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Entity shares how Audrey Hepburn dancing through the war helped raise money.

Who is Aubrey Hepburn? If asked, you’d probably answer say, “an actress” or “The star of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s.'” However, Audrey Hepburn was much more than a popular movie star during her lifetime; she also served as part of the Dutch resistance during World War II and as a UNICEF ambassador later in life.

The beginning of Hepburn’s story may not sound like anything special: dad leaves family, family leaves country. To be specific, after Hepburn’s father left their family, her mother, Ella, moved Hepburn to Holland where she was quickly forced to learn Dutch and began practicing ballet. The plot twist in this bio? Hepburn eventually started to put on secret ballet shows during the occupation in 1943. The shows mostly functioned as a way to raise money for the Dutch Resistance with Hepburn and other kids also helping the Resistance by delivering messages and illegal leaflets.

Hepburn’s 16th birthday is probably also a little more unique than yours: on the same day she might have blown out 16 candles on her birthday cake in 1945, Holland was liberated. Ella encouraged her daughter to keep taking dancing lessons in Amsterdam, but Hepburn eventually discovered her true calling when she began acting in 1948.

Despite her rise to fame, Hepburn did not forget her past struggles. In 1989, Hepburn was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador and said, “I can testify to what UNICEF means to children, because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.” Hepburn dedicated countless hours to UNICEF, going on missions to Ethiopia, Turkey, Venezuela, Ecuador, Thailand, Sudan and many other countries. She also launched UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children reports and gave regular speeches for UNICEF.

Towards the end of her life, in 1992 Hepburn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the “highest civilian award,” and continued traveling for UNICEF despite being diagnosed with cancer.

Through the hard times in her life in WWII, she was able to find light and hope through dance. Then, she found beauty, joy and passion in acting and modeling. Instead of simply accepting this success, however, she used her popularity and star-status to give back to those in need. Next time you’re asked who Aubrey Hepburn is, thats what you should say.

Edited by Casey Cromwell

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