Epstein Edward Z. - Audrey and Bill: a romantic biography of Audrey Hepburn & William Holden

To my incredible sister and brother, Vivian and Steve, and to our late parents, Rose and Leonard

2015 by Edward Z. Epstein

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CONTENTS

A YOUNG WOMAN FELL IN LOVE WITH A MARRIED MAN AT their workplace.

Because of her youth, she was romantic and thought she knew more than she did. She had to be romantic, because shed already had too much reality in her life. Her entire adolescence had been one of deprivation and danger. During those years, her dream was to become a ballerina. She didnt just dream, though. She worked hard at it. But in spite of her discipline and diligence, her much-respected teacher told her that she simply did not have the gift necessary to become a great dancer.

In appearance, she exuded an air of extreme fragility. Her slim frame, huge, almond-shaped hazel eyes, her infectious laugh and genial disposition, her lilting, soft voice, and her impeccable manners gave the impression that, more than anything else in the world, she wanted to please. Yet behind all this was a steely resolve that surfaced in the face of any disappointment.

The workplace that had brought the lovers together was hardly fun; in fact, it could be described as hostile, with a tough boss and one particularly irascible, unfriendly, and unsympathetic coworker. Working with such intense individuals proved exhausting, and she was beset by uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. Compounding the situation was the fact that shed had no formal training for the job she was hired to do. She needed a protector, and there he was; he was a godsend, in a way.

The young woman was Audrey Hepburn, the man was William Holden. And events were on the fast track for both of them.

Audreys twice-divorced mother, the formidable Baroness Ella van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston, was upset that her daughter was in a serious relationship with anyone, least of all American film star Holden. He wanted to marry her? For Gods sake, he was a married man with three children, although Bill was not the first married man Audrey had been involved with (nor was she the first young actress who had captured his heart).

Powerhouse gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, a woman who could wreck careers, was onto the scent; nothing pleased Hedda more than puncturing the romantic illusions of Hollywoods chosen. Anybody who was sleeping around aroused her wrath and her ire, and if Hedda was instrumental in destroying them in the process, the sons-of-bitches asked for it. Powerful forces at Paramount, and her agents, were protecting Audreyand Billbut could only keep the lid on so long. Americas New Sweetheart (who was not American at all, but European) was tempting fate.

Hepburn and Holdenalong with Humphrey Bogart, who disliked them both and didnt hesitate to voice his complaintswere deep into production on the troubled Billy Wilder film Sabrina, which had brought the lovers together in the first place. Things were not proceeding smoothly. Warm up the ice cubes! Holden would exclaim at the end of a shooting day on most of his films. But, on occasion, there were liquid lunches. Dry martinis were his favorite. As far as director Joshua Logans experience with Bill was concerned, He never drank before the end of the shooting day. But once we had reached that part of the day, the gin industry began to prosper. Yet somehow it never seemed to affect him. It did not alter his speech, his wit, or his warmth. He was simply a red-blooded American boy who wanted to have a good time, and believe me, he did.

Audrey liked a good time, too; she had not been in Hollywood very long (Sabrina was only her second starring role), and she did not like the place very much. But Holdens outgoing manner and charm were infectious, and she was not accustomed to red-blooded American men. She wasnt an innocent, in fact she was flirtatious and adventurous, and could tell a ribald joke (in a most ladylike fashion, of course).

Bill radiated vitality and virility. He was a gentleman, but there was an edge to him: I dont know why, he once said, but danger has always been an important thing in my lifeto see how far I could lean without falling, how fast I could go without cracking up.

Holden, his dark hair bleached blond for the film, was just under six feet tall, with a dazzling smileHis smile could charm the birds out of the trees, noted actress Martha Hyerand eyes that were like cornflower-blue sapphires with lights behind them! Those eyes were constantly focused on Audrey. The sound of his voice was comforting, and his touch seductive. Making movies, especially romantic ones, was about attractive actors gazing at each other, touching each other, day after day, week after week, making intimate relationships almost inevitable. My God, Audrey and Bill were the most beautiful-to-look-at couple you ever saw! remarked designer Edith Head. But the Holden situation was poison for Audreys imageand Bills. In spite of recent hard-edged roles, he was the idealized All-American Man, in every way: handsome, forthright, sincere, honest, patriotic. And the Ideal Husband, Lover, and Father. But he was wild about Audrey; he had never been happier and didnt seem to care that he was breaking the rules. As he once said, For me, acting is not an all-consuming thing, except for the moment when Im actually doing it. There is a point beyond acting, a point where living becomes important.