Leslie Goddard as Audrey Hepburn

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 at 2pm

Audrey Hepburn was a British actress who was recognized as a film and fashion icon.  She is one of a few entertainers who have won an Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. On November 6, the Geneseo Public Library will host Leslie Goddard, who will delve into the multi-faceted actress’s life and struggles through her portrayal of one of Audrey Hepburn’s most well-known roles.

Things you may not know about Audrey Hepburn:  

• That she trained as a classical ballet dancer. She had a deep passion for the art, but her dream of becoming a professional prima ballerina was curtailed by severe malnutrition and other factors during World War II, as well as physical limitations like her height. Her intensive ballet training, however, profoundly influenced her grace, poise, and expressiveness, which became trademarks of her successful acting career. 
• That she was 31 years old when she portrayed Holly Golightly a 19-year-old.
• That Shirley McLaine turned down the role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Her first son was born in July 1960; Breakfast came out in 1961
• Her salary for the film was $750,000 (roughly equivalent to $7.3 million as of 2022), making her the highest paid actress per film at the time.
• She called herself an introvert, saying she preferred to be alone often.
• She had big feet—she wore a size 10 shoe!
• Her parents split up when she was six, and her father’s departure had a huge impact on her with respect to relationships with men. (She was married twice).
• Her real name was Audrey Kathleen Ruston; didn’t start using Hepburn until 1948. (Her father, Joseph Ruston, changed the family name to Hepburn-Ruston).

Leslie Goddard is a historian and author who writes and lectures on American cultural history with particular expertise in women’s history.  She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies and an M.A. in Museum Studies.

Leslie is happy to answer any of your questions after her presentation.