Hepburn’s Hidden Struggle: Why ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ Was Her Greatest Acting Challenge

Audrey Hepburn, an actress synonymous with elegance, grace, and timeless performances, captivated audiences for decades with roles in iconic films like Roman Holiday (1953), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964). However, despite her effortless charm on screen, some of her roles were far more challenging than they appeared. In examining Hepburn’s career, two roles stand out as particularly difficult: Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sister Luke in The Nun’s Story. Through a combination of personal reflections, critical reviews, and the technical demands of each role, it becomes clear which performance posed the greatest challenge for the actress.

Career Context: Hepburn’s Evolving Roles

Audrey Hepburn’s career began with small roles in European films, gradually gaining prominence with her Oscar-winning turn as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday. Throughout her career, she balanced lighthearted romantic leads with more dramatic roles, often bringing a unique vulnerability to her characters. The question of difficulty can be understood through how much preparation each role required, the emotional range demanded, and Hepburn’s own reflections on her performances.

Candidate Roles: Breakfast at Tiffany’s vs. The Nun’s Story

Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly, a quirky and free-spirited New York socialite, is one of her most beloved performances. However, the role posed significant challenges for Hepburn, who admitted in a 1960 New York Times interview, “I have very little experience, really, and I have no technique for doing things I’m unsuited to. I have to operate entirely on instinct.” Initially uncertain about her fit for the role, Hepburn’s performance became a defining moment in her career, with director Blake Edwards encouraging her to embrace spontaneity.

Hepburn later reflected on the personal challenges of playing Holly, acknowledging that “I’m an introvert. Playing the extroverted girl was the hardest thing I ever did.” This comment directly addresses the emotional challenge of embodying a character so far removed from her own personality. Holly Golightly, with her contradictions—a glamorous socialite masking deep vulnerability—required Hepburn to delve into complex emotional territory, making the performance both taxing and rewarding.

Despite Hepburn’s reservations, Breakfast at Tiffany’s became a commercial and critical success. Hepburn received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and the film’s influence continues, with the performance being recognized as one of the greatest in cinematic history. Truman Capote, who wrote the novella, had originally envisioned Marilyn Monroe for the role, a point that added additional pressure for Hepburn to succeed in portraying a character that was, by nature, far from her usual on-screen persona.

Sister Luke in The Nun’s Story (1959)

Before Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hepburn took on the deeply demanding role of Sister Luke in The Nun’s Story, a film about a nun struggling to reconcile her spiritual vows with her personal desires. To prepare, Hepburn dedicated a year to researching the role, immersing herself in the physical and psychological complexities of playing a nun. She even went so far as to study the intricacies of monastic life and spent considerable time with nuns to understand the emotional weight of her character’s internal conflict.

Hepburn described The Nun’s Story as requiring more effort than any of her previous performances, noting, “I gave more time, energy, and thought to this role than to any of my previous screen performances.” The role required Hepburn to show a profound emotional range, balancing faith with a yearning for personal freedom. The film, though not a commercial hit, was highly regarded by critics, with many praising Hepburn’s portrayal of the conflicted nun. She received her third Academy Award nomination and a second BAFTA Award for her work, reinforcing the emotional complexity and dedication needed for this role.

While The Nun’s Story required immense preparation and emotional depth, Hepburn did not describe it as the hardest role she played, instead focusing on the time and energy spent preparing for it. Her performance was critically acclaimed but did not resonate with the same level of personal struggle as Breakfast at Tiffany’s did.

Comparative Analysis: The Ultimate Challenge

To determine which role was the most difficult, we must consider Hepburn’s personal reflections and the inherent challenges each role presented. Hepburn’s comment about Breakfast at Tiffany’s—that playing an extroverted character like Holly Golightly was “the hardest thing” she had ever done—stands as a clear indicator of the emotional difficulty involved. The stark contrast between her personality and the character she portrayed added a layer of complexity to the performance, requiring Hepburn to step outside of her comfort zone in ways that were both daunting and transformative.

On the other hand, The Nun’s Story was certainly demanding, but Hepburn herself did not characterize it as the “hardest” role, despite the extensive preparation and emotional work required. The role of Sister Luke required a different type of intensity—one that was intellectually and emotionally rigorous, but it didn’t challenge Hepburn’s core persona in the way that Holly Golightly did.

Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Hepburn’s Career

While The Nun’s Story remains one of Audrey Hepburn’s most revered performances, it is Breakfast at Tiffany’s that stands out as the most difficult role she ever played. Hepburn’s personal reflections, her challenges with playing a character so different from herself, and the critical acclaim for the film all point to this role as her greatest challenge. The combination of her initial doubts and the emotional depth required to portray Holly Golightly makes it the role that pushed Hepburn the most, both personally and professionally. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is not only a cinematic milestone for Hepburn but also a testament to her ability to overcome the hardest challenges and emerge with one of the most iconic performances in film history.