- Audrey Hepburn declined a role in the 1959 film adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" due to personal trauma from World War II.
- Hepburn, who lived in the Netherlands during the war, almost died of starvation and identified strongly with Anne Frank's experiences, having read the diary shortly after its release.
- Her son, Sean Hepburn-Ferrer, stated that re-reading the book for the role left his mother "quite destroyed again" and caused recurring nightmares.
- The role of Anne Frank was ultimately played by Millie Perkins, and the film went on to receive eight Oscar nominations and win three awards.
- Hepburn instead starred in "The Nun's Story," earning her a third Oscar nomination, and later dedicated much of her time to humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
IN FULL
Audrey Hepburn turned down classic 1959 movie over WWII trauma
