Why Audre Hepburn was forever haunted by the story of Anne Frank
Do you spend your days exhausted and nights wide awake? We ask the experts how to combat common sleep issues in the colder months
This locked up child had written everything I ever felt
AUDREY HEPBURN ABOUT ANNE FRANK
AUDREY Hepburn starred in a series of glittering roles that left Hollywood audiences spellbound and is best-known for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady and Roman Holiday. But her real starring role came in her early life.
Audrey grew up in an aristocratic Dutch family and formed part of the Resistance as her country fell to the Nazis during the Second World War.
Those memories never left her and as revealed in a book by Robert Matzen – Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II – formed part of her off-screen character all through her life.
From the first moment Audrey read Anne Frank’s diary she would be haunted by the story of the little girl - who she called her “soul sister” for the rest of her life…
New York, June 2, 1952
“I didn’t know what I was going to read,” said Audrey. “I’ve never been the same again.” She had first run into Anne Frank by accident in 1946. It was fate that she was living in Amsterdam below the apartment of a publishing house employee who was working on this soon-to-be released, strange wartime book of a young Jewish girl.
The editor knew of Audrey’s wartime experiences and saw some similarities. She said of the manuscript that Audrey “might find it interesting”. That didn’t begin to capture the reaction of 17-yearold Audrey to the power of the entries of her contemporary, Anne Frank.
The Frank family, including Anne’s father Otto, mother Edith, and sister Margot, had fled their Frankfurt, Germany, home in 1933 after Hitler’s ascension to power and began a new life in Amsterdam. Her father ran a successful business until after the German occupation, and when Margot Frank received a summons to appear before the Nazis in July 1942, the family went into hiding.
Anne’s diary described their experiences of living in a secret part of her father’s building from 1942 to 1944. “There were floods of tears,” Audrey said of that first encounter with the writing of Anne Frank. “I became hysterical.” As a resident of Amsterdam, she had been so moved that she became one of the first pilgrims to Prinsengracht 263 to experience the secret annex.
Now here it was, six crazy years later. Audrey no longer lived in a one-room f lat in Amsterdam; she had just completed the run of Gigi on Broadway, USA, and now ran around her New York apartment packing for a trip to Rome where she would begin production of William Wyler’s Roman Holiday.
Her mind shook free of memories of the war. But all that changed in a heart
It’s a bit like this happened to my sister. It’s too close ..I could not play my sister’s life
AUDREY HEPBURN WHEN ASKED TO PLAY ANNE FRANK FOR FILM IN 1958
beat. Today she learned that the diary was about to be released. For US audiences it had been retitled Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.
Hearing about the release of the diary knocked Audrey for a loop all over again – Audrey and Anne were two darkhaired Dutch girls who had been born in other countries.
They were less than six weeks apart in age — Audrey born May 4, 1929 and Anne, June 12, 1929. And Anne had even known of and commented upon executions in Goirle when she wrote from the Franks’ hidden rooms: “Prominent citizens – innocent people – are thrown into prison to await their fate. If the saboteur can’t be traced, the Gestapo simply put about five hostages against the wall. Announcements of their deaths appear in the papers frequently.”
Here came a 13- year- old forcing Audrey to feel it all again. “If you read the diary,” she would say to a reporter, “I’ve marked one place where she says, ‘Five hostages shot today.’ That was the day my uncle was shot. And in this child’s words I was reading about what was inside me. It was a catharsis for me. This child who was locked up in four walls had written a full report of everything I’d experienced and felt.”
Anne recorded her last entry on August 1 1944, and three days later the Gestapo discovered the Franks. All eight were sent to Auschwitz, with Anne and Margot moved on to Bergen-Belsen. Only Otto Frank, Anne’s father, lived to the end of the war.
In 1958 film-maker George Stevens would offer Audrey the role of Anne Frank in the film version of her story to be made by Twentieth Century Fox.
Audrey was, by this time, one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood and she paused for another read of the diary. “I was so destroyed by it again that I said I couldn’t deal with it,' she explained, struggling to put her feelings into words. “It’s a little bit as if this had happened to my sister. I couldn't play my sister’s life. It’s too close and, in a way, she was a soul sister.”
As a courtesy, Audrey agreed to meet Otto Frank and his second wife, Elfriede in Switzerland – it was Otto who had
taken possession of the diary after it was discovered, and it was Otto who worked through his own pain to arrive at a place where he could see his daughter’s work could be important to the world.
This beautiful, intense man whom Audrey described as having been “purged by fire” looked into her eyes and asked – begged, really – for her to agree to portray his daughter in a film. After what she described as “the most wonderful day” and a visit that lasted through lunch and dinner, she had to tell him a sincere and heartfelt “I can’t”.
Late in her life Audrey would ultimately accept her strange relationship with soul sister Anne and use Anne’s words to raise funds for the cause held so close to her heart, UNICEF. From first reading and through the end of her life, Audrey went day to day with Anne as her delicate secret shadow.
The knowledge of Anne’s life and death took its toll on a woman who had never gotten over the ordeal of the Nazis.
