In the world of pop culture, Audrey Hepburn is an iconic figure who will always be remembered for her portrayal of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Despite passing away many years ago, her legacy lives on through her granddaughter, Emma Ferrer.
Born in May 1994, Ferrer never had the chance to meet her grandmother who passed away over a year before her birth. However, throughout her life, Ferrer has learned a lot about her late grandmother through various sources such as watching her films and receiving information from family members.
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Despite never meeting Audrey Hepburn in person, Emma Ferrer feels a strong connection to her and cherishes the memories and stories that have been passed down to her. Interestingly, many people have noticed a resemblance between Ferrer and her famous grandmother, making her a living reminder of the Hollywood legend.
“Slowly, I started going to friends’ houses and seeing that she was in a poster in their kitchen, or I would see her on a T-shirt or on handbags. (It was like), ‘I guess this actually is a bigger deal than I thought it was,’” Ferrer told Today.
As she has grown older, Emma Ferrer has come to realize the immense impact that her grandmother had on the world. Her grandmother, a Belgian-born actress, won an Oscar when she was in her early twenties and was responsible for popularizing the black turtleneck. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 for her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, a role she held from 1989.
According to Ferrer, her grandmother revolutionized the concept of a celebrity being associated with a cause, which is now taken for granted. Ferrer herself is involved with UNICEF, which serves as a way for her to connect with her grandmother.
While they never had the opportunity to bond, Ferrer has inherited her grandmother’s distinctive features, including her dark hair and expressive eyes. Ferrer is an artist by profession.
Emma Ferrer has shared intimate stories about her grandmother that were told to her by her father, Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Audrey Hepburn had two sons from her two marriages, one of whom is Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Emma revealed that her father’s stories about her late grandmother were personal and not commonly known.
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According to Emma, Audrey Hepburn was known for her kindness and would often cook for the entire crew during lunch breaks while working on set. She was also said to have gone out of her way to launder the shirt of a famous news TV personality who had gotten a stain on it. Audrey Hepburn was known for her thoughtful gestures, such as bringing flowers and serving breakfast in bed to guests at her home. Emma also praised her grandmother for prioritizing her children over her career.
“She had this huge career, and she took really big steps back from it when my dad and his brother were born. She kind of put her whole career on the line for them and turned down movies, where her agent and her husband even were like, ‘What are you doing? You have to take this role,” Ferrer says proudly.
Audrey Hepburn had a challenging relationship with her father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, during her childhood. This may have influenced her decision to prioritize her relationship with her own children. According to Hepburn’s son, Sean Ferrer, his mother understood the pain of dealing with difficult parents. Hepburn’s worldview was also influenced by her grandmother’s experience of growing up during a time of war.
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After trying her hand at ballet, Hepburn ventured into the world of Hollywood, which was moving at a rapid pace following World War II. This transition was not an easy one for her.
Audrey Hepburn’s family was from an aristocratic background, but during the war, they had to live on very little. This experience taught Hepburn the value of not being too attached to material things. Although the possessions Hepburn left behind may not be worth much monetarily, they are still precious to her granddaughter Emma Ferrer.
Ferrer has Hepburn’s old teddy bear, which still has a coffee stain on it, and she wears Hepburn’s old sweaters without realizing it. Ferrer also has some costume jewelry that belonged to Hepburn’s grandmother, which is not made of valuable metals but still holds sentimental value. Hepburn taught her granddaughter that life is more important than anything else, and she always put the needs of children before politics or anything else. Ferrer wonders what Hepburn would think of the current state of the world and wishes she could talk to her about it.
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Emma Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn’s granddaughter, has been watching her grandmother’s movies as a way to connect with her, but she admits it can be a bittersweet experience. Ferrer expresses that it’s an abstract feeling, where she wishes she had the opportunity to know her grandmother, but also feels intimidated by her.
Despite this, Ferrer describes her grandmother as a kind person and notes that no one has anything negative to say about her.
It’s heartwarming to see how Ferrer keeps her grandmother’s memory alive, despite never having met her.
