It was 1992 and both Hepburn was dying from cancer (she passed away in 1993) and Satyajit Ray was also in his death-bed (he died 24 days later on 23 April). The Academy honored Ray with an honorary Lifetime Oscar award and he requested that his favorite actress present it to him (virtually). It is an emotional moment …even after all these (22) years.
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Academy Awards
Honorary Award
To Satyajit Ray, in recognition of
his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures, and of his
influence on filmmakers and audiences
the world. (accepted on tape from Calcutta, India)
Audrey Hepburn
& Venue: March 30, 1992; Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion
SATYAJIT RAY: Well, it’s an extraordinary experience for me to be here tonight to
receive this magnificent award; certainly the best achievement of my
movie-making career. When I was a small, small school boy, I was
terribly interested in the cinema. Became a film fan, wrote to Deanna
Durbin. Got a reply, was delighted. Wrote to Ginger Rogers, didn’t get
a reply. Then of course, I got interested in the cinema as an art
form, and I wrote a twelve-page letter to Billy Wilder after seeing
“Double Indemnity.” He didn’t reply either.
Well, there you are. I
have learned everything I’ve learned about the craft of cinema from the
making of American films. I’ve been watching American films very
carefully over the years and I loved them for what they entertain, and
then later loved them for what they taught. So, I express my gratitude
to the American cinema, to the motion picture association who have given
me this award and who have made me feel so proud. Thank you very, very
much.
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Google has celebrated Audrey Hepburn’s 85th birthday with a pink doodle.
The Breakfast at Tiffany’s star – and fashion icon – became a big screen legend during Hollywood’s so-called ‘Golden Age.’
She
was born on May 4th 1929 in Brussels to a British father and Dutch
aristocrat mother, before moving to London in 1948 to continue training
as a ballet dancer.
Widely considered to be the world’s most
beautiful women ever, Hepburn rose to film stardom after appearing in
several British movies.
She won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a
BAFTA for her lead role in Roman Holiday (1953) and starred in other
classics, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) and My Fair Lady
(1964).
She won a record three BAFTA awards for Best British Actress in a Leading Role.
Hepburn
appeared in fewer acting roles in later life, devoting much of her time
to working with UNICEF on good causes in the developing world.
She died in Switzerland aged 63 in 1993 after a battle with cancer.
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