Understanding What Were the Health Issues with Audrey Hepburn?

September 30, 2025 •

3 min read

In 1993, iconic actress Audrey Hepburn passed away at age 63 from a rare form of appendix cancer, but her health struggles began decades earlier during a period of intense trauma and starvation. Understanding what were the health issues with Audrey Hepburn reveals a life marked by resilience in the face of long-term physical and emotional challenges stemming from her experiences during World War II.

Quick Summary

Audrey Hepburn's health was deeply impacted by childhood malnutrition during WWII, leading to lifelong ailments like anemia and edema. Later in life, she was diagnosed with rare pseudomyxoma peritonei cancer, and her health was also affected by heavy smoking and personal trauma.

Key Points

Rare Cancer: Audrey Hepburn died from pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare cancer originating in the appendix that spread through her abdomen.
WWII Malnutrition: As a teenager in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, Hepburn endured severe malnutrition, surviving on limited food and experiencing lifelong health consequences.
Lifelong Ailments: Childhood starvation led to chronic issues like acute anemia, respiratory problems, and edema, a swelling of the joints.
Heavy Smoking: Hepburn was a lifelong, heavy smoker, a significant risk factor for the type of cancer she developed.
Mental Health Struggles: The trauma of her childhood and abandonment by her father contributed to lifelong struggles with depression and insecurity.
Physical Resilience: Despite enduring significant health challenges, Hepburn showed remarkable resilience throughout her life and focused her later years on humanitarian work.

The Lingering Legacy of WWII Malnutrition

Born in 1929, Hepburn spent her teenage years in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, a period that included the devastating 'Hunger Winter' of 1944-1945. The severe food deprivation during this time had a permanent impact on her body, resulting in her famously slight frame. However, this thinness was not the result of an eating disorder but a lasting physical consequence of near-starvation. To survive, her family resorted to eating tulip bulbs and making tea from nettles.

Physical Ailments from Childhood Starvation

Her harrowing experience with malnutrition left her with several chronic conditions that persisted throughout her life. These included:

Acute Anemia: A severe lack of iron in the blood, which can cause fatigue and weakness.
Edema: The dangerous swelling of the body's tissues due to fluid retention. Hepburn described it reaching her ankles by the end of the war.
Respiratory Problems: Including asthma, which can be triggered or worsened by malnutrition.
Jaundice: A condition causing yellowing of the skin and eyes, also caused by her starvation.

Later-Life Health Challenges and Diagnosis

In addition to the lingering effects of her childhood, Hepburn faced significant health issues later in her life, culminating in a devastating cancer diagnosis in her early sixties.

The Battle with Rare Appendiceal Cancer

In 1992, after returning from a grueling UNICEF trip to Somalia, Hepburn experienced severe abdominal pain. An exploratory surgery in Los Angeles revealed she had pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare form of cancer that begins in the appendix.

Delayed Diagnosis: PMP is notoriously difficult to diagnose early because its symptoms, like abdominal pain and bloating, are often mistaken for other issues.
Limited Treatment: When Hepburn was diagnosed, treatment options were far more limited than today. Her cancer had spread, and despite two surgeries and some chemotherapy, it was deemed incurable.
Impact on her Work: Hepburn ignored her initial symptoms while focusing on her humanitarian work for UNICEF, a passion driven by her own experience with aid during wartime.

Mental and Lifestyle Factors

Beyond her physical health, Hepburn also dealt with significant emotional and lifestyle factors that impacted her well-being.

Depression and The Pressure of Fame

Her early-life trauma, including her father's abandonment and the horrors of WWII, contributed to lifelong feelings of insecurity and depression. While she maintained a poised public image, she privately struggled with her emotions.

Lifestyle Habits and Health Risks

While her famously slender figure was a result of childhood starvation rather than dieting, Hepburn's lifestyle did include habits that likely exacerbated her health risks later in life.

Smoking: Hepburn was a lifelong, heavy smoker, a significant risk factor for many cancers, including colon cancer, which is in the same family as PMP. At one point, she reportedly smoked up to three packs a day.
Appetite and Diet: Despite rumors of eating disorders, her partner and son confirmed she was a healthy eater who loved pasta and indulged in chocolate and Scotch. Her high metabolism and active lifestyle, including long walks, also contributed to her slimness.

A Comparison of Health Challenges Over a Lifetime


Health Aspect	Childhood (WWII)	Later Life (Post-WWII)
Physical Condition	Severe malnutrition (88 lbs at 5'6"), stunted growth, chronic respiratory issues.	Lingering effects of malnutrition (anemia, edema), diagnosis of rare cancer.
Psychological Impact	War trauma, near-death experiences, parental abandonment, insecurity.	Depression and private emotional struggles, heightened by fame's pressure.
Lifestyle Factors	Forced survival on minimal food (tulip bulbs, nettles).	Healthy appetite for pasta, but also heavy smoking and drinking.

Conclusion

Audrey Hepburn's health was a complex tapestry woven with threads of deep-seated trauma and personal choices. Her severe childhood malnutrition left indelible marks on her physical being, shaping her famous silhouette and contributing to chronic conditions. Her later battle with rare cancer was likely influenced by a combination of her past health history, smoking, and other factors. Her grace and resilience were not born out of perfect health but were a testament to her strength in facing profound adversity. Her journey is a powerful reminder of how childhood trauma and adult lifestyle can significantly impact long-term health.

For further reading on the effects of her childhood during wartime, a good resource is People's article on the subject.(https://people.com/health/audrey-hepburn-weighed-88-lbs-after-world-war-ii-son-luca-dotti-says/)

Frequently Asked Questions

Audrey Hepburn died from pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare and aggressive form of cancer that began in her appendix and spread to other parts of her abdomen.

According to her son and partner, Hepburn did not have an eating disorder. Her famously slender figure was primarily a result of the severe malnutrition she experienced during World War II.

The severe malnutrition Hepburn experienced during WWII led to chronic conditions including acute anemia, respiratory problems, edema, and jaundice. Her weight dropped dangerously low, impacting her health permanently.

Yes, Audrey Hepburn was a lifelong, heavy smoker, which is considered a strong risk factor for many cancers, including the type she was diagnosed with.

Yes, Hepburn reportedly battled frequent bouts of depression and insecurity, stemming from her childhood traumas and the pressures of fame.

Audrey Hepburn was diagnosed in 1992 and passed away in January 1993, just a few months later. Doctors gave her a prognosis of only three months to live.

Despite her slim frame, Hepburn enjoyed a healthy appetite for simple foods like pasta, vegetables from her garden, and lean meats. She also indulged in chocolate and a glass of Scotch in the evenings.