Katherine_Hepburn,_1938

Katherine Hepburn, 1938 photo-

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Katherine Hepburn


 

Katherine Houghton Hepburn was an American Hollywood actress with stirring accomplishments in television, film, and stage character. Born on May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut, in the U.S. She lived 96 years and died on June 29, 2003, in Fenwick, Connecticut, in the U.S.

Hepburn’s parents encouraged all their six children to exercise free independent thinking and speaking. Katherine ended up being confident and bold as a result. She starred in the comedy and drama genres.

Thus, Hepburn received many awards, among them; being named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema in 1999. She also won the Oscar Awards four times.

Katherine Hepburn’s astounding realities for the passion for women’s independence set a pace for the 20th Century United States “modern woman”. For that, she is credited as a cultural figure.

Catch up with Katherine Hepburn’s life; with these top 10 amazing certainties of the Hollywood actress.

1. Katherine Hepburn had a feminist mother

 

Mrs. Thomas Hepburn

Mrs. Thomas Hepburn, photo by Bachrach-

Hepburn’s mother (Katherine Martha Hepburn) was active in activism. Mrs. Thomas Hepburn lived from February 2, 1878, to March 17, 1951. She was known as a woman before her time, making feminism popular. She also led the United States Suffrage movement.

2. Katherine Hepburn’s pants earned her an award

 

Katherine Hepburn holding bouquet of flowers

Katharine Hepburn at Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney, 1955 photo by State Library of New South Wales collection-

Hepburn was a tomboy. In her early years, she called herself Jimmy and cut her hair short to look the part. Katherine influenced fashion by wearing trousers, a time when only skirts and dresses dominated. This saw her pants being acknowledged and was awarded by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a lifetime achievement award in 1986.

3. Katherine Hepburn found her brother Tom dead at 13 years

Hepburn, a teenager at the time, was 13 years old. She discovered the dead body of her elder brother on March 30, 1921. Tom (15 years) and Katherine (13 years), were visiting New York City for Easter break. So, they stayed with a friend of their mother in Greenwich Village.

Hepburn thought it was a happy time for Tom and herself until she found him dead. Tom used a curtain tie and tied it around a beam, hanging himself. Katherine’s family argued that Tom’s death was an experiment that went wrong, but not a suicide mission.

4. Katherine Hepburn was never the same again

After the first-hand experience of her brother’s death in her early teenage years, she changed for the worst. Hepburn became nervous, doubtful of people, and moody. As a young teenager, Hepburn preferred to be a loner rather than be around other children. This saw her drop out of Oxford School and take up private tutoring.

5. The Hollywood actress, Katherine Hepburn, was her mother’s namesake

 

Katharine_Hepburn_Rosalind_As_You_Like_It_1951

Katharine Hepburn (Rosalind) As You Like It, 1951 by Vandamm-

Katherine and her mother (Katherine Martha Houghton Hepburn) shared the name, Katherine.

6. The Philadelphia Story star, Katherine Hepburn, enjoyed a bitter bath every morning

Taking ice-cold baths every morning thrilled Katherine believing that the bitter medicine was, the better it fulfilled its purpose. Hepburn had surprising hobbies: She succeeded as a young golfer, taking daily lessons to better her golfing skills. Katherine reached the semi-final of the Connecticut Young Women’s Golf Championship. Swimming in the Long Island Sound also excited her.

7. Katherine Hepburn’s Four Oscar Wins Meant Nothing to Her

Hepburn won four Oscar awards during her 66-year career in acting. She never made it to the ceremony on all occasions to receive her awards. Katherine considered her work her biggest prize.

The1933 Morning Glory brought in her first Oscar. She waited for about 34 years before her second Oscar award came in. The 1967 Guess Who’s coming to Dinner marked her comeback to the awards, clinching a second Oscar. Later, The Lion in Winter (1968) and On Golden Pond (1981) was added to her list, making it four.

Hepburn made her only appearance in 1974 at the Oscar ceremony. She was dressed in her clog shoes and gardening clothes. Some parts of her clothes had to be spray-painted black backstage to hide dirt stains from working in her garden before the show. Hepburn had the opportunity to hand the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Lawrence Weingarten who was a producer and her friend.

8. Hepburn kept her vow never to have children

Katherine considered herself a selfish human being. She saw motherhood as a full-time life commitment and was not ready for it, a vow she honored.

9. Katherine Hepburn’s character on film resembled her real-life personalities

Katherine’s colleagues and close acquaintances admitted her real-life personality closely resembled the roles she played on screen.

10. Hepburn made a half-naked protest, demanding her pants back

The Randy Keith Orton (RKO) costume department hid Katherine’s pants, claiming they were too boyish. Katherine refused to put on anything except her underwear. She went around the studio protesting to have her pants returned.

Here is a bonus point;

Katherine Hepburn, love life was interesting

 

Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey

Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey, photo by Lassos the moon-

Hepburn was in a love relationship for decades with Spencer Tracy. They first met on set in 1942 during the drama-comedy Woman of the Year. They played two journalists who had found love and were seeking a balance between commitment to their careers and their personal lives. Hepburn was 34 years, while Spencer was 41 years old.

Their relationship went on for three decades. During this time, they together were in nine films, among them Woman of the Year and Oscar award-winning Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. The two-screen greats managed to keep their affair a secret from the public by living in separate residences, and they never wedded.

Hepburn and Spencer’s chemistry on screen was gripping, with huge audiences showing up to their films. Their chemistry was evidenced in films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) which marked the end of their appearance together. Other films were Desk Set (1957), Pat and Mike (1952), Adam’s Rib (1949), and Keeper of the Flame (1942).

Katherine Hepburn stirred even in her death. Hepburn claimed that how one lived in life is what counted, and she wasn’t afraid of death. Before her death on June 29, 2003, at 96 years, she requested that no memorial service be done for her burial. Hepburn’s wish was observed. But, the lights on Broadway were dimmed, to honor her contribution to film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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