Hepburn Ferrer Sean - Audrey Hepburn: an elegant spirit

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SEAN HEPBURN FERRER was born is films. His mother is Audrey Hepburn, his father Mel Ferrer. He has worked in all aspects of motion picture development, production, post-production and marketing. Sean founded the Audrey Hepburn childrens Fund to continue his mothers legacy of helping children in need all over the world. Educated in Europe and fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, English and Portuguese, he lives in Santa Monica and Tuscany with his wife and his two children.

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to audreys grandchildren

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Copyright 2003 by Sean Hepburn Ferrer

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information address Atria Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN: 0-671-02478-7

0-671-02479-5 (Pbk)

978-1-5011-1254-6 (eBook)

First Atria Books trade paperback edition April 2005

is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information regarding special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-800-456-6798 or

Designed by Julian Peploe

Jacket design by Jeanne M Lee

Photograph by Philippe Halsman Halsman Estate

Back cover photograph courtesy of Sean Hepburn Ferrer

Author photograph by Kate Lillienthal, Splash News

Title page photo: Steven Meisel, New York City, 1991.

Steven Meisel/A & C Anthology.

All images that do not otherwise carry a copyright notice that are designated family photos, photos by Mel Ferrer, photos by Sean Ferrer, family documents, artwork by Audrey Hepburn, family letters, and Audrey Hepburn Estate Collection photos are copyrighted as follows: Copyright 2003 by Sean Ferrer and Luca Dotti.

Thank you

Kirk, for being the first to encourage this book.

Alan Nevins, my agent, your support and guidance were invaluable to a first-timer like me, and to Mindy Stone, your right hand.

Mitchell Ivers, my senior editor at Atria Books, you were the first to make this a realityyour vision, taste, and wisdom are surpassed only by your patience, considering that I was three years late delivering this work, and to Joshua Martino, your editorial assistant.

Judith Curr, Executive Vice President and Publisher, Atria Books and Washington Square Press; and Karen Mender, Vice President, Deputy Publisher, Atria Books and Washington Square Press; as well as Seale Ballenger and Louise Braverman, Atria Publicity.

Linda Dingler, Twisne Fan, Linda Roberts, Linda Evans, Dana Sloan, and Davina Mock, Production and Design; and Julian Peploe, Designer, for a beautiful layout and cover.

Jessica Z. Diamond, my visual consultant and photo curator, your careful and tasteful work have immensely contributed to the beauty and longevity of this book; and Ellen Erwin, the Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund executive director, for being my right hand; and Paul Alberghetti, my partner and counsel; and Caroline Bloxsom, his right hand; and Ronnie.

To all the photographers, whose artistry and gifts to my mother have left our family a treasure of a photographic archive we will cherish for many generations to come; and that attests as much to their legacy as all these indelible images contribute to the legacy of my mother.

The photographers, their estates, agencies, and the organizations who, although listed here alphabetically, should all be in first position for their contribution of photographs to this book. Your generosity to the fund is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, Richard Avedon, Ron Avery/mptv.net, Stephanie Belingard/Camera Press, Steve Bello, Lina Bey, Alessandro Canestrelli/Reporters Associati, Elisabetta Catalano, Columbia University Oral History Project, Howell Conant II, Fiona Cowan/Norman Parkinson Ltd., Sue Daly/Sothebys London, Foulques De Jouvenel/Colette Estate, Andrea Denzler, Werther Di Giovanni, Mel Ferrer, Foto Locchi S.R.L. Firenze, David Green and Tina Calico/Corbis, Irene Halsman, Yvonne Halsman, Jeremy Hartley, Hearst Corporation, Marcel Imsand, John Isaac, Mrs. Yousuf Karsh, Sally Leach/Performing Arts Collection at University of Texas at Austin, Kate Lillienthal, Carmen Masi/Photo Masi, Steven Meisel, Ruby Mera, James Moffat/A+C Anthology, Leigh Montville/Cond Nast Publications, Inc., Ellen Ornitz, Paramount Pictures, Irving Penn, Betty Press, Stefania Ricci/Salvatore Ferragamo, Vincent Rossell, Andre Schmidt/Colette Estate, Larry Shaw/Shaw Family Archives, Martin Singer/Irving Lazar Trust, Kevin Smith/Splash News, Bruce Stapleton/Playbill, Inc., Bert Stern, Norma Stevens, Michael Stier/Cond Nast Publications, Inc., John Swope Trust, Twentieth Century Fox, Unicef Photo Library, United Nations Photo Library, Universal Studios Licensing, Connie Wald, Warner Brothers, Bob Willoughby, Robert Wolders.

All who have read and shed a tear showing me with your heart that I was on the right path. My wife, Giovanna, and my children, Emma and Gregorio, who are my life, and my father and mother to whom I owe it.

To you.

La Vigna outside of Rome, 1955. Photograph by Philippe Halsman. Halsman Estate.

CONTENTS

New York City, circa 1967. Photograph by Howell Conant.

PREFACE THE SECRET

I am writing this preface almost nine years after Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston left us. She wasor should I say, ismy mother. I started writing this little book on January 21, 1993, the day after she passed away. It took me roughly four years to put the first words to paper.

The actual writing took maybe a few months. Its what happened before and in between that took some time. I am quite sure by now that everyone who loses a parent, as we all do sooner or later, could write a book. As it did for me, it might feel like the only book youll ever write. Weeks, months, years may pass between writing sessions. You too may experience something that can no longer be called writers block. You see, its not about you. It is about the one person in the world who is more than you! And in my case, it is about someone who was most dear to me, the very person who brought me here and saved me time and time again, when I needed her for my survival. Yet she was someone whom I couldnt help or save in the end. So I find myself endlessly rolling these few words like pebbles in the river of my story so that the smooth stones that emerge will be worthy of your time and her spirit. I want you to know... what truly counts, yet in a way that wont ripple her peace.