Audrey Hepburn
Hepburn in trailer for ”Roman Holiday”, 1953
Birth Name: Audrey Kathleen Ruston
Date of Birth: 4 May, 1929
Place of Birth: Ixelles, Belgium
Date of Death: 20 January, 1993
Place of Death: Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland
Ethnicity:
*father – English, Czech, one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Dutch [including Frisian], as well as 1/128th French, remote English
Audrey Hepburn was a Belgian-born, Dutch-raised, British actress, model, dancer, and humanitarian. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday (1953). Her films also include Sabrina (1954), Funny Face, The Nun’s Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, My Fair Lady, Wait Until Dark, and Robin and Marian. She appeared in the documentary series Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn. She often worked with UNICEF, and was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Audrey’s father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, was born in Úžice/Auschiz, Bohemia, and was of English, Czech, and at least one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish, descent. He was Honorary British Consul in Semarang in the Dutch East Indies, and worked for a trading company and a loan company. He later changed his surname to Hepburn-Ruston, though there is no evidence of a Hepburn name in his family tree. Through him, Audrey was a British citizen.
Audrey’s mother, Ella, Baroness van Heemstra, was Dutch. Audrey’s mother was of almost entirely Dutch descent, including Frisian, and had some remote non-Dutch roots; Audrey’s mother had 1/128th French ancestry, as well as English roots on a similarly distant level. Audrey had stated that she was of half Irish and half Dutch descent, though she was evidently not of Irish ancestry.
Audrey spent time in Belgium, England, and the Netherlands during her childhood, including attending boarding school in Kent, England, in the late 1930s. She was in the Netherlands during WWII, and performed ballet to raise money for the Dutch Resistance. She studied ballet after the war. Audrey had a son, producer and writer Sean Hepburn Ferrer, with her former husband, American actor, director, and producer Mel Ferrer; and a son with her former husband, Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti. Audrey’s granddaughter is model and artist Emma Ferrer.
Audrey was sometimes said to have had some degree of Jewish ancestry on her mother‘s side. This does not appear to be accurate.
Audrey’s paternal grandfather was Victor John George Ruston (the son of Joseph John Ruston and Barbara Victoria Belha). Joseph was English, and is usually stated as having been born in London or in Poplar, near London, the son of John Joseph Ruston and Ann Smith.
Audrey’s paternal grandmother was Anna Juliana/Julianna Franziska/Francisca Karolina/Carolina Wels/Wells/Welsová (the daughter of Johann Anton Wels/Wedeles and Carolina Clara Schütz). Anna was born in Kovarce, south-western Slovakia. Johann was born in Prague, Czechia, the son of Jewish parents, Nathan Wedeles and Judith Julie Porges. Carolina was born in Zářečí, Březová Nad Svitavou, Czechia, the daughter of Karl Wenzel Ignatz Schütz and Franziska Josepha Burschwal.
Audrey’s maternal grandfather was Aarnoud Jan/Johan Anne Aleid, Baron van Heemstra (the son of Willem Hendrik Johan, Baron van Heemstra, and of Wilhelmina/Wilhelmine Cornelia de Beaufort). Aarnoud was born in Vreeland, Utrecht. He was a nobleman, jurist, and politician, who served as mayor of Arnhem, from 1910 to 1920, and Royal Governor of Suriname, twice, between 1921 and 1928. Audrey’s great-grandfather Willem was the son of Frans Julius Johan van Heemstra, Baron van Heemstra, and of Henriëtta Philippina/Philippine Jacoba, Baroness van Pallandt. Wilhelmina was the daughter of Arnoud Jan de Beaufort and Anna Aleida Stoop.
Audrey’s maternal grandmother was Elbrig Wilhelmina/Wilhelmine Henriette, Baroness van Asbeck (the daughter of Gerrit Ferdinand, Baron van Asbeck, and of Caroline/Carolina van Hogendorp/Hoogendorp). Elbrig was born in Almelo, Almelo, Overijssel. Gerrit was the son of Tjalling Minne Watze van Asbeck, tot Bergen en Munsterhausen, and of Elbrig Roos van Bienema. Caroline was the daughter of Graaf Dirk/Willem van Hogendorp/Hoogendorp and Marianne Cathérine van Hogendorp.
One of Audrey’s maternal six times great-grandfathers, Henri Collot D’Escury, was French. One of Audrey’s maternal eight times great-grandfathers, George Clifford, was English. Adurey’s mother had another line of English ancestry on a similarly distant level.
Audrey’s matrilineal line can be traced to her great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Clara Maria Christoffers.
