The Other Hepburn (Update: March 19, 2007)
Prim and darling Miss Sedgwick, before Warhol turned her into a lifeless, factory-assembled android
Gay friends and colleagues have gasped scandalized whenever I mention how much I love Audrey Hepburn in all her films before she transforms. Jo Stockton looked so much more interesting as the bookworm store attendent. Sabrina looked savagely beautiful when she was perched on the tree branch stealing a view into the Larabees’ dinner party. Even Roman Holiday’s Princess Ann was darling only after she snuck away from her throne. I’m sure that George Bernard Shaw wouldn’t have gotten a heart attack over Hollywood’s rendition of his Pygmalion if Audrey shuffled through the whole movie as dusty street urchin Eliza.The polished, high glamour look for an already pretty face seems overkill to me. A beautiful face camouflaged in homeliness, on the other hand, offers delicious potential awaiting the realization of discovery. When it’s all presented to you on a silver platter, one can only emit a sigh in ennui with no further work to be done.
Another perfect example is Edie Sedgwick. In the opening pages of the book EDIE FACTORY GIRL, the one picture of Edie in her pre-Warhol pre-Factory Girl days, all prim New England girl vogue contains more mystery and allure than the two hundred so pictures of the bored, neurotic, bottled blonde downtown Manhattan hipster chick. I think Edie made a mistake: She released what the Chinese refer to as her Qi (“chi”) by joining Warhol’s chic clique.
Maybe it’s just me. We all know that the happening girl about town always delivers less than appearances promise.
It’s always the quiet silent type that has a whirlwind within.
