MovieChat Forums > The Nun's Story (1959) Discussion > 'Sister' Audrey Hepburn

'Sister' Audrey Hepburn

posted 18 years ago by FloatingOpera7
5 replies | jump to latest

Ex-supermodel Audrey Hepburn was a brilliant actress and few super-models today could ever hope to achieve the level of great acting she eventually made. Her films reveal her versatility as an actress. She could take on roles that were as different from one another as could be. She won her Oscar for her debut film (what does that say about her acting!) in "Roman Holiday" (1953). Although in "Sabrina" ('54) and "Funny Face" ('57) as well as "My Fair Lady" ('64) she portrays the same kind of ugly-duckling/beautiful swan, plain-to-glamorous girl type, she is still good at what she did. In "Green Mansions" ('59) she portrayed a wild jungle-bred girl and in this movie, also from '59, she plays a nun. Now all this is great, I mean that she can be so versatile but if you look at this film in a realistic manner and you DO NOT suspend disbelief, then you will find that Miss Audrey Hepburn is too beautiful to be a real nun. So while she was great in it, I never found her performance convincing and real enough. If that was what she was hoping to do in this role, she didn't do it. She's far too pretty to be a nun. I've never seen an attractive nun in my life. Even the thin nuns are plain and not half as good-looking as Audrey Hepburn. Nuns don't care about their looks or care about appearing feminine or sweet and Audrey Hepburn appears to be worried about how pretty she looks in her nun's habit! The way she walks, stands and poses are still very model-like. Her demeanor is very lady-like, sugary, sweet, warm and Disney-ish!! She is too much like another famous movie nun, Julie Andrew's Maria Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" (1965) and interesting because this film was released at least 6 years before "Sound of Music". A real nun is far too consumed with her holy work and her mission in life (serving God) and are consequently overly serious to be pretty. Other "serious" nuns presented in this film (and others) are what nuns are really like. Also, nuns are very quiet and distant, even cold. Audrey Hepburn plays the nicest nun ever!! She's talkative, outspoken and friendly. No nun could ever be like "Sister Audrey Hepburn".

[–] Divtal-1 18 years ago

I can't agree with your entire statement. I'm not a nun, but I grew up with a good many of them around. Their personalities, appearances and bearings vary as much as individuals in any group.

To be sure, this was a commercial film, and there will be make-up, staging and lighting. Her make-up was subtle, compared to the "fun," make-up that she wore in her romantic comedies (heavily accented eyes, etc.). But, save for the one scene where she looks at her reflection in the glass cabinet in Dr. Fortunati's office, I don't sense that she is overly concerned with her appearance.

Several years ago, I read that Hepburn spent some time as a guest in a convent, prior to filming, so that she could get a first-hand look at basic routine and behavior. The article said that she was much liked by the sisters, and that her gracious demeanor made her a comfortable fit in their midst. I wish that I could cite the source, but it was long ago and I don't know where I read it.

[–] jnal159 18 years ago

yes actually i read the same thing in a recent publication "enchantment" by donald spoto. he wrote that she stayed at the convent, lived and learned with the nuns and was very well liked. Also as far as the makeup goes, the author wrote that she didnt look in any mirrors during filming, trusting her makeup crew and living as much of the nun life off screen as possible.
As for the claim that she is too pretty to be a nun...hmm shes pretty but i dont think that should hold any bearing on her performance, as her looks werent really the focus of the movie.
and audrey hepburn wasnt a supermodel, she was a print model before the term 'supermodel' was even invented.

[–] sxjid 18 years ago

I realize this is an old thread and that nobody is interested (Probably) anymore, but, Opera, my friend, you have obviously never been around nuns or sisters. For one thing, Vatican II did away with a lot of the old practices that weren't working in the modern world. Today's nuns have much more freedom and are extremely well-educated and passionate about bringing the Good News of the Gospel to those they serve. And I have seen many exquisitely beautiful nuns, including one Hollywood actress who turned her back on Hollywood at the peak of her career to join a cloistered order in Pennsylvania. Convents never were places for people who couldn't make it on the outside, or for old maids who might not get a husband. There were and are houses of formation for the souls of those who have been called by God.

I lived in a Benedictine Motherhouse for two years and came very close to joining. I ate their food, worshipped with them, lived on the third floor of their monastery. I even saw them in their jammies. Wonderful, regular folks.

"Why is the cork on the fork?"

[–] velcronewsletter 18 years ago

you don't have to be ugly to join a convent. religiousity does not guarantee beauty at all

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OOOOH MATRON!

[–] bron-tay 12 years ago

The issue of vanity came up in the book. Young nuns were curious about their appearance or even a bit tickled to see themselves in their habits for the first time and contrived to hang black cloths behind a pane of glass so they could see their reflections. Naughty, naughty.

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