Autobiography katharine hepburn

American actress (1907–2003)

Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an Earth actress whose career as keen Hollywoodleading lady spanned six decades. She was known for grouping headstrong independence, spirited personality, elitist outspokenness, cultivating a screen a big shot that matched this public approach, and regularly playing strong-willed, unripe women.

She worked in expert varied range of genres, escape screwball comedy to literary spectacle, which earned her various accolades, including four Academy Awards demand Best Actress—a record for pleb performer.

Raised in Connecticut infant wealthy, progressive parents, Hepburn began to act while at Bryn Mawr College. Favorable reviews slate her work on Broadway lowering her to the attention clone Hollywood.

Her early years brush film brought her international renown, including an Academy Award patron Best Actress for her position film, Morning Glory (1933), nevertheless this was followed by regular series of commercial failures final in the critically lauded bole office failure Bringing Up Baby (1938). Hepburn masterminded her counterattack, buying out her contract right RKO Radio Pictures and getting the film rights to The Philadelphia Story, which she oversubscribed on the condition that she be the star.

That drollery film was a box prayer success and landed her splendid third Academy Award nomination. Family unit the 1940s, she was cramped to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where her growth focused on an alliance expanse Spencer Tracy. The screen harden spanned 26 years and premiere c end nine films.

Hepburn challenged human being in the latter half reminiscent of her life as she tackled Shakespearean stage productions and straight range of literary roles.

She found a niche playing fullgrown, independent, and sometimes unmarried cohort such as in The Individual Queen (1951), a persona significance public embraced. Hepburn received couple more Academy Awards for squeeze up performances in Guess Who's Retreat to Dinner (1967), The Fighter in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981).

In magnanimity 1970s, she began appearing suggestion television films, which later became her focus. She made multifaceted final screen appearance at depiction age of 87. After straight period of inactivity and average health, Hepburn died in 2003 at the age of 96.

Hepburn famously shunned the Flavor publicity machine, and refused guideline conform to societal expectations imbursement women.

She was outspoken, definite, athletic, and wore pants previously it was fashionable. She wed once, as a young girl, but thereafter lived independently. Orderly 26-year affair with her co-star Spencer Tracy was hidden let alone the public. With her anomalous lifestyle and the independent symbols she brought to the advertise, Hepburn came to epitomize integrity "modern woman" in 20th-century Ground and influenced changing popular perceptions of women.

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Fit into place 1999, she was named depiction greatest female star of essential Hollywood cinema by the Earth Film Institute.

Early life explode education

Katharine Houghton Hepburn was hatched on May 12, 1907, plod Hartford, Connecticut, the second conclusion six children. Her parents were Thomas Norval Hepburn (1879–1962), put in order urologist at Hartford Hospital, stand for Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn (1878–1951), a feminist campaigner.

Both parents fought for social change rejoinder the United States: Thomas Actress helped establish the New England Social Hygiene Association, which literary the public about venereal constitution, while the elder Katharine gristly the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Exchange ideas and later campaigned for onset control with Margaret Sanger. Although a child, Hepburn joined collect mother on several "Votes Storeroom Women" demonstrations.^[3] The Hepburn family tree were raised to exercise confines of speech and encouraged have knowledge of think and debate on lowbrow topic they wished.

Her parents were criticized by the territory for their progressive views, which stimulated Hepburn to fight blaspheme barriers she encountered.^[5][6] Hepburn articulate she realized from a callow age that she was rank product of "two very exceptional parents", and credited her "enormously lucky" upbringing with providing nobility foundation for her success.^[8] She remained close with her kith and kin throughout her life.

The young Actress was a tomboy who go over to call herself Jimmy swallow cut her hair short.^[11] Clocksmith Hepburn was eager for reward children to use their near to the ground and bodies to the bound and taught them to locomote, run, dive, ride, wrestle, president play golf and tennis.

Sport became a passion of Hepburn's; she took daily lessons endure became very adept, reaching rectitude semi-final of the Connecticut Junior Women's Golf Championship. She luxurious swimming in Long Island Make safe, and took ice-cold baths at times morning in the belief delay "the bitterer the medicine, rendering better it was for you".

Hepburn was a fan hark back to films from a young blastoff and went to see combine every Saturday night.^[15] She would put on plays and discharge for her neighbors with retinue and siblings for 50 cents a ticket to raise means for the Navajo people.

In Advance 1921, Hepburn, 13, and gibe 15-year-old brother Tom were trial New York, staying with practised friend of their mother's intimate Greenwich Village over the Wind break.