Sources: Genealogies of Audrey Hepburn – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://geneagraphie.com
http://fabpedigree.com
Information on Audrey’s paternal grandmother, Anna Juliana/Julianna Franziska/Francisca Karolina/Carolina Wels/Wells/Welsová – http://www.pitt.edu
https://mynitra.sme.sk
Baptismal record of Audrey’s paternal grandmother, Anna Juliana/Julianna Franziska/Francisca Karolina/Carolina Wels/Wells/Welsová – https://familysearch.org
@midori: You have travelled “through Europe” and now you are an expert for Europeans? :D You have spent two weeks in Amsterdam, one of the most international cities in Europe, and now you know about “the European population”? C’mon!
“There is and have always been Middle Easterners, North Africans, black Africans, Roma Gypsies and all sorts of Asians living in Europe.”
“Always”? … No. Today, yes, but where, and to what extent? – The extent of non-Europeans (esp. “non-whites”) who live in Europe is not so big and has been very much smaller when Hepburn was born. Migration to Europe is a relatively new phenomenon. On the other hand, the range of phenotypes of Europeans is much wider than anywhere else. That doesn’t mean they are not Europeans, but that there is not ONE European phenotype.
As Europe is not one homogenous region. Esp. the “Asians in Europe” – people with partly Asian/Mongolian phenotype – mainly live in regions where the Mongols were – the south of Russia, Kazakhstan etc. That’s far away from the Netherlands and there has been nearly no exchange. In the Netherlands, you have relatively many people from Indonesia, that’s right. But the Netherlands are not Europe.
The Greeks are completely European, and if you had any knowledge in history you should know that the ancient Greek culture is the core of “the” European civilization, besides Roman efficiency and Jewish (-derived) religion.
On the other hand, the Arabs and Iranians are white as well. I don’t know your Iranian friend, but I have some friends who were born in Tehran (in the North of Iran, of course), and they are just a bit darker than me, a Middle/Northern European, and totally “white”, and their phenotype is obviously “European” (what makes no sense geographically, but you understand nevertheless, I hope). “Brown” doesn’t mean another race, but just a darker skin. (No one is really “white”.) The Northern European phenotype (light skin, blonde hair, blue eyes) is just a small segment of what is “white” or European.
@freerk I know both Iranians and Greeks who do not consider themselves 100 percent white, some even say brown. Im not saying these people are not white but I am saying there is likely a “mongoloid” admixture .There are only three races on earth 1. Caucasoid 2. Negroid and 3. Mongoloid.
“Just because you see a white person with dark hair it does not mean they are mixed.”
You recognize this? :D
I never saw a Greek who doesn’t consider him- or herself 100 percent white/European. It’s a part of the Greek cultural identity. Btw the myth about the origin of the name “Europe” is Greek. The Iranians I know don’t think in terms of white or brown or whatsoever. Their distinction to Europeans is not the colour, it’s based on culture, religion and history.
So you seem to have “special” fríends.
@midori
They have a neo-nazi party in Greece.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dawn_%28political_party%29
Anything more “white”
I have traveled all over Europe and have relatives living in Holland . I live in a high Iranian populated area and Audrey looks similiar to to the Iranian women I see.
You dont have to be European to be white. That’s why people from North Africa and Middle East are considered White by US census. Iranians are generally White\Caucasians, believe it or not. They’re not even Arabs.
My ex boyfriend was Iranian. He told me some Iranians consider themselves white and other Iranians do not, they seem themselves as brown people. Nevetheless, even if the United States or whomever considers Middle Easterners, Arabs and North Africans as white they are certainly not pure whites because of their Asian and African admixtures in higher numbers
i dont get why you are bringing iran up?
they are white too they are not arab
natalie portman is from iran and she is white and looks like keira knightley’s clone who is english
and audrey looks exactly like what her ancesty is
she is a white woman
i bet you think only blonde people are white haha
if shes not white then most of europe isn’t white either
http://38.media.tumblr.com/2e32cead2ef9d23a91ade24a10e164fe/tumblr_n2r39urQY91rfwfq9o1_500.jpg
she fits right in
1. Even the Arabs are white/Caucasians; but the Persians/Iranians are in addition Indo-Europeans (genetics vs. linguistics).
2. Natalie Portman is Jewish, and her ancestors are from Russia and Austria resp. Poland and Romania; she’s totally Ashkenazi.
3. I’m afraid that midori29 actually means that “most of europe isn’t white”. She seems to have a special interpretation of “white”. Probably the Nordic phenotype.
@thomas 1987 my Iranian ex boyfriend did not consider himself white and he was half italian and half Iranian.
Im not saying she is not “white” but she looks mixed with Asian to me.
Natalie Portman is from Israel.
Actually it’s pretty common for people to think that if you’re not European descent you’re a person of color. Lord knows people were proclaiming Gigi Hadid and her siblings were only half white because they have middle eastern ancestry the ignorance of some people. And now Audrey is not full white? even if she was Arab she would still have looks more closer to a European then someone from SS Africa for example lol..
