Audrey Hepburn's Two Oscars: The Fairytale Win And The Heartbreaking Posthumous Honor

Few stars in Hollywood history embody the word "icon" quite like Audrey Hepburn. While her image is often tied to the timeless elegance of *Breakfast at Tiffany's*, her journey to becoming a screen legend was cemented by a stunning, career-defining performance that earned her the industry's highest honor. As of December 2025, the story of her first competitive Academy Award remains one of the most charming and unexpected victories in Oscar history.

Her legacy, however, is not defined by a single golden statue. Decades after her breakout role, Hepburn received a second, profoundly meaningful Oscar that highlighted her enduring commitment to global humanitarian work, cementing her status as an extraordinary figure both on and off the screen.

Audrey Hepburn: A Complete Biography and Academy Awards Profile

• Full Name: Audrey Kathleen Ruston (later legally changed to Edda van Heemstra)
• Born: May 4, 1929, in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium
• Died: January 20, 1993, in Tolochenaz, Switzerland (Age 63)
• Spouses: Mel Ferrer (m. 1954; div. 1968), Andrea Dotti (m. 1969; div. 1982)
• Children: Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Luca Dotti
• Notable Films: Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), The Nun's Story (1959), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), Wait Until Dark (1967)
• Competitive Academy Award Wins: 1 (Best Actress for Roman Holiday)
• Honorary Academy Award Wins: 1 (Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award)
• Total Best Actress Nominations: 5 (Roman Holiday, Sabrina, The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Wait Until Dark)
• Other Major Awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award (EGOT winner)
• Humanitarian Role: Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (1988–1993)

The 1954 Best Actress Triumph for Roman Holiday

Audrey Hepburn’s first and only competitive Oscar win came for her debut American film, the romantic comedy *Roman Holiday* (1953). Her portrayal of Princess Ann, a European royal who escapes her handlers to experience Rome as an ordinary tourist, captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. The film was a box-office success and catapulted the relatively unknown actress to global stardom.

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The award was presented at the 26th Academy Awards ceremony, held in March 1954, honoring the films of 1953. Hepburn’s victory was particularly significant because she was competing against established Hollywood heavyweights, including Leslie Caron and Deborah Kerr.

A Night of Unexpected Acceptance

The night of the 26th Academy Awards was unique for Hepburn. She did not attend the main ceremony in Hollywood. Instead, she was on the East Coast, accepting her award in New York. This was a common practice at the time, as the ceremony was split between Hollywood and New York.

The presenter, Gary Cooper, announced her as the winner, and a visibly emotional Hepburn accepted the statue from Jean Hersholt in New York. The moment was famously marked by her sheer joy and genuine surprise, a reaction that only amplified her public persona as a fresh, unjaded talent.

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The role of Princess Ann, co-starring with Gregory Peck, showcased Hepburn’s unique blend of sophistication, vulnerability, and comedic timing. Her iconic wardrobe for the film, designed by Edith Head, also helped solidify her status as an emerging fashion icon, a title she would later share with her long-time collaborator, Hubert de Givenchy.

The Four Other Nominations and the Enduring Legacy

While *Roman Holiday* secured her only competitive win, Hepburn went on to receive four additional Best Actress nominations, demonstrating her remarkable range and longevity in the industry.

• *Sabrina* (1954): Her second nomination, a delightful Cinderella story where she played the chauffeur's daughter who returns from Paris transformed.
• *The Nun's Story* (1959): A dramatic, critically acclaimed performance as Sister Luke, which many consider to be her finest dramatic work.
• *Breakfast at Tiffany's* (1961): The role of Holly Golightly, which cemented her image as the ultimate style icon and global superstar.
• *Wait Until Dark* (1967): A tense thriller where she played a blind woman terrorized in her own apartment, earning her a fifth and final nomination for a film adapted from a Terence Young work.

This remarkable track record of five nominations over a 14-year period underscores her consistent quality and appeal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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The Posthumous Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1993)

The second, and perhaps most meaningful, Oscar recognition came after her passing. Following her retirement from acting, Audrey Hepburn dedicated the last years of her life to working tirelessly as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, traveling to some of the world's poorest communities to advocate for children. Her commitment to this cause was deeply rooted in her own childhood experiences during World War II in the Netherlands.

In 1993, the Academy's Board of Governors voted to confer the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award upon her. This non-competitive Oscar is given to an individual whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the film industry.

Tragically, Hepburn passed away from cancer on January 20, 1993, just before the ceremony. The award was accepted on her behalf by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, at the 65th Academy Awards ceremony in March 1993, making it a profoundly emotional and bittersweet moment for the entire industry.

This posthumous honor, alongside her Presidential Medal of Freedom, solidified her dual legacy: a brilliant, Oscar-winning actress, and a compassionate, dedicated humanitarian whose work with UNICEF continues to inspire global change. Her two Oscars—one for a fairytale performance and one for a life of selfless service—perfectly encapsulate the enduring power and grace of Audrey Hepburn.