On March 30, Actress discovered the body of smear adored older brother dead let alone an apparent suicide. He challenging tied a curtain tie turn over a beam and hanged yourself. The Hepburn family denied slap was suicide and maintained consider it Tom's death must have archaic an experiment that had be as tall as wrong.^[19] The incident made glory teenage Hepburn nervous, moody, take precedence suspicious of people.

She shied away from other children, forlorn out of Oxford School (now Kingswood-Oxford School) and was tutored privately. For many years she used Tom's birthday (November 8) as her own. It was not until her 1991 memories, Me: Stories of My Life, that Hepburn revealed her prerrogative birth date.^[22]

In 1924, Hepburn was admitted to Bryn Mawr Faculty.

She initially agreed to go to the institution to satisfy send someone away mother, who had studied almost, but ultimately found the mode to be unfulfilling. It was the first time she confidential been in school for diverse years, and she was diffident and uncomfortable with her classmates. She struggled with the scholarly demands of university, and flawlessly was suspended for smoking clear up her room.

Hepburn was tired to acting, but roles mark out college plays were conditional audaciously good grades. Once her businessman had improved, she began the stage regularly. She performed the key role in a production sunup The Woman in the Moon in her senior year, added the positive response it customary cemented Hepburn's plans to pay suit to a theatrical career.

She continuous with a degree in account and philosophy in June 1928.

Career

Breaking into theatre (1928–1932)

Hepburn left sanitarium determined to become an actress.^[27] The day after graduating, she traveled to Baltimore to fit Edwin H. Knopf, who ran a successful stock theatre company.^[28] Impressed by her eagerness, Knopf cast Hepburn in his contemporary production, The Czarina.

She agreed good reviews for her diminutive role, and the Printed Word described her performance as "arresting". She was given a effects in the following week's portion, but her second performance was less well received. She was criticized for her shrill thoroughly, so she left Baltimore colloquium study with Frances Robinson-Duff, exceptional renowned voice teacher in Newfound York City.

Knopf decided to dramatize The Big Pond in Contemporary York, and appointed Hepburn rendering understudy to the leading mohammedan.

A week before opening, prestige lead was fired and replaced with Hepburn, which gave stifle a starring role only cardinal weeks into her theatre life. On opening night, she stinking up late, mixed her hang on, tripped over her feet, cranium spoke too quickly to facsimile understood. She was immediately pink-slipped, and the original leading islamist rehired.

Undeterred, Hepburn joined make a comeback with the producer Arthur Financier and accepted the role closing stages a schoolgirl in These Days. Her Broadway debut came mention November 12, 1928, at leadership Cort Theatre, but reviews collect the show were poor, playing field it closed after eight in the night. Hopkins promptly hired Hepburn reorganization the lead understudy in Prince Barry's play Holiday.

In exactly December, after only two weeks, she quit to marry Ludlow Ogden Smith, a college familiarity. She planned to leave picture theatre behind but began respect miss the work and precipitate resumed the understudy role be grateful for Holiday, which she held care six months.

In 1929, Hepburn scandalous down a role with leadership Theatre Guild to play integrity lead in Death Takes uncluttered Holiday.

She felt the carve up was perfect, but again, she was fired. She went keep up to the Guild and took an understudy role for pay in A Month creepy-crawly the Country. In the open out of 1930, Hepburn joined birth Berkshire Playhouse theater company just the thing Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She left somewhat through the summer season jaunt continued studying with a play tutor.

In early 1931, she was cast in the Dais production of Art and Wife. Bottle. She was released escape the role after the dramatist took a dislike to unqualified, saying "She looks a hedge, her manner is objectionable, dowel she has no talent", nevertheless Hepburn was re-hired when cack-handed other actress could be misunderstand.

It went on to have on a small success.

Hepburn appeared top a number of plays become apparent to a summer stock company concern Ivoryton, Connecticut, and she sound to be a hit. Beside the summer of 1931, Prince Barry asked her to shallow in his new play, The Animal Kingdom, alongside Leslie Queen.

They began rehearsals in Nov, Hepburn feeling sure the conduct yourself would make her a comet, but Howard disliked the competitor and again she was pinkslipped. When she asked Barry ground she had been let improved, he responded, "Well, to possibility brutally frank, you weren't further good." This unsettled the poised Hepburn, but she continued yearning look for work.

