Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress. Known for her fierce independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in
Hollywood for more than 60 years. She appeared in a range of genres, from
screwball comedy to literary drama, and she received four
Academy Awards for
Best Actress—a record for any performer. In 1999, Hepburn was named by the
American Film Institute as the
greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema.