Summary
- Audrey Hepburn’s underrated films showcase her true talent and range beyond her most famous roles.
- Hepburn’s performances in these films, such as “Wait Until Dark” and “How To Steal A Million,” demonstrate her ability to go from comedy to drama easily.
- Hepburn’s last leading role in “They All Laughed” may not have been commercially successful, but it is enjoyed for its dialogue and charm.
Audrey Hepburn, with a film career spanning 41 years, is recognizable to most audiences for her iconic role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but her contribution to cinema includes other films worth spotlighting. Hepburn, a notable actress of Old Hollywood, is most often seen in roles portraying women with class and sophistication. Through her films and personal life, Audrey Hepburn was known to be highly fashionable, which can be noticed in how elegant most of her characters were.
However, the characters that redefined Hepburn as an actress are typically the ones from her most underrated films. Audrey Hepburn’s movie roles that required her to lean into one extreme or the other, comedy or drama, earned the star high praise from critics. While the sophisticated and put-together characters as seen in Sabrina or Roman Holiday are essential to Hepburn’s career, her underrated films showcase her true talent and range.
Related
The 50 Best Movies Of All Time
Screen Rant breaks down the 50 best movies of all time, which are based on original scores weighted by rankings from IMDb and Metacritic.
10 Love In The Afternoon (1957)
Where to Watch: Hulu & Apple TV
Love in the Afternoon‘s largest critique, and what understandably ultimately doesn’t work for a lot of audiences, is the age difference between Audrey Hepburn and the male lead, Gary Cooper. The film follows Hepburn’s character Ariane, whose father tracks information about the affairs within his clients’ marriages. Ariane falls in love with one of these clients, Frank Flannagan, meeting him several afternoons in a row. With her identity hidden, Flannagan asks her father to investigate the mysterious girl and finds out is his daughter. Despite all of the movie’s problems, the cinematography and Hepburn’s performance are to be praised.
9 Charade (1963)
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Reggie’s husband was assigned alongside four other men to deliver a large sum of money to the French Resistance in World War II, but he instead stole it, resulting in his death. Now, the remaining men are sure Reggie has the money and are after her. However, she receives help from a man, played by Cary Grant, whom she met on vacation first known as Peter Joshua. Charade deserves praise for the chemistry between Grant and Hepburn, and the movie also includes a story story and some surprising twists. The plot reveals multiple identities of the man helping Reggie, leaving both her and the audience to question him and his motives.
8 Wait Until Dark (1967)
Where to Watch: Apple TV
In Wait Until Dark, Hepburn plays a blind woman named Susy whose husband has come into possession of a doll with drugs sewn inside of it. Following these events, three men make their way into Susy’s apartment, gaining her trust and tricking her into believing her husband killed someone, and they’re working to get justice. The role is a departure from what audiences expect of a Hepburn character. Her performance of the sweet and naive character had some critics praising its contrast to the overall intensity of the film, while others criticized it for being too much of a juxtaposition. In the end, the film earned Hepburn her fifth Academy Award nomination.
7 How To Steal A Million (1966)
Where to Watch: Prime Video & Apple TV
Audrey Hepburn plays Nicole Bonnet, a woman whose father forges art and sees one of his pieces at risk of being discovered as a fake. Nicole then convinces Simon Dermott, played by Peter O’Toole, to steal the statue before its false identity is revealed. Together, Simon and Nicole sneak into the museum after hours to steal the statue. The comedic heist film shows another side of Hepburn’s role selection, but unlike the tense Wait Until Dark, the character of Nicole allows Hepburn to be lighthearted and humorous. It is a fun, captivating movie made even better by Hepburn’s performance.
6 Always (1989)
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Hepburn plays a small role in Steven Spielberg’s Always. Hepburn plays Hap, a spiritual guide for the lead protagonist Pete, who has died in an aerial accident. Hap informs Pete of “spiritus,” an act that allows those still living to believe the words in their head are those of their own moral conscience, despite belonging to those who’ve passed. While Hepburn’s role is small, it’s important because it would be the final role she’d play. Her gentle guidance has the heart Hepburn became known for during her career, both on and off-screen. In fact, she chose to donate a large portion of her earnings from the film to UNICEF, an organization she was made an ambassador for.
5 The Nun’s Story (1959)
Where to Watch: Prime Video & Apple TV
In The Nun’s Story, Hepburn plays Sister Luke, a nun and nurse in hopes of working in Congo. Another departure from the average character in Hepburn’s filmography, Sister Luke struggles with her desire to be a nurse whilst trying to follow the strict rules of the covenant. Many critics agree that not only is the film among her underrated works, but it’s also some of her best. The material is heavier and more complex than most of Hepburn’s other films, but still awarded Hepburn multiple nominations, including an Academy Award.
4 They All Laughed (1981)
Where to Watch: DVD Purchase on Amazon
They All Laughed would be Audrey Hepburn’s last leading performance in a film with a theatrical release. The film follows three male detectives who are hired by the husbands of women who believe their wives are cheating on them. When investigating these women, the detectives end up falling in love with them. A real-life tragedy caused distributors to back out of the project, leaving the director, Peter Bogdanovich, to put his own money into its release, earning very little in ticket sales. The film today, however, is enjoyed for its dialogue and charm, inspiring some of the best directors currently working, such as Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson.
3 Robin And Marian (1976)
Where to Watch: Apple TV
After not having been in a film since the late 60s, Hepburn returns to film in Robin and Marian, a film based on the story of Robin Hood. Marian, a strong-willed heroine, played by Hepburn, is pursued by Robin, played by Sean Connery, once again. In the end, seeing how debilitating his lifestyle has been and how little chance of recovery he has, she takes Robin’s life and her own by drinking poison. The film was noted for its handling of the titular characters’ deaths and of Connery and Hepburn’s chemistry. Even though there are many Robin Hood movie adaptations, Robin And Marian (1976) stands out, partially because of Hepburn’s performance.
2 Two For The Road (1967)
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Two for the Road follows a couple, Mark and Joanna Wallace, played by Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn, as they are traveling through France. The film goes back and forth between the present and the past, revisiting the couples’ travels years earlier in their relationship. In the present day, their relationship is strained, and the time jumps provide insight into the struggles they’ve faced as a couple. Hepburn had some reservations about filming certain scenes but doing so paid off. She was able to play the role that required her to tap into the emotional range of Joanna’s various stages in life — something Hepburn hadn’t done before.
1 Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Audrey Hepburn acts alongside William Holden as Gabrielle Simpson and Richard Benson. The film follows the days that occur after Richard hires Gabrielle to help him finish his film script which is due in two days. During their writing process, they become immersed in the story and put together a script that takes a look at the film industry, making jokes about actors and the studios. The film is fun and at times seen as absurd, having been criticized for its lack of originality and charm. That said, Audrey Hepburn got to play a more lighthearted character in a movie that delivers a good time regardless of its simplicity.