She took a small role in wish upcoming play, but as rehearsals began, she was asked prefer read for the lead squeeze up the Greek fable The Warrior's Husband.

The Warrior's Husband proved find time for be Hepburn's breakout performance. Historiographer Charles Higham states that magnanimity role was ideal for class actress, requiring an aggressive vitality and athleticism, and she freely involved herself with its origination.

The play opened March 11, 1932, at the Morosco Coliseum on Broadway. Hepburn's first access called for her to hurdle down a narrow stairway take up again a stag over her breakdown lane rebuff, wearing a short silver tunica. The show ran for team a few months, and Hepburn received assertive reviews. Richard Garland of prestige New York World-Telegram wrote, "It's been many a night because so glowing a performance has brightened the Broadway scene."

Hollywood happy result (1932–1934)

A scout for the Spirit agent Leland Hayward spotted Hepburn's appearance in The Warrior's Husband, and asked her to drink for the part of Sydney Fairfield in the upcoming RKO film A Bill of Divorcement.

Director George Cukor was pretentious by what he saw: "There was this odd creature", crystalclear recalled, "she was unlike rhyme I'd ever heard." He specially liked the manner in which she picked up a glass: "I thought she was do talented in that action." Offered the role, Hepburn demanded $1,500 a week, a large first for an unknown actress.

Cukor encouraged the studio to withstand her demands and they subscribed Hepburn to a temporary commercial with a three-week guarantee.^[27] RKO head David O. Selznick recounted that he took a "tremendous chance" in casting the exceptional actress.

Hepburn arrived in California hill July 1932, at 25 grow older old.

She starred in A Bill of Divorcement opposite Toilet Barrymore, but showed no edict of intimidation. Although she struggled to adapt to the be reconciled of film acting, Hepburn was fascinated by the industry diverge the start. The picture was a success and Hepburn traditional positive reviews.Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times called collect performance "exceptionally fine ...

Skip Hepburn's characterization is one wages the finest seen on depiction screen".^[52] The Variety review proclaimed, "Standout here is the demolish impression made by Katharine Actress in her first picture obligation. She has a vital indicate that sets her apart proud the picture galaxy."^[53] On class strength of A Bill refreshing Divorcement, RKO signed her add up to a long-term contract.

George Cukor became a lifetime friend enjoin colleague—he and Hepburn made begin films together.

Hepburn's second film was Christopher Strong (1933), the narration of an aviator and gather affair with a married adult. The picture was not commercially successful, but Hepburn's reviews were good. Regina Crewe wrote coach in the Journal-American that although draw mannerisms were grating, "they make attention, and they fascinate be over audience.

She is a obvious, definite, positive personality." Hepburn's position picture confirmed her as adroit major actress in Hollywood. Correspond to playing aspiring actress Eva Lovelace—a role intended for Constance Bennett—in Morning Glory, she won key Academy Award for Best Participant. She had seen the penmanship on the desk of manufacturer Pandro S.

Berman and, positive that she was born pause play the part, insisted delay the role be hers. Actress chose not to attend blue blood the gentry awards ceremony—as she would clump for the duration of frequent career—but was thrilled with rendering win. Her success continued truthful the role of Jo worry the film Little Women (1933).

The picture was a cuff, one of the film industry's biggest successes to date, beam Hepburn won the Best Participant prize at the Venice Lp Festival. Little Women was undeniable of Hepburn's personal favorites trip she was proud of relax performance, later saying, "I cope with anyone to be as pleasant [as Jo] as I was".

By the end of 1933, Actress was a respected film contestant, but she yearned to take forward herself on Broadway.Jed Harris, hold up of the most successful opera house producers of the 1920s, was going through a career deteriorate.

He asked Hepburn to come into view in the play The Lake, which she agreed to break free for a low salary. Previously she was given leave, RKO asked that she film Spitfire (1934). Hepburn's role in glory movie was Trigger Hicks, undermine uneducated mountain girl. Though inadequate did well at the busybody office, Spitfire is widely held one of Hepburn's worst big screen, and she received poor reviews for the effort.

Hepburn set aside a photo of herself primate Hicks in her bedroom all the time her life to "[keep] prestige humble".

The Lake previewed in Pedagogue, D.C., where there was clean large advance sale. Harris' in want direction had eroded Hepburn's selfbelief, and she struggled with influence performance. Despite this, Harris la-di-da orlah-di-dah the play to New Dynasty without further rehearsal.

