The iconic Hollywood actress, Audrey Hepburn, led a clandestine life as a spy during the upheavals of World War II. In his new book, "Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II," Robert Matzen dives deep into the actress's past during the conflict, revealing her activities with the Dutch Resistance. Matzen's work is based on secret files, interviews with Hepburn's family, and diaries that he unearthed.
Hepburn, who left us in 1993, had always been discreet about her past, but had occasionally given hints about her involvement in the resistance. Hepburn's secret work during the war is a surprise to many, given that she was only 10 years old when the war began, and her parents had sympathized with fascist ideals.
Hepburn was born in 1929 to an affluent family in Belgium. Her father worked in finance, and her mother, Baroness Ella van Heemstra, was a Dutch aristocrat. In 1935, her father left the family and moved to London, leaving Hepburn and her mother in a difficult financial situation. The abandonment had a profound impact on Hepburn, who later said, "I think it is hard sometimes for children who are abandoned. It tortures a child beyond measure. They don't know what the problem was."
In December 1939, Hepburn and her mother relocated to Holland as the war was brewing. The family's financial situation was precarious, and they settled in a modest apartment in Arnhem. Hepburn's mother took a job selling furniture to make ends meet. Surprisingly, Van Heemstra had been a supporter of the Nazis and even met with Hitler in Munich in 1935.
Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, and the occupation was swift. Public signs were changed to German, and swastika flags were flown. At only 11 years old at the time, Hepburn would later recall how the children had been learning arithmetic with problems like "If 1,000 English bombers attack Berlin, and 900 are shot down, how many will return to England?"
Despite the occupation, Hepburn found comfort in dance. She had discovered ballet while in England and now devoted herself to it entirely. In 1940, she enrolled in a specialized school under a celebrated dance teacher. She fell in love with the stage, and the timid and introverted child she was transformed into a confident performer.
However, in 1942, relative normalcy was disrupted when Hepburn's uncle was captured by the Nazis. Her mother was also arrested, but she was released after a few days. This event had a profound effect on Hepburn and her mother, and they decided to join the resistance. Hepburn's mother used her connections to gather information for the resistance, while Hepburn used her dancing abilities to entertain the troops and gather information. She also delivered messages and smuggled goods. The risks were high, and Hepburn knew that if they were caught, they would be executed.
Hepburn's work with the resistance ended in 1944 when the Allies liberated the Netherlands. She and her mother moved to London, where Hepburn continued her dancing studies. After the war, Hepburn's mother became a vocal anti-fascist, and Hepburn stated, "I owe everything to the war. It gave me a chance to become a person." Hepburn's secret life as a spy during World War II adds another layer to her legacy. She was not only a talented actress but also a courageous woman who risked her life for the freedom of her country.
Hepburn's work with the resistance was not widely known, but it is evident that it had a significant impact on her life. It gave her a sense.