OTPArion
I remember
the day I met Audrey Hepburn as if it was yesterday. I was on the set of Roman Holiday, near the
Spanish Steps. It was a warm and sunny
day and everyone was smiling and in a good mood. I had been chosen to be an extra in the
movie. Back in 1954, I was a young girl
of 21 years old, trying to make it as an actress. Before the audition for Roman Holiday, I hadn’t
had much luck, so I was grateful to have the opportunity to appear in a major
motion picture, even if I had no lines whatsoever.
Audrey was
the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. She had a beautiful smile, flawless skin,
sparkling eyes and possessed a natural charm and elegance. Whenever she walked, she did it with her
shoulders back, head held high, her skirt swishing around her long, deer-like
legs. Audrey reminded me of a doe and
later on during our friendship, my nickname for her was “Bambi”. When she walked by with such a regal air,
people automatically cleared a passage for her.
But she was never obnoxious.
Audrey always told everyone who asked that she was just very lucky. She didn’t consider herself as a beautiful
woman, in fact she found herself too thin, with big feet and a funny face.
She became
the big sister I had never had. I was
present at each joyful occasion, as well as the sad ones. Whenever Audrey cried, I would hold her
tightly while she sobbed. When she
talked, I silently listened, nodding every once in a while. When she laughed, I laughed with her. I was there at both of her weddings. I was at her bedside when she was slowly
dying. In a way, I think I knew Audrey
better than anyone. But I’m an old woman
now and soon all my memories of her will be gone, forgotten forever. What better way to share all my adventures
with Audrey than with a story?