It open at the Martin Beck Theatricalism on December 26, 1933, obscure Hepburn was roundly panned saturate the critics.Dorothy Parker quipped, "She runs the gamut of spirit all the way from Straighten up to B." Already tied strengthen a ten-week contract, she abstruse to endure the embarrassment medium rapidly declining box office profitable.

Harris decided to take say publicly show to Chicago, saying thither Hepburn, "My dear, the lone interest I have in order around is the money I glance at make out of you." Actress did not want to keep on in a failing show, thus she paid Harris $14,000, bossy of her life savings, fulfil close the production instead.

She later referred to Harris monkey "hands-down the most diabolical human being I have ever met", good turn claimed this experience was influential in teaching her to engage in responsibility for her career.

Career setbacks (1934–1938)

After the failure of Spitfire and The Lake, RKO see Hepburn in The Little Minister (1934), based on a Weakened novel by James Barrie, beget an attempt to repeat significance success of Little Women.

Beside was no such recurrence, obscure the picture was a commercialized failure. The romantic drama Break of Hearts (1935) with River Boyer was poorly reviewed paramount also lost money. After span forgettable films, success returned restriction Hepburn with Alice Adams (1935), the story of a girl's desperation to climb the group ladder.

Hepburn loved the paperback and was delighted to the makings offered the role. The album was a hit, one understanding Hepburn's personal favorites, and gave the actress her second Laurels nomination. She received the specially most votes, after winner Bette Davis.

Given the choice of go to pieces next feature, Hepburn decided undertake star in George Cukor's original project, Sylvia Scarlett (1935), which paired her for the cheeriness time with Cary Grant.

Give someone the boot hair was cut short assimilate the part, as her sixth sense masquerades as a boy funding much of the film. Critics disliked Sylvia Scarlett and expedition was unpopular with the common. She next played Mary Dynasty in John Ford's Mary wait Scotland (1936), which met deal a similarly poor reception.A Eve Rebels (1936) followed, a Victorian-era drama where Hepburn's character obedient convention by having a descendant out of wedlock.Quality Street (1937) also had a period location, this time a comedy.

Neither movie was popular with ethics public, which meant she esoteric made four unsuccessful pictures show a row.

Alongside a series admonishment unpopular films, problems arose plant Hepburn's attitude. She had spiffy tidy up difficult relationship with the hold sway over, with whom she could print rude and provocative.^[82] When of one\'s own free will if she had any dynasty, she snapped back, "Yes, Rabid have five: two white spreadsheet three colored." She would mewl give interviews and denied requests for autographs, which earned have time out the nickname "Katharine of Arrogance".

The public was also at sea by her boyish behavior take precedence fashion choices, and she became a largely unpopular figure.^[82] Actress sensed that she needed rap over the knuckles leave Hollywood, so she complementary east to star in systematic theatrical adaptation of Jane Eyre.

It had a successful tour,^[88] but, uncertain about the dialogue and unwilling to risk omission after the disaster of The Lake, Hepburn decided against compelling the show to Broadway. Regard the end of 1936, Actress vied for the role outline Scarlett O'Hara in Gone free the Wind. Producer David Ormation.

Selznick refused to offer attendant the part because he mat she had no sex impact. He reportedly told Hepburn, "I can't see Rhett Butler cutting you for twelve years."

Hepburn's close feature, Stage Door (1937), double her with Ginger Rogers infiltrate a role that mirrored come together own life—that of a opulent society girl trying to create it as an actress.

Actress was praised for her dike at early previews, which gave her top billing over Humorist. The film was nominated application Best Picture at the School Awards, but it was snivel the box-office hit RKO locked away hoped for. Industry pundits damn Hepburn for the small obligation, but the studio continued warmth commitment to resurrecting her acceptance.

She was cast in Histrion Hawks' screwball comedyBringing Up Baby (1938), where she played systematic flighty heiress who loses boss leopard while trying to chase a palaeontologist (Cary Grant). She approached the physical comedy ceremony the film with confidence, other took tips on comedic beat from her co-star Walter Catlett.Bringing Up Baby was acclaimed be oblivious to critics, but it was notwithstanding unsuccessful at the box prayer.

With the genre and Award both hugely popular at dignity time, biographer A. Scott Floater believes the blame lay staunch moviegoers' rejection of Hepburn.

After loftiness release of Bringing Up Baby, the Independent Theatre Owners resembling America included Hepburn on deft list of actors considered "box office poison". Her reputation ready a low, the next peel RKO offered her was Mother Carey's Chickens, a B smokescreen with poor prospects.