She is not Iranian. Her ethnicity is English, Dutch, Austrian, and French :)
She has no Iranian ancestry. In her family tree, there are no Iranian ancestors.
If you’re boyfriend is half Iranian why do you keep calling him full? And you say she looks mixed with non white yet get mad when people point out African Americans having somewhat White looking features smaller noses thinner lips or hair texture. Jeez.
Link to see her features in color
http://popgoesthearts.blogspot.com/2013/05/remembering-audrey-hepburn-on-her.html?m=1
All all honesty to me she looks mixed and unlike the typical white woman. Her eyebrows alone look middle eastern. She has to have some non european exotic blood. And back when she worked in the 1940s she likely could not admitt admixture. She is not 100% white. I know a white friend who looked like her and she was Eastern European Irananian. Then another greek friend who looks like her. Countries mean nothing. Holland Dutch is an extremely international city, all races live there. She could be part Indian and she looks it.
For some reason I think of that Indian actress aiswarya rai when I think of her.
http://www.apunkachoice.com/names/ais/aishwarya_rai/cid_6/photos/cewp_6_105/wallpaper.html
Dutch (Holland) has always been a very international place amd not just white. Lots of Indians.
Midori29 you’re a pathetic Afrocentric loser, your comments are complete fun to us. This kind of silly comments alwais come from non-whites against whites, you’re clueless. And racist, obviously. There is not even such thing as “Eastern European Irananian”, and if you don’t know Greeks are White. Get back to your slum.
Wow you assume im black and from a slum and you call me racist lol wow. I did not call Audrey Hepburn black but she does not look
all white without some other ethicity. And Greeks are mixed whites many have non european genes. Call me afrocentric but whites many are mixed too. Just being honest.
@andrew the above comment was meant for you. I have been around many Greeks, middle easterners, iranians and to me she looks a bit non european influenced. Those thick eyebrows and thick hair. Im from a very mixed country of South America.
you’re a fool. “Typical white woman”, “thick hair”, “think eyebrows”. I bet this is your idea of “white” woman LOL
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/30/article-2020557-0D3B7DDB00000578-619_468x587.jpg
“and Greeks are mixed whites, many have non european genes’
All Europeans have non-European genes, however Greeks are unequivocally pure Caucasoid Europeans, like all Europeans. Non-Euro admixture in Europeans is predominately from the MENA, the highest amount of non-Caucasoid genes in Europe is in Finland with Mongoloid admixture on average about 7% overall, so much for ‘pure white Nordics’.
The postulation that Audrey Hepburn doesn’t look is absurd, she’s predominately Alpine type with maybe some minor Med influence.
Common type in France, Southern Germany, and British Isles.
She doesn’t even look Southern Euro to me, let alone non-European.
@midori29 – No offence to you but you should go to Europe. Lots of variety in very European populations. Audrey looks fully European to me.
@midori
This is Hepburn family
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9t_LMVIWYXQ/Ugfib1O_v2I/AAAAAAAAK84/1OA_62jQAOs/s400/mae.jpg
P.S. : I dont even like her, I prefer other types of woman. And she wasn’t Dutch though.
@andrew check this link of iranian women Audrey Hepburne would fit in , there are tons of middle easterners in Europe.
http://reale-states.blogspot.com/2013/06/iranian-actress-photos-beautiful-women.html?m=1
George Clooney wife is Middle Easterner, is she “white” or what else to you?
First women on that link is nothing like the way she was born. She has had extensive plastic surgery, is completely photo shopped and wears contact lenses. Her name is Haifa Wehbe. A lot of those women are very artificial and don’t look like most Middle Eastern women at all.
I meant a lot of the famous Middle Eastern women. For some reason a lot have had plastic surgery and have changed their natural look quite extensively. There are some that are naturally beautiful but Haifa Wehbe is definitely not one of those.
Here’s some pictures of her. There are some around of her even earlier than these because she has had some plastic surgery in these. Just saying she is not a good example to use.
http://imgsrv2.pxdrive.com/pics/norm/240354.jpg
http://imgsrv2.pxdrive.com/pics/norm/240347.jpg
I’ve just realised the woman you’ve used is not Haife Wehbe but Claudia Lynx but they are so similar due to contact lenses and plastic surgery. Here is Claudia Lynx. Those women are completely artificial.
http://up.98ia.com/images/j0173ufytg2mr4qewv9y.jpg
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31500000/Claudia-Lynx-Before-After-Plastic-Surgery-claudia-lynx-31595844-486-500.jpg
@Andrew I know there are variations of white women and they are not just blondes. I have Eastern European, Greek, and Italian, Irish friends. But in my opinion the typical white woman does not have super thick hair and eyebrows, they tend to have thin hair and fine eyebrows. Not saying there arent exceptions.
