The Origins of Her Slender Figure
For decades, Audrey Hepburn's famously slender frame captivated audiences and defined an era of style and elegance. The public often speculated about her weight, attributing her thinness to strict dieting or even eating disorders. However, the true story behind her physique is far more complex and rooted in a period of severe hardship during her youth. During World War II, the Netherlands experienced a famine known as the “Winter of Hunger” under German occupation. As a teenager, Hepburn, then known as Edda van Heemstra, faced starvation, forcing her to consume non-traditional food sources like nettles and tulip bulbs. At the end of the war, she was severely malnourished, weighing only 88 pounds at a height of 5'6". The long-term effects of this malnutrition, including lifelong anemia and other health problems, influenced her body and health for the rest of her life.
Adulthood Weight and Diet
Despite the lasting effects of her wartime experience, Hepburn went on to lead a healthy and active lifestyle as an adult. For most of her life, she maintained a weight of around 110 pounds (approximately 50 kg) at a height of 5'7". Her family has consistently refuted claims that she suffered from an eating disorder, explaining that her consistent weight was due to a healthy metabolism, active lifestyle, and balanced diet. Her diet was simple, wholesome, and surprisingly normal, featuring a lot of Italian food, grains, and vegetables, with less emphasis on meat.
A Typical Day's Diet
- Breakfast: Often consisted of whole-grain toast with jam, sometimes accompanied by a coffee and milk.
- Lunch: Included lean meats like veal or chicken, pasta with fresh vegetables from her garden, or a simple salad.
- Dinner: A favorite meal was soup with chicken and vegetables, or her signature spaghetti al pomodoro.
- Indulgences: She enjoyed baking chocolate after dinner and a small Scotch, proving she didn't deprive herself.
The Role of Exercise
Beyond her diet, Hepburn maintained her trim figure through consistent physical activity, primarily walking. Her partner for the last 13 years of her life, Robert Wolders, noted that she enjoyed long walks and could easily outpace him. She didn't engage in excessive or extreme exercise regimens but rather maintained a balanced and active lifestyle that she genuinely enjoyed. This combination of a healthy diet and regular movement, alongside a naturally high metabolism, allowed her to stay slim without resorting to the drastic measures often rumored.
Comparing Audrey Hepburn to Other Hollywood Stars
The Golden Age of Hollywood saw many different body types and approaches to maintaining a public image. Comparing Audrey Hepburn to another contemporary icon highlights the diversity and pressures faced by actresses of that era.
| Feature | Audrey Hepburn | Marilyn Monroe |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Adult Weight | ~110 lbs (50 kg) | 115-120 lbs (52-54 kg) average |
| Height | 5'7" (170 cm) | 5'5.5" (166 cm) |
| Body Type Origins | Influenced by childhood malnutrition, active lifestyle, and high metabolism | Maintained through conscious effort; known for curves |
| Diet Approach | Simple, whole foods; loved pasta; ate in moderation | Varied diet and diet efforts reported; less consistent approach |
| Public Perception | Icon of elegant, elfin thinness; often rumored to have an eating disorder | Symbol of voluptuous beauty; body praised and scrutinized |
A Lifelong Commitment to Health and Humanitarianism
In her later life, Hepburn dedicated much of her time to humanitarian work with UNICEF. Her grueling travel schedules took a toll on her health, but she remained committed to the cause, which was deeply personal to her after her own experiences with starvation. In 1992, she was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer, pseudomyxoma peritonei, which had likely been developing for some time before diagnosis. She passed away in 1993 at the age of 63, maintaining her grace and composure until the end. Her life demonstrates that health is not merely a number on a scale but a complex interplay of personal history, diet, activity, and inner resilience.
Conclusion: The Whole Story of Audrey's Weight
The question of how much did Audrey Hepburn weight reveals more than just a number; it highlights the profound impact of childhood trauma on lifelong health and dispels myths surrounding her legendary figure. Contrary to persistent rumors, her adult weight of around 110 pounds was not the result of an eating disorder or fad dieting but a combination of an active, balanced lifestyle and a high metabolism, profoundly shaped by her wartime starvation. Her enduring grace came from a place of resilience and gratitude for life, a lesson that extends far beyond physical appearance. For more on her personal history, see a full account in her son's memoir Audrey at Home.