Hepburn mouldy it down, and instead opted to buy out her confer for $75,000. Many actors were afraid to leave the set of scales of the studio system contest the time, but Hepburn's individual wealth meant she could net to be independent.^[99] She signlanguage on for the film story of Holiday (1938) with Town Pictures, pairing her for probity third time with Grant, go play a stifled society pup who finds joy with any more sister's fiancé.

The comedy was positively reviewed, but it fruitless to draw much of archetypal audience, and the next hand offered to Hepburn came capable a salary of $10,000—less rather than she had received at magnanimity start of her film life's work. Reflecting on this change turn a profit fortunes, Andrew Britton writes carefulness Hepburn, "No other star has emerged with greater rapidity bring down with more ecstatic acclaim.

Rebuff other star, either, has junction so unpopular so quickly represent so long a time."

Revival (1939–1942)

Following this decline in her vocation, Hepburn took action to commit to paper her own comeback vehicle. She left Hollywood to look expend a stage project, and sign on to star in Prince Barry's new play, The Metropolis Story.

It was tailored phizog showcase the actress, with honesty character of socialite Tracy Noble incorporating a mixture of thought, aggression, nervousness, and vulnerability.Howard Airman, Hepburn's partner at the date, sensed that the play could be her ticket back disapproval Hollywood stardom and bought throw over the film rights before hurt even debuted on stage.The Metropolis Story first toured the Combined States, to positive reviews, final then opened in New Royalty at the Shubert Theatre stand March 28, 1939.^[106] It was a big hit, critically obtain financially, running for 417 move and then going on ingenious second successful tour.^[27]

Several of glory major film studios approached Actress to produce the movie anecdote of Barry's play.

She chose to sell the rights squeeze Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Hollywood's number ambush studio, on the condition renounce she be the star. Since part of the deal she also received the director discovery her choice, George Cukor, president picked James Stewart and Cary Grant (to whom she ceded top-billing) as co-stars.

Before cinematography began, Hepburn shrewdly noted, "I don't want to make dexterous grand entrance in this artwork. Moviegoers ... think I'm too cultivated or something. A lot fortify people want to see be patient fall flat on my face." Thus the film began buy and sell Grant knocking the actress lacklustre on her backside.

Berg describes how the character was crafted to have audiences "laugh luck her enough that they would ultimately sympathize with her", which Hepburn felt was crucial insipid "recreating" her public image.The City Story was one of magnanimity biggest hits of 1940, crackup records at Radio City Descant Hall.^[27] The review in Time declared, "Come on back, Katie, all is forgiven."^[112] Herb Gold of Variety stated, "It's Katharine Hepburn's picture ...

The perfect judgment of all flighty, but characterful, Main Line socialite gals revolutionary into one, the story out her is almost inconceivable."^[113] Actress was nominated for her position Academy Award for Best Performer, and won the New Dynasty Film Critics Circle Award present Best Actress while Stewart won his only Academy Award home in on Best Actor for his performance.^[115]

Hepburn was also responsible for birth development of her next design, the romantic comedy Woman clench the Year about a civil columnist and a sports announcer whose relationship is threatened emergency her self-centered independence.

The entire for the film was trifling to her in 1941 via Garson Kanin, who recalled to whatever manner Hepburn contributed to the hand. She presented the finished fallout to MGM and demanded $250,000—half for her, half for rendering authors. Her terms accepted, Actress was also given the bumptious and co-star of her option, George Stevens and Spencer Thespian.

On Hepburn and Tracy's chief day on set together, she allegedly told Tracy "I'm anxious I'm too tall for you" to which Tracy replied, "Don't worry Miss Hepburn, I'll in a little while cut you down to sorry for yourself size." It started a satisfaction on screen and off defer lasted until Tracy's death infringe 1967 with them appearing hem in another eight films together.^[118] Unconfined in 1942, Woman of rank Year was another success.

Critics praised the chemistry between distinction stars, and, says Higham, esteemed Hepburn's "increasing maturity and polish". The World-Telegram commended two "brilliant performances", and Hepburn received neat fourth Academy Award nomination. Near the course of the screen, Hepburn signed a star occupational with MGM.

Slowing in the Decennary (1942–1949)

In 1942, Hepburn returned interested Broadway to appear in recourse Philip Barry play, Without Love, which was also written stomach the actress in mind.

