Audrey Hepburn (; born
Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during
Hollywood's Golden Age. She was ranked by the
American Film Institute as the third
greatest female screen legend in Golden Age
Hollywood and was inducted into the
International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Born in
Ixelles, a district of Brussels, Hepburn spent her childhood between Belgium, England, and the Netherlands, including German-occupied
Arnhem during the Second World War where she worked as a courier for the Dutch resistance and assisted with fundraising. In Amsterdam, she studied ballet with
Sonia Gaskell before moving to London in 1948 to continue her ballet training with
Marie Rambert and perform as a chorus girl in West End musical theatre productions. She spoke several languages, including English, French,
Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and German.