Audrey Hepburn Turned Down Iconic Anne Frank Role for a Heart-Wrenching Reason

Audrey Hepburn, remembered as one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century, once turned down a role that many felt would have been a perfect match: Anne Frank. The reason behind her decision is a moving testament to how deeply personal history can influence professional choices, especially when that history is filled with wartime trauma.

A Personal Connection Born of Tragedy

Hepburn and Anne Frank shared a hauntingly similar timeline. Both were born in 1929, and during World War II, they lived only 60 miles apart in the Netherlands. While Hepburn survived the Nazi occupation, enduring the Hunger Winter of 1944-1945, Anne Frank perished in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Hepburn’s childhood was marked by near-constant fear, malnutrition, and involvement in the Dutch resistance. According to various accounts, including the book Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II, she performed clandestine ballet recitals to raise money for the resistance and even helped hide a British paratrooper.

Frank’s diary, discovered after her death, captured a world of courage and hope in the face of oppression. Hepburn first read the manuscript in 1946 and was profoundly affected. Her son, Luca Dotti, recalled that his mother felt as though Frank had “written a complete account of what I had experienced and felt.” This sense of connection—despite their differing fates—left an indelible mark on Hepburn.

A Difficult Offer

By 1959, when George Stevens was casting for the film adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank, Hepburn had risen to international fame. Her youthfulness and firsthand experience of the war made her a natural choice for the role. Otto Frank, Anne’s father and the family’s only survivor, personally requested Hepburn to play his daughter. This request added another layer of emotional weight to the offer.

Yet Hepburn declined. In later reflections, she explained that the role was too close to her own painful memories. As quoted in People Magazine, she described Anne Frank as “a soul sister” and admitted, “I couldn’t deal with it. It’s a little bit as if this had happened to my sister.” She feared that stepping into Anne’s shoes would force her to relive the fear and suffering of her own wartime childhood—a burden she felt she could not bear.

Honoring Anne Frank’s Legacy

Although Hepburn never portrayed Anne Frank on screen, she remained deeply connected to Frank’s legacy. In later years, she worked to preserve the memory of Anne’s story, ensuring that its lessons continued to resonate. Her refusal of the role was not a rejection of Anne’s story but a reflection of her respect for its emotional gravity and her recognition of her own limitations.

A Shared History, A Difficult Choice

Audrey Hepburn’s refusal to play Anne Frank highlights the enduring impact of war on those who survive it. Hepburn’s decision was not one of career calculation but of personal truth. Her close connection to Anne’s story made it both an obvious role and an impossible one. The emotional toll of portraying Anne would have meant reliving her own wartime horrors—a price she was not willing to pay.

Today, Hepburn’s choice stands as a reminder of the deep intersections between personal experience and professional art. It also underscores the enduring relevance of Anne Frank’s story, which continues to inspire, educate, and challenge audiences worldwide. Through her life and work, Audrey Hepburn honored that legacy, even if she could not embody it on screen.