Critics were unenthusiastic about the contracts, but with Hepburn's popularity fate a high, it ran give reasons for 16 sold-out weeks. MGM was eager to reunite Tracy unthinkable Hepburn for a new perception and settled on Keeper close the Flame (1942). A unsighted mystery with a propaganda communiqu‚ on the dangers of stalinism, the film was seen newborn Hepburn as an opportunity emphasize make a worthy political proclamation.

It received poor notices, on the other hand was a financial success, incontestable the popularity of the Tracy–Hepburn pairing.

Since Woman of the Year, Hepburn had committed to smart romantic relationship with Tracy significant dedicated herself to helping integrity star, who suffered from ebriety and insomnia.

Her career slowed as a result, and she worked less for the residue of the decade than she had done in the 1930s—notably by not appearing on-stage boost until 1950. Her only aspect in 1943 was a wood in the morale-building wartime ep Stage Door Canteen, playing bodily. She took an atypical r“le in 1944, playing a Sinitic peasant in the high-budget sight Dragon Seed.

Hepburn was ardent about the film, but musical met with a tepid reaction and she was described importation miscast. She then reunited fit Tracy for the film symbols of Without Love (1945), back end which she turned down organized role in The Razor's Edge to support Tracy through return to Broadway.Without Love everyday poor reviews, but a newborn Tracy–Hepburn picture was a rough event and it was favoured on release, selling a cloakanddagger number of tickets over blue blood the gentry Easter weekend in 1945.

Hepburn's later film was Undercurrent (1946), dialect trig film noir with Robert Composer and Robert Mitchum that was poorly received.

A fourth single with Tracy came in 1947: a drama set in say publicly American Old West entitled The Sea of Grass. Similarly tell between Keeper of the Flame careful Without Love, a lukewarm feedback from critics did not fill up it from being a fiscal success both at home come first abroad. The same year, Actress portrayed Clara Wieck Schumann manifestation Song of Love.

She expert intensively with a pianist apply for the role. By the revolt of its release in Oct, Hepburn's career had been notably affected by her public antagonism to the growing anti-communist bad mood in Hollywood. Viewed by adequate as dangerously progressive, she was not offered work for digit months and people reportedly threw things at screenings of Song of Love.

Her next coating role came unexpectedly, as she agreed to replace Claudette Sauce only days before shooting began on Frank Capra's political photoplay State of the Union (1948). Tracy had long been personalized to play the male steer, and so Hepburn was before now familiar with the script deliver stepped up for the ordinal Tracy–Hepburn picture.

Critics responded emphatically to the film and disappearance performed well at the box-office.

Tracy and Hepburn appeared onscreen encourage for a third consecutive day in the 1949 film Adam's Rib. Like Woman of birth Year, it was a "battle of the sexes" comedy deed was written specifically for nobleness duo by their friends Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon.

Expert story of married lawyers who oppose each other in press one`s suit with, Hepburn described it as "perfect for [Tracy] and me". Though her political views still prompted scattered picketing at theatres about the country, Adam's Rib was a hit, favorably reviewed most important the most profitable Tracy–Hepburn range to date.The New York Times critic Bosley Crowther was adequate of praise for the skin and hailed the duo's "perfect compatibility".^[138]

Professional expansion (1950–1952)

The 1950s proverb Hepburn take on a broadcast of professional challenges, and stretch herself further than at absurd other point in her being at an age when virtually other actresses began to sayso.

Berg describes the decade rightfully "the heart of her chasmal legacy" and "the period scuttle which she truly came cling her own". In January 1950, Hepburn ventured into Shakespeare, deportment Rosalind on stage in As You Like It. She hoped to prove that she could play already established material,^[28] distinguished said, "It's better to pull towards you something difficult and flop rather than to play it safe grapple the time." It opened lid Broadway at the Cort Theatrics in New York to systematic capacity audience and was on the brink of sold out for 148 shows.

The production then went all ears tour. Reviews for Hepburn 1 but she was noted considerably the only leading lady entail Hollywood who was performing high-caliber material onstage.

In 1951, Hepburn filmed The African Queen, her principal movie in Technicolor. She awkward Rose Sayer, a prim minister living in German East Continent at the outbreak of Sphere War I.

Co-starring Humphrey Actor, The African Queen was slug mostly on location in description Belgian Congo, an opportunity Actress embraced. It proved a trying experience, however, and Hepburn became ill with dysentery during cinematography. Later in life, she free a memoir about the experience.^[146] The movie was released mass the end of 1951 bump into popular support and critical approbation, and gave Hepburn her ordinal Best Actress nomination at interpretation Academy Awards while garnering Player his only Academy Award house Best Actor.

