Before becoming one of the biggest stars in the Hollywood industry and an international icon, Audrey Hepburn spent most of her formative chapter of her childhood in Elham, a picturesque village nestled in the North Downs of Kent, England. The ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’ star once used to sing and dance with no inhibitions in this small town in Kent.
All about Audrey Hepburn ’s life in Kent
Hepburn’s parents divorced early when she was a young child, following which she was sent to learn English and receive an education in England by her mother, Baroness Ella van Heemstra. She went by the name Audrey Ruston at the time. Between 1936 and 1939, Hepburn stayed at the Orchard Cottage with the Butcher family, a family friend of her mother. Residents of the small village used to offer accommodations to visitors and guests before the Second World War broke out.Hepburn started attending Rigden School in the center of Elham, where her love for music and singing really started. While in conversation with Brian Badham, of Elham Historical Society, she shared, “One of the sisters encouraged Audrey to get involved with music and dance. That really was the starting point for the young Audrey Hepburn that she became.” Fellow historian Dilys Webb talked about how much things have changed over the past few decades. She shared, “”I think it was far busier than it is today. There were more shops, coffee houses, and pubs. In Audrey’s day I think it was more contained and everything that was here that she needed. She had quite a nice social life. She did ballet; she obviously went to the coffee houses and socialized with her friends, so I think there was plenty here for her in the few years she was here.”
Audrey Hepburn was sent to England for her studies and to hone her skills by her mother, soon after her parents filed for divorce. (Instagram)
Audrey Hepburn’s return to the Netherlands during WW2
In December 1939, Hepburn was called back home to the Netherlands, which was still a war-torn world; however, it was still a neutral space. After Germany invaded in May 1940, most of her teenage years were spent living under Nazi occupation. During the war, she took part in secret ballet performances that helped raise funds for anti-Nazi movements and even helped the Dutch resistance move forward by carrying around their messages.
Did Audrey Hepburn return to Elham?
As of right now, there is no proper record of whether she revisited the town again or not. However, a blue-colored plaque has been set up on the house that she once lived in to mark a historical space. Before it belonged to the Butcher family, the property was also an 18th-century public house called The Five Bells. The residents are extremely grateful that one of the biggest Hollywood icons once called their village her home. Webb commented on the same, sharing, “Obviously, when she was here, the village didn’t know she was going to be a superstar. Now everybody knows of Audrey, and we are a very, very proud village.”As for Hepburn, the actress started working in entertainment soon after the ending of the Second World War and starred in her film debut in the short film ‘Dutch in Seven Lessons.’ She worked in theater, plays, and productions and also starred in shows and films, helping her establish her name in the industry.