I am not saying Audrey Hepburn is not white, she is white but I am 100 percent sure there is Asian/ Middle Eastern in her phenotype (maybe even North African ) And people seem to ignore the large presence of “gypies” all over Europe who are originally from the middle east and India. I am sure they mixed into some of the white population. The picture you posted of her parents , they look even more exotically white than she does
@Alice, I have traveled to Europe and around the world. Ive spent two weeks in Amsterdam Holland. I have Eastern Europeans married into my family. Europe is not just white. Saying someone is European means nothing. There is and have always been Middle Easterners, North Africans, black Africans, Roma Gypsies and all sorts of Asians living in Europe. Some Europeans are mixed. I am from the most mixed continent in the world, South America. Ive seen multiple combinations of every race mixture on earth.
Midori if you think their parents are exotic you’re completely crazy, I cant help you.
*her parents
@andrew That isn’t Audrey’s family. That is Elfreide Granger and Otto Frank. Otto is Anne Frank’s father and Elfreide is Anne’s stepmother. Audrey’s parents were Ella van Heemstra and Joseph Ruston.
I see tons and tons of white women daily and if I saw Audrey Hepburn in the crowd, she would stick out as an “exotic”. To me.
Europe is more international than Africa and Asia because its been the hub of commerce, immigration and war for centuries
the gypsies were not originally from India. they migrate to India from eastern Europe or maby from centre /West Asia.
what the hell is a typical white woman?
is it Mila kunis, Anne Hathaway, sandra bullock, Lana Del rey, Katy Perry,Jennifer Lawrence Nicole kidman Penelope Cruz,Amy Adams, Taylor swift, ariana grande,or Angelina jolie?
all of the women above are white and look completely different from each other.
and FYI Greeks are white
and any women can have eyebrows like that with proper grooming, are you saying Cara delevine is not white because she has big eyebrows?
Audrey looks like a white woman
i think you are blind or a black person who wants to claim white people
and noone is born with thick eyebrows
you have to get them fixed like that
Audrey as a girl-http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/30400000/Audrey-as-a-Young-Girl-Audrey-hepburn-30467795-600-743.jpg
and thick hair is very common is the white race
have you ever heard of lorde- she has allot of hair
http://stealherstyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/lorde-curly-hair-side-part.jpg
so stop thinking the way you do
there is no such thing as a typical white woman
all white women look different
go to Europe and see how diverse it is
She doesn’t look Middle Eastern, but in some pictures she does have a pseudo-Asian look.
Correction.
I don’t know how much stock we should put in the Nazi’s overly paranoid and critical distinction of who had a Jewish background, but they did think Baroness Heemstra had Jewish ancestry.
These two People articles mention it.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20063477,00.html
“On May 18, 1940, the German army attacked Arnhem—and Audrey’s life changed forever. Hitler’s soldiers purged the town of Jews and “traitors.” The Van Heemstra family was reportedly of part-Jewish ancestry. Hepburn’s uncle and a cousin were executed as enemies of the Third Reich.”
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066358,00.html
“Hepburn will not discuss those years, but she suffered from anemia and saw one of her half brothers sent to a German labor camp. Because of Jewish ancestry, some of her relatives were killed by the Nazis. Hepburn has said, ‘I’m sure other people have been through much worse. I dislike talking about it because I feel it’s not something that should be linked to publicity.’ “
I’ve looked at Audrey’s mother’s family tree at length going back many generations and I’ve yet to see any confirmed Jewish ancestors.
Here is one such tree focusing on her mother. There are probably others.
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=deunhouwer&id=I208151
If anyone can name any Jewish ancestors of Audrey Hepburn – I’ll add it. It would have to be pretty distant (distant enough that the Nazis wouldn’t have cared about it anyway), but like I said, I’ll add it.
“1/256 French”
Amazing.
Sorry but it’s true.
She is more French. It isn’t that distant haha
Hi. I found out that Audrey had Jewish ancestry, but it was pretty distant. I learned it was at most less than a percent.
Where in her family tree? I’d like to know the name.
Nevermind. I was told by a “reliable” source.
Why are you people so hellbent on trying to prove people have Jewish background? Sometimes it’s as if you’re trying to fit a round peg into a square hole for no reason. What’s your motivation for this?
Honestly it’s just because of thoroughness.
A good majority of the profiles on this site have comprehensive family trees attached to them. If someone’s ethnicity hints toward any link to provable lineage, it gets added. Gina Carano is 1/4096 Mohawk Native American. That’s a denomination so miniscule that it most likely wouldn’t show up in a DNA admixture test. Yet it still mentioned in her profile. It’s just a case of being thorough.
Audrey’s family was thought to have Jewish ancestry, so I mentioned it. No biggie.
Any claim to be 1/4096th anything is inherently dubious.