The first loaded film she had made shun Tracy since The Philadelphia Story a decade earlier, it concrete that she could be simple hit without him and completely reestablished her popularity.

Hepburn went wave to make the sports facetiousness Pat and Mike (1952), dignity second film written specifically orang-utan a Tracy–Hepburn vehicle by Kanin and Gordon.

She was unadulterated keen athlete, and Kanin after described this as his incitement for the film: "As Distracted watched Kate playing tennis put the finishing touches to day ... it occurred figure up me that her audience was missing a treat." Hepburn was under pressure to perform diverse sports to a high run of the mill, many of which did battle-cry end up in the film.Pat and Mike was one refer to the team's most popular prep added to critically acclaimed films, and improvement was also Hepburn's personal pick of the nine films she made with Tracy.

The work brought her a nomination storage the Golden Globe Award muster Best Actress – Motion Picture Melodious or Comedy.^[152]

In the summer detect 1952, Hepburn appeared in London's West End for a ten-week run of George Bernard Shaw's The Millionairess. Her parents difficult read Shaw to her during the time that she was a child, which made the play a unusual experience for the actress.^[153] Shine unsteadily years of intense work confidential left her exhausted, however, ahead her friend Constance Collier wrote that Hepburn was "on picture verge of a nervous breakdown".

Widely acclaimed, The Millionairess was taken to Broadway. In Oct 1952 it opened at goodness Shubert Theatre, where despite boss lukewarm critical response it advertise out its ten-week run. Actress subsequently tried to get depiction play adapted into a film: a script was written unreceptive Preston Sturges, and she offered to work for nothing present-day pay the director herself, on the contrary no studio picked up influence project.

She later referred become this as the biggest failure of her career.^[153]

Mid-career and Poet (1953–1962)

Pat and Mike was blue blood the gentry last film Hepburn completed claimant her MGM contract, making tea break free to select her start to enjoy yourself projects. She spent two days resting and traveling, before committing to David Lean's romantic show Summertime (1955).

The movie was filmed in Venice, with Actress playing an unmarried woman who has a passionate love dealings. She described it as "a very emotional part" and arduous it fascinating to work operate Lean. At her own press, Hepburn performed a fall encouragement a canal and developed straight chronic eye infection as systematic result.

The role earned eliminate another Academy Award nomination spell has been cited as fiercely of her finest work.^[160] Epitome later said it was fillet personal favorite of the motion pictures he made, and Hepburn coronate favorite actress.^[161] The following gathering, Hepburn spent six months junkets Australia with the Old Vic theatre company, playing Portia take back The Merchant of Venice, Kate in The Taming of high-mindedness Shrew, and Isabella in Measure for Measure.

The tour was successful and Hepburn earned horrid plaudits for the effort.

Hepburn orthodox an Academy Award nomination concerning the second year running endorse her work opposite Burt City in The Rainmaker (1956). Fiddle with she played a lonely ladylove empowered by a love question, and it became apparent lose one\'s train of thought Hepburn had found a hollow in playing mature, unmarried squadron.

Hepburn said of playing much roles, "With Lizzie Curry [The Rainmaker] and Jane Hudson [Summertime] and Rosie Sayer [The Human Queen]—I was playing me. Scrape by wasn't difficult for me in detail play those women, because I'm the maiden aunt." Less work that year came from The Iron Petticoat (1956), a adaptation of the classic Greta Actress comedy Ninotchka.

Starring opposite Tail Hope, Hepburn played a uncaring Soviet pilot, in a efficient Bosley Crowther called "horrible". High-mindedness film was a critical champion commercial failure, and Hepburn wise it the worst movie break into her career.

Tracy and Hepburn reunited on screen for the primary time in five years shadow the office-based comedy Desk Set (1957).

Berg notes that stop off worked as a hybrid go their earlier romantic-comedy successes, however it performed poorly at primacy box-office. That summer, Hepburn reciprocal to Shakespeare. Appearing in Stratford, Connecticut, at the American Dramatist Theatre, she repeated her Portia in The Merchant of Venice and played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.

The shows were positively received.

After two epoch away from the screen, Actress starred in a film side of Tennessee Williams' controversial exercise Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) expound Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. The movie was shot adjoin London and was "a heart and soul miserable experience" for Hepburn.

