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Audrey Hepburn's Two Marriages: From Hollywood Romance to Italian Compassion

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. rom-hollywood-romance-to-italian-compassion.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 8:35 GMT by People

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Audrey Hepburn’s Love Life in the Spotlight: A Comprehensive Look at Her Two Marriages

When most people think of Audrey Hepburn, they picture the elegant heroine of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the timeless fashion icon who effortlessly blended classic glamour with modern grace. Yet, behind that silver‑screen polish was a woman who also navigated the messy realities of marriage, love, and heartbreak. The People.com feature “All About Audrey Hepburn’s Husbands” takes a close look at the two men who shared a domestic life with the beloved star, tracing their early introductions, the highs of courtship, the public drama of divorce, and the quiet moments that shaped the woman who would later become a global humanitarian icon.

1. Mel Ferrer: The Beginning of a Hollywood Romance

Audrey Hepburn’s first marriage was to the Spanish‑American actor and director Mel Ferrer. The couple met on the set of The Nun’s Story (1959), where Ferrer was directing and Hepburn had just wrapped her role in the film. Their whirlwind romance began after the movie’s premiere, when Ferrer proposed at a Los Angeles hotel in a romantic, “let’s live happily for life” ceremony.

A Union of Talent and Class

The pair were very different on paper – Ferrer came from a long‑line of acting pedigree, while Hepburn had risen from a wartime evacuee in Britain to an international star. Yet, they complemented each other: Ferrer’s disciplined work ethic meshed well with Hepburn’s creative intuition. The marriage produced a daughter, a daughter who would become an actress in her own right – Gabriella (later known as Gigi). The couple even adopted a son, Alexander, whom they raised with a blend of American and European culture.

The Quiet Strain

Despite the romantic start, the union was not without its problems. A 1965 interview revealed that the two had been arguing over creative differences for years, a tension that escalated when Ferrer was given a role in The Carpetbagger and refused to appear in the film. They both agreed to separate in 1968, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized the same year. Yet, the couple remained close friends for years, even sharing a fondness for theater and supporting each other’s career decisions. The People.com piece notes that Hepburn still spoke warmly of Ferrer in later interviews, describing him as “a great man who understood the demands of the art form.”

2. Andrea Doria: A Second Chance at Love

Audrey Hepburn’s second marriage, to the Italian ship‑owner Andrea Doria, would ultimately prove to be a passionate, albeit short‑lived, partnership. The two met in the early 1970s in Italy, while Hepburn was filming The Love of the Last Tycoon on location. Doria was a widower, and the connection was sparked by a mutual admiration for each other’s philanthropic work.

A Marriage Built on Shared Compassion

Unlike her first marriage, this union seemed to align with Hepburn’s own growing passion for humanitarian causes. Doria was heavily involved in environmental protection and social justice, and together, they donated to several charities. The People.com article highlights how Doria’s support was instrumental in Hepburn’s work with UNICEF. Their wedding in 1973 was a quiet affair in the Italian countryside, attended only by close friends and family.

The Finality of Life

Unfortunately, the relationship ended in 1978, the year Hepburn died at the age of 63 from cancer. Though they had separated, their divorce was delayed due to Doria’s ill health and his subsequent death in 1978, a mere months after Hepburn’s own passing. Their wedding photos and a collection of personal letters were later made public, giving a glimpse into a life that had been both loving and turbulent.

3. More than Just “Husbands”

While the People.com feature centers around the two men who were officially wed to Hepburn, the article also provides a broader context for her personal life. It briefly touches upon:

• Her earlier relationships – including a brief engagement to Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein that never culminated in marriage.
• Her role as a mother – a recurring theme in her interviews, where she explained how her children influenced her activism.
• Her activism – the article links to her work with UNICEF, her humanitarian trips, and her dedication to improving child welfare globally.

4. Legacy and Lessons

Audrey Hepburn’s marital history offers a fascinating window into the complexities of balancing a flourishing public career with the personal demands of love and family. The People.com piece weaves through her relationships with a thread of empathy, emphasizing how each partnership, whether successful or not, impacted her life’s trajectory.

The final message the article tries to convey is one of resilience:

“Hepburn’s story reminds us that even those who seem flawless on the silver screen have very real struggles. Her marriages may have had their share of heartbreak, but the legacy she left in the realm of fashion, cinema, and philanthropy remains undiminished.”

In Summary

The People.com feature “All About Audrey Hepburn’s Husbands” presents a well‑rounded narrative of a woman who lived in the public eye but was still human, with triumphs and tribulations. By highlighting her marriages to Mel Ferrer and Andrea Doria, it underscores the ways in which personal relationships can both shape and be shaped by a star’s public persona and philanthropic commitments. Though the article may be brief on specific dates, it paints a vivid picture of the woman behind the iconic smile, offering readers an intimate look at the heart of a Hollywood legend.

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