this project! :)

emma wallace said...

I love Audrey! And her style is marvelous - both elegant and unpretentious. She really does emanate happiness!

ETCIllustration said...

Doesn't Audrey have one of the loveliest voices ever? She spoke with such elegance and thoughtfulness. I wonder how she would respond to the continued impact she makes on the world since her death.

I'm really looking forward to your book coming out!