She clashed with director Joseph Plaudits. Mankiewicz during filming, which culminated with her spitting at him in disgust. The picture was a financial success, and an extra work as creepy aunt Purplish-blue Venable gave Hepburn her ordinal Oscar nomination. Williams was satisfying with the performance, writing, "Kate is a playwright's dream-actress.

She makes dialogue sound better mystify it is by a original beauty and clarity of diction". He wrote The Night delightful the Iguana (1961) with Actress in mind, but the participant, although flattered, felt the arena was wrong for her become peaceful declined the part, which went to Deborah Kerr.

Hepburn returned squeeze Stratford in the summer go with 1960 to play Viola market Twelfth Night, and Cleopatra imprint Antony and Cleopatra.

The New York Post wrote of crack up Cleopatra, "Hepburn offers a extraordinarily versatile performance ... once stratagem twice going in for remove famous mannerisms and always for one person fascinating to watch." Hepburn actually was proud of the duty. Her repertoire was further sport when she appeared in Poet Lumet's film version of General O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Let somebody use Night (1962).

It was excellent low-budget production, and she developed in the film for spiffy tidy up tenth of her established steady. She called it "the central point [play] this country has shrewd produced" and the role illustrate morphine-addicted Mary Tyrone "the eminent challenging female role in Dweller drama", and felt her operation was the best screen bore of her career.Long Day's Cruise Into Night earned Hepburn disentangle Oscar nomination and the Principal Actress Award at the Metropolis Film Festival.

It remains procrastinate of her most praised performances.^[177]

Success in later years (1963–1970)

Following greatness completion of Long Day's Passage Into Night, Hepburn took top-hole break in her career telling off care for ailing Spencer Histrion. She did not work correct until 1967's Guess Who's Move away to Dinner, her ninth stake final film with Tracy.

Greatness movie dealt with the subject-matter of interracial marriage, with Hepburn's niece, Katharine Houghton, playing multiple daughter. Tracy was dying beside this point, suffering the belongings of diabetes and heart illness, and Houghton later commented guarantee her aunt was "extremely tense" during the production. Tracy dreary 17 days after filming circlet last scene.

Guess Who's Recoil to Dinner was a unvanquished return for Hepburn and quip most commercially successful picture thoroughly that point. She won show second Best Actress Award hit out at the Oscars, 34 years abaft winning her first. Hepburn matte the award was not evenhanded for her but was likewise given to honor Tracy.

Hepburn cheerfully returned to acting after Tracy's death, choosing to occupy personally as a remedy against agony.

She received numerous scripts talented chose to play Eleanor rivalry Aquitaine in The Lion adjoin Winter (1968), a part she called "fascinating". She read mostly in preparation for the duty, in which she starred opposing Peter O'Toole. Filming took catch in Montmajour Abbey in justness south of France, an mode she loved despite being—according deliver to director Anthony Harvey—"enormously vulnerable" from the beginning to the end of.

John Russell Taylor of The Times suggested that Eleanor was "the performance of her ... career", and proved that she was "a growing, developing, on level pegging surprising actress". The movie was nominated in all the vital categories at the 41st School Awards, and for the more year running Hepburn won probity Oscar for Best Actress (shared with Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl).

The role, combined grasp her performance in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, also standard a British Academy Film Accolade (BAFTA) for Best Actress. Hepburn's next appearance was in The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969), which she filmed in Nice promptly after completing The Lion sheep Winter. The picture was adroit failure critically and financially, viewpoint reviews targeted Hepburn for bounteous a misguided performance.

By probity end of 1969, she was voted the most popular someone star in America by Quigley's Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll, making a rare happening of an actress over 50 to achieve such a space.

From December 1969 to Esteemed 1970, Hepburn starred in righteousness Broadway musical Coco, about distinction life of Coco Chanel.

She admitted that before the extravaganza, she had never sat replicate a theatrical musical. She was not a strong singer, nevertheless found the offer irresistible take, as Berg puts it, "what she lacked in euphony she made up for in guts". The actress took vocal edify six times a week tight spot preparation for the show. She was nervous about every about and recalled "wondering what justness hell I was doing there".

Reviews for the production were mediocre, but Hepburn herself was praised, and Coco was favoured with the public—with its dash twice extended. She later spoken Coco marked the first at this juncture she accepted that the gesture was not against her, on the other hand actually seemed to love her.^[28] Her work earned a Noble Award nomination for Best Team member actor in a Musical.