"I'm So Audrey"!!!!!!!!

Well, as you've probably guessed_I'm so Audrey! I can't remember the first time I saw her in a movie.Her Grace and Elegant_I've admired for many years.It could be why I'm so into wearing my Pearls on most any  and all occasions. I 've decided to pay tribute to her grand career by sharing tidbits of information for the Audrey at Heart! Near the bottom of the page you'll find a Filmography and other media of Audrey Hepburn.You'll find various articles to purchase from Amazon on the sidelines.The DVD "How to Steal a Million" should be high on your list.It has a Bonus Feature_A and E's Biography of Audrey Hepburn. Get to know this amazing woman through my Blog this week..and maybe until the end of the month.

             Scene from Roman Holiday 1953

Audrey Hepburn born AUDREY KATHLEEN RUSTON:(May 4,1929-January 20,1993 died)_was a British Actress and Humanitarian.She was a film and fashion icon of the 20th century and redefined what glamour looked like in the days when voluptuous women(Kim K's of the Day) demanded attention. Givenchy designed her clothing and she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.Audrey was ranked by the American Film Institute,as the third greatest female screen legend in the history of American Cinema!.

Hepburn was born in Brussels but spent her childhood between Belgium,England and the Netherlands including German-occupied Arnhem during WWII.

                  Roman Holiday_1953_First Movie

However some of her greatest work was her devotion to UNICEF.Her passion for humanitarian worked was sparked by her own war-time struggles.Hepburn worked in Africa,South America and Asia in the late 80's.She had contributed to the organization since the 1950's.In 1992,she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador..

Her mother was a Baroness_Dutch Aristocrat,her father British born.In 1944,Hepburn became a proficient ballerina.She went on to perform in theatre,getting a giant break when the French Novelist Colette chose her to play in the Broadway play Gigi.Opening on November 24,1951 at the Fulton Theatre,the play ran for 219 performances finishing on May 31,1952.Hepburn debut earned a Theatre World Award .

      Academy Award_Best Actress_Roman Holiday 1953

And,in 1953 she was casted in Roman Holiday as her first starring role as Princess Ann.The producers wanted Elizabeth Taylor_but Audrey was  everything they were looking for,charm,innocence and completely unaware of her talents.Hepburn went on to earn an Academy Award for her performance in Roman Holiday! And the rest is history! Join me on the journey to pay tribute to a great LADY.....

.."I had a Farm in Africa at the foot of Ngong Hills".....

The past 8 yrs both my Birthday & Christmas parties have focused on exploring the Food,Music and Culture of countries around the World.This year is no different.We will go on _YET_another imaginary journey_an "African Safari" this Christmas! In my quest as always to make the trip authentic,I've drawn upon two of my favorite books and the movie adaptations to shed light on the second largest continent in landmass_Africa.

"Out of Africa"(1985) was nominated for 11 Academy* Awards,winning 7 in 1986.It was based upon Isak Dinesen(aka Baroness Karen Von Blixen-Finecke,birth name) recounting events of the 17 years living on her coffee farm in Kenya.She moved there in 1913 at the age of 28 to marry her second cousin_the Swedish Baron_Bror Von Blixen-Finecke.Well,at least  Karen didn't have to change her last name_as it was the same! Interestingly,Bror's twin brother Hans was her intended groom but their relationship didn't work out..really! The book and movie recount so many aspects of Colonial Life in "British East Africa"(aka Kenya).The British as you know owned the World at that point..it was all about the dollars & cents...come in take over the natives land_make a fortune.Not unlike,America's history...just sayin'!

The Kikuyu tribe was the most populous ethnic group from that Region.I have great "ISSUES" with their history as it seems since the MEN were the great Warriors of the land,strutting their stuff,all painted up,manly man stuff...WINNING!!! While the Women had to do all the hard labor,building roofs for houses,clearing the weeds,taking care of the households,balancing large items on their heads,having plenty of babies,etc...men were the Prima Uomo (aka) Donna! I've seen the movie several times,what's not to like about a Robert Redford/Meryl Streep match up_presently reading Isak's biography.

"The Flame Trees of Thika"(1980) chronicles the life of Elspeth Joscelin Huxley (husband Gevais Huxley,grandson of Thomas Huxley,advocate of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution;and cousin to Aldous Huxley,Author of Brave New World)..that's a mouthful! Anyway,Elspeth arrived in Colonial Kenya,moving to the area called Thika in 1912 at the age of 5 yrs old. A "Flame Tree" turns entirely reddish orange in June each year depending upon previous rainfall. She left in 1925 returning periodically.Later,becoming the Associated Press Officer of the Empire Marketing Board (Trade Board).The movie won 3 BAFTA** Awards in 1982.I loved Haley Mills in the movie! I'm reading the book now & what a delightful story!

The area in question for you "Geography Buffs" is :

Kenya,home of Mt.Kenya (highest mountain in Kenya & second in Africa)_where tea and coffee are the best cash crops. I was introduced to Kenyan Tea when I started my tea business many years ago.The tea has a natural taste of chocolate_the taste is attributed to the volcanic ash deposited many thousands of years ago...very delicious cuppa tea! No wonder the Brits were coming to town! Great picture of tea growing...

So,I'll keep y'all posted on this great adventure as it unfolds on December 4th,"An African Safari Christmas Party"!!

*Academy Awards_America founded 1929
**BAFTA Awards(British Academy of Film & TV)_England founded 1947
Beginning line of book & movie of "Out of Africa"...I had a farm in Africa....