Audrey Hepburn’s Quiet Life in Switzerland: How She Gave Up Fame for Family

Audrey Hepburn, one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses, is remembered not only for her cinematic achievements and timeless fashion but also for her dedication to humanitarian efforts and her family life. While her career in film continues to inspire generations, her sons, Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Luca Dotti, have shed light on the personal challenges their mother faced, particularly in balancing the demands of a high-profile career with her responsibilities as a mother. Their reflections provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the sacrifices Hepburn made in her personal life, offering an intimate portrait of a woman who prioritized family over fame.

A Decision to Prioritize Family Over Career

Audrey Hepburn’s decision to put her family before her career is well-documented through the accounts of her sons. Sean Hepburn Ferrer, born to Hepburn and her first husband, Mel Ferrer, in 1960, recalls that in 1967, at the height of her fame, she chose to step away from her acting career to focus on motherhood. Despite being one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood at the time, Hepburn felt that the most valuable thing she could offer was her presence at home. As Sean shared with Closer Weekly, “When I had to go to school and could no longer travel to be with her on the set, she gave up her career. She felt the most valuable thing was family.” This marked a pivotal shift in Hepburn’s life, as she embraced the more tranquil pace of family life at their Swiss farmhouse, where she found contentment in simple, everyday activities like picking fruit, making jams, running dogs, and cooking pasta.

Her second son, Luca Dotti, born in 1971 to Hepburn and her second husband, Andrea Dotti, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing his mother’s hands-on involvement in their daily lives. He recalled how Audrey would personally pick him up from school and express concern about his education, all while creating what they described as a “normal upbringing.” Luca noted that this focus on normalcy shielded them from the full weight of their mother’s fame, allowing them to experience their childhood without the constant public scrutiny that defined her career.

The Struggle to Balance Both Worlds

Despite her profound dedication to family, Audrey Hepburn herself admitted the difficulty of juggling her career and family life. In a candid moment, she confessed, “I couldn’t really do both career and family,” acknowledging the tension she experienced in trying to meet the demands of both. This comment, reported by Radar Online, highlights the inner conflict she faced, particularly as a successful Hollywood star who had become a global icon.

Her sons further described how Hepburn found the Hollywood lifestyle to be “sometimes hard” and ultimately preferred the peaceful life she could lead in Switzerland. In 1963, she purchased a retreat in the Swiss countryside, La Paisible, which she described as her “peaceful place.” This home became a sanctuary where she could live freely, enjoy privacy, and engage in daily life without the constant attention of the public eye. The retreat offered her a sense of normalcy and refuge, starkly contrasting with the pressures of her Hollywood career.

Personal Struggles and Pregnancy Losses

Hepburn’s struggles were not limited to the demands of her career. Sean Hepburn Ferrer has also spoken about the personal challenges his mother faced, particularly her multiple pregnancy losses before and after his birth. In an interview and his book, Little Audrey’s Daydream, co-authored with Karin Hepburn Ferrer, Sean revealed that these losses were some of the most difficult experiences of his mother’s life. He recalled that the loss of a child nearly to term was “one of the hardest things she ever had to deal with,” reflecting the deep emotional toll it took on her.

This personal pain likely influenced Hepburn’s commitment to motherhood and her eventual decision to focus on her children, a bond that Sean described as unbreakable. He believes that her struggles with loss made her even more devoted to her family, as she sought healing and solace in her role as a mother. This context adds depth to the choices Hepburn made, showing that her dedication to family was not simply a career shift but a reflection of her life experiences.

Legacy and Life in Switzerland

Audrey Hepburn’s preference for a quieter life away from the spotlight was a central theme in her family’s upbringing. Luca Dotti shared in his memoir, Audrey At Home, that his mother never spoke about her days as a fashion icon or actress. Instead, she embraced a life focused on her family, living as she wished without discussing the public persona she had crafted. Her retreat in Switzerland became a haven where she could live authentically, prioritizing family and personal fulfillment over her previous fame. This choice to withdraw from the public eye, particularly after the birth of her children, underscores the tension she faced between her professional identity and her desire for a private, family-centered life.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Balance

Audrey Hepburn’s legacy extends far beyond her contributions to film and fashion; it encompasses the sacrifices she made for her family and the personal struggles she endured. Her sons’ accounts of her life reveal a woman who, despite achieving unprecedented success in Hollywood, chose to prioritize motherhood and a peaceful family life in Switzerland. Hepburn’s decision to step away from the spotlight at the peak of her career reflects the complexity of balancing fame with personal fulfillment. While her career was remarkable, it is her devotion to her family that remains a defining aspect of her legacy, offering a more personal and relatable side of the woman behind the legend.