■ Extracted by Keir Mudie. Get £5 off Dutch Girl by Robert Matzen (RRP £20) published by Mirror Books with offer code XA9, call 01256 302 699 or order online at mirrorbooks.co.uk
We all know sleep is important, but now we are waking up to just how essential it is for mood and wellbeing. Nearly everyone quizzed in a sleep study said a bad night’s rest put them in a bad mood. And a third admitted it made them feel more anxious, the research for bedding specialist Woolroom revealed.
The Covid pandemic, with all the job insecurity and health anxiety, means we are sleeping worse than ever. But getting a decent night’s kip could help us to power through winter.
Here our experts explain how to supercharge your slumber.
Fill up on fibre
As the weather gets colder, we often crave comforting foods that are high in salt, fat and sugar, but this can wreak havoc with sleep.
“Eating the right way is crucial to maintaining your get-up-and-go,” says Rob Hobson, nutritionist and sleep expert for California Almonds (almonds.co.uk).
“It’s important to prioritise your longer-term energy levels.
“Simple carbs, such as high-sugar foods, will create sudden spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, which can result in a sugar crash.
“Instead, fibre-rich foods help minimise blood sugar spikes and provide a slow release of energy as they are digested more slowly, which helps you feel fuller for longer.”
Go retro
We check our phones anywhere between 80 and 200 times per day.
But the blue light emitted from electronic devices can have a detrimental impact on our circadian rhythm – our internal body clock.
“This causes increased alertness before bed and a greater feeling of sleepiness after a full night’s sleep,” says Rob.
“A digital detox before bed is important, but you can also limit your screen time by making sure your phone isn’t the first thing you see in the morning. Be strict with yourself and limit digital devices in your room whilst you sleep.
“Using an analogue alarm removes the need for your phone to be in the room, and the temptation to check it. “If you can’t resist going back to sleep when the alarm goes off, try putting it on the other side of the room.”
Banish bad dreams
TV presenter Susanna Reid revealed she has suffered from terrifying dreams during the Covid crisis, and she’s not alone.
Nearly one in five of us has been kept awake by vivid nightmares during the pandemic.
“Nightmares show your emotional balance may be out of kilter, and can be a sign you are feeling insecure, anxious or frustrated,” says dream expert Lee Chambers, from The Luxury Bed Co. “Anxious feelings stemming from the
pandemic cause higher than usual instances of these types of dreams.”
If you suffer from regular nightmares, try making a note of them.
Suzy Reading, psychologist and sleep expert for Tempur, says: “Look for any patterns that occur during the day that could trigger these, such as alcohol intake, stress caused by work or family tensions.
“Keeping a consistent routine – rising at the same time and going to bed at the same time
– can really help to minimise an overactive mind at bedtime.
“Commit to regular restorative practices during the day, such as yoga, meditation and breathing exercises, and try to spend time in nature to feel calm and rested for bed.”
As the autumn chill creeps in, it’s tempting to whack on the heating full blast – but this is a no-no for a sound night’s sleep.
“Having the heating on during the night can mean you become too hot and wake up,” says Ori. “A cool 16-18C is an ideal temperature in a bedroom.” Another option is to use bedding that helps regulate body temperature. Most people think of counting sheep when it comes to sleeping, but wool bedding is the latest homeware trend on account of its eco-friendly credentials and ability to promote sound sleep.
“One of the main causes of disturbed sleep is body temperature – either being too hot or too cold,” says Chris Tattersall, sleep environment expert and MD of Woolroom (thewoolroom.com).
“Wool is the best fibre for managing heat and humidity in the sleep environment, as it has the ability to regulate temperature for each individual sleeper.
“Wool is proven to transport 76 per cent more moisture than down and feather bedding over an eight-hour period, therefore delivering more stage four and stage five REM sleep, which is vital for feeling refreshed the next day.”
All those warming stews and pies might be delicious winter foods, but they can cause indigestion.
“It may be difficult to completely avoid rich food, especially around the festive period,” says Ori.
“Instead, try to finish eating four hours before bedtime to ensure food is digested properly. If you’re still struggling with acid reflux, sleep with a wedge pillow to elevate the chest. This will prevent acid leaking up out of the stomach, and keeping you awake.”
One of the biggest causes of sleepless nights is a partner’s snoring – and this often worsens in winter.
But before you kick your other half into the spare bedroom, there are simple things you can try to reduce it.
Ori says: “In the winter, the cold air is much dryer, which takes away moisture from the nose. We then end up breathing with our mouth open which leads to snoring and waking up with a dry mouth.”
To combat this, try to keep the air as moist as possible, thus minimising the risk of you or your partner snoring. One way to do this is investing
in an air humidifier.
Ori says: “Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter months. “Symptoms include fatigue, depression, social withdrawal and sleep issues such as insomnia.
“There are several ways to help alleviate symptoms, such as getting fresh air, light therapy, exercise and spending time outdoors, especially within the first two hours of waking up. “But if symptoms worsen, then speak to a medical professional for advice.”