99. Audrey Hepburn in her own words

In this episode of One Sealed Letter, Kathryn Hastings reads from four deeply personal letters written by Audrey Hepburn—offering a rare glimpse into the woman behind the legend. Spanning from her early days in Monte Carlo to her reflections as a mother and collaborator, these letters reveal Audrey’s generosity, humor, vulnerability, and artistic insight.

Alongside the readings, Kathryn explores the relationships that shaped Audrey’s life—mentors, lovers, friends—and reflects on how letter writing allowed her to express what the camera could not. The episode also touches on her final illness and what we now understand about rare appendix cancers.

For a beautifully curated portrait of Audrey’s life, we recommend the documentary AUDREY (2020), streaming on Netflix. It’s an elegant companion to this episode—both full of heart.

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📚 Sources & References:

• Bonhams Auction House: Audrey Hepburn letters to Sir Felix Aylmer

• Audrey Hepburn’s letter to Henry Mancini (publicly archived)

• AUDREY (2020), directed by Helena Coan – Netflix

• Mayo Clinic & NIH literature on pseudomyxoma peritonei and appendix cancer

• UNICEF archives and public speeches by Audrey Hepburn