One of the most famous Cinderella stories in Hollywood history is about a young unknown who became one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. Audrey Hepburn had grace and charm, but her big break did not come from a grand performance. It came from a screen test and a letter that changed everything.
Before she played Holly Golightly or Princess Ann, Hepburn was a ballet student and part-time actress. She had lived through the hard times of World War Two in the German-occupied Netherlands. By 1951, she had small roles in British films, including a bit part in ‘The Lavender Hill Mob‘. However, her first real chance came when director Thorold Dickinson cast her in ‘Secret People‘. That performance led to her being seen by the famous director William Wyler.
William Wyler and the Search for ‘Roman Holiday’ Star
Wyler was a big name in Hollywood, known for movies like ‘Ben-Hur‘. He was looking for the lead actress for his new romantic comedy, ‘Roman Holiday,’ which was initially going to be directed by Frank Capra. Wyler had a list of actresses in mind, including more well known names like Jean Simmons, for the part of a princess who wants to live a normal life. But something happened that turned out to be lucky for Hepburn.
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On his way to Rome to get ready for the film, Wyler stopped in London. His first choice, Jean Simmons, could not do the movie because of contract problems with Howard Hughes. So the head of Paramount in London, Richard Mealand, suggested that Wyler look at a screen test of this unknown actress, Hepburn.
Wyler’s Letter of Recommendation That Sealed the Deal
The screen test was shot at Pinewood Studios in September 1951. It was not the usual reading of lines. Dickinson, who directed the test, knew he had to get Hepburn to open up to show who she really was. So he asked her to talk about her life. “We loaded a thousand feet of film into the camera… Audrey talked about her experiences during the war, the Allied raid on Arnhem, and hiding out in a cellar. A deeply moving thing,” Dickinson later said. The footage was raw and emotional. It showed not just an actress, but a young woman who had been through a lot and had real strength underneath her delicate looks.
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The test was sent to Paramount Studios, and the response was quick and strong. Wyler was impressed by what he saw and wrote a letter to Dickinson. He could not say for sure that Hepburn had the part yet, but his words made it clear how he felt.
“The Audrey Hepburn test you made is a fine piece of work… You gave us a good look at the girl’s personality and charm, as well as her talent,” Wyler wrote. He added what turned out to be a very important line: “I can’t say at the moment whether or not we will use Miss Hepburn in Roman Holiday, but if we don’t you may be sure it will not be because of anything in the test – which is as good as any I’ve seen in a long time.”
How ‘Roman Holiday’ Made Audrey Hepburn a Star
Wyler knew he had found his star. “She had everything I was looking for: charm, innocence and talent,” Wyler later said. “She was absolutely enchanting.” Hepburn, subsequently, got the part and the rest is history.
‘Roman Holiday’ was a big hit with both critics and audiences. Hepburn won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the first actress to win all three for one performance. The movie made her a star almost overnight. The studio even used the original screen test to promote the film and introduce people to this fresh new face.
The letter Wyler wrote to Dickinson that day is now kept in the BFI archives. It is a reminder of how important instinct can be in filmmaking. It was just a short note, but it opened the door to an amazing career. Sometimes, the right part for the right person is just a letter away.
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