According to Britannica, Audrey Hepburn became Edda van Heemstra to mask her “British heritage” during the war. Although her mother Ella had at first been supportive of the Nazi’s, People writes that she became disillusioned when her brother-in-law was executed and her Jewish friends “sent away to concentration camps.” Thus, she and Hepburn began to support the Dutch resistance. Per Showbiz Cheatsheet, Hepburn delivered messages and newspapers by hiding them in her boots.
Time reports that as a trained dancer, Hepburn performed at various “underground” events to raise money for the resistance. Despite this, Hepburn and her mother struggled to survive. As the country continued to be bombed, they lived in their cellar and were on the brink of starvation (per People). At times, Hepburn would have nothing to eat for days and would turn to grass or tulips for nourishment.
When the war ended in 1945, she was suffering from a number of health issues including anemia, edema, and more (via Live About). Hepburn would go on to take her old name back and continue her dance studies after WWII. She would ultimately become a 20th century icon who dedicated her later years to being a UNICEF ambassador to help “starving, sick children throughout the world.”
