From the multi award winning producers of fashion documentary McQueen, now comes its latest giving, Audrey. Director Helena Coan paints an intimate portrait of the film and fashion icon’s life both in and out of the spotlight in the soon to be released film; however unlike other documentaries made before about Hepburn this one promises to go deeper.

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Coan states her inspiration for the documentary first started with the Oscar award winner’s love of ballet. She went on to partner with the Royal Ballet’s Wayne McGregor to choreograph dance based “portraits”of the film legend for the documentary, interweaving them with never seen before archival footage of Hepburn’s movies, as well as interviews with those that knew her best. As Coan stated when releasing the trailer for the film earlier this month:

“Dance magnifies Audrey’s emotional landscape and brings a heightened sense of drama and theatre to the film, as well as a rich visual language which has not yet been used in documentary.”

This unique style of documentary making provides an insightful view into Hepburn, her life, her dreams, her aspirations, and finally her everlasting legacy.

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Ballerina Francesca Hayward (Royal Ballet Principal Dancer) will play ‘Hollywood Era Audrey’ at the peak of her fame. Alessandra Ferri (prima ballerina assoluta) will play Audrey in her later years when she was a UNICEF Ambassador. The film will introduce Keira Moore (who the production team found through an open audition process at ballet schools), who will portray the ‘Young Audrey’.  The films score has been written by up-and-coming composer Alex Somers, and pays tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood that made Hepburn a star.

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The insightful documentary will share never before seen footage of Hepburn. It will explore the late actresses most intimate moments and memories, from the lasting impact of her abandonment by her father when she was a child, to the ensued trauma she experienced growing up under Nazi occupation in Holland, and her unfulfilled lasting desire to become a professional ballet dancer.

These early experiences led to a life long battle with the trauma of her past and which later cast a shadow over her personal life. To explore this less known side of Hepburn’s life the film will feature interviews, in particular with Hepburn’s son Sean Hepburn Ferrer who sheds light on his mother’s difficult childhood.

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The film will also feature interviews with former Givenchy artistic director Clare Waight Keller who speaks of Hepburn’s status as muse and much loved friend to Hubert de Givenchy, while Tiffany & Co. designer director emeritus John Loring details the brand’s ongoing relationship with the actress, including loaning her the 128.54 carat Yellow Tiffany Diamond for the publicity photographs for one of her most iconic films Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

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Whilst the documentary will focus on some of Hepburn’s darkest moments, it will also celebrate her journey to finding inner peace, namely through the work she accomplished in her role as a global ambassador for UNICEF. The documentary brings a truly magnificent woman to life, one whose life was a testament to the power of love and forgiveness.

A must see for any Audrey Hepburn fan, Audrey will be available to download on November 30th in the UK, December 15th in the US and December 16th in Australia. Other international markets from February 8th 2021. 

by Victoria Balnaves