Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(Getty)Audrey Hepburn declined a role in the 1959 film adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" due to personal trauma from World War II. Hepburn, who lived in the Netherlands during the war, almost died of starvation and identified strongly with Anne Frank's experiences, having read the diary shortly after its release. Her son, Sean Hepburn-Ferrer, stated that re-reading the book for the role left his mother "quite destroyed again" and caused recurring nightmares. The role of Anne Frank was ultimately played by Millie Perkins, and the film went on to receive eight Oscar nominations and win three awards. Hepburn instead starred in "The Nun's Story," earning her a third Oscar nomination, and later dedicated much of her time to humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In fullAudrey Hepburn turned down classic 1959 movie over WWII traumaMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
The heartbreaking reason Audrey Hepburn turned down one of Hollywood’s biggest roles
Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(Getty)Audrey Hepburn declined a role in the 1959 film adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" due to personal trauma from World War II. Hepburn, who lived in the Netherlands during the war, almost died of starvation and identified strongly with Anne Frank's experiences, having read the diary shortly after its release. Her son, Sean Hepburn-Ferrer, stated that re-reading the book for the role left his mother "quite destroyed again" and caused recurring nightmares. The role of Anne Frank was ultimately played by Millie Perkins, and the film went on to receive eight Oscar nominations and win three awards. Hepburn instead starred in "The Nun's Story," earning her a third Oscar nomination, and later dedicated much of her time to humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In fullAudrey Hepburn turned down classic 1959 movie over WWII traumaMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
