Awards Won By Audrey Hepburn: Why She Still Holds the Record for Class

Awards Won By Audrey Hepburn: Why She Still Holds the Record for Class

Audrey Hepburn didn't just win trophies. She basically redefined what it meant to be a star in the middle of a Hollywood era that was obsessed with "va-va-voom" blondes. Honestly, if you look at the awards won by Audrey Hepburn, you aren't just looking at a list of dates and gold-plated statues. You're looking at a complete takeover.

In 1954, she did something that literally no other actress had ever done before. She won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for the same exact performance. The movie? Roman Holiday. It was her first major starring role. Imagine coming out of nowhere and sweeping the planet before you've even had time to get used to the flashbulbs.

But here is the thing: her shelf wasn't just filled with acting nods. She is a member of the most exclusive club in show business. The EGOT. That means she won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.

The Night Roman Holiday Changed Everything

The 26th Academy Awards in 1954 was a vibe. Audrey showed up in that iconic floral dress, and when she won Best Actress, she was so nervous she reportedly left her Oscar in the powder room later that night. Classic.

That win for Roman Holiday wasn't a fluke. It was the start of a decade where the awards won by Audrey Hepburn became a yearly conversation. She wasn't just a "pretty face" to the critics. They respected the craft. She got four more Best Actress nominations after that:

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  • Sabrina (1954)
  • The Nun’s Story (1959)
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
  • Wait Until Dark (1967)

Think about the range there. From a runaway princess to a literal nun, then a socialite, and finally a blind woman being terrorized in her apartment. She didn't stay in one lane.

Beyond the Big Screen: The Tony and the Emmy

A lot of people forget she was a theater kid at heart. In the same year she won her Oscar, she took home the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Ondine. That’s basically like winning a Super Bowl and a World Series in the same season.

Her Emmy came much later, and it’s sort of bittersweet. It was for her work on a documentary series called Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn. She won it in 1993, but she had actually passed away just a few months before the ceremony. It was a posthumous win that proved her voice and presence were still captivating people decades after her "Golden Age" peak.

The Grammy and the Full EGOT

You might be wondering: "Wait, Audrey Hepburn won a Grammy?"

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Yes. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest parts of her legacy. In 1994, she was awarded a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales. She was reading classic fairy tales. Her voice was always her secret weapon—that specific, melodic accent that sounded like it came from everywhere and nowhere at once.

With that Grammy, she became the first person to ever achieve EGOT status posthumously.

Major Career Honors and Special Trophies

It wasn't just about individual performances. As she got older, the industry started giving her "thank you for being you" awards.

  1. Cecil B. DeMille Award (1990): The Golden Globes' version of a lifetime achievement award.
  2. Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (1992): Given just before she died.
  3. Special Tony Award (1968): For her contribution to the theater.
  4. BAFTA Special Award (1992): Recognizing her as a British icon.

The Award That Meant the Most

If you asked Audrey herself about the awards won by Audrey Hepburn, she probably wouldn't have pointed to the Oscar first. In 1993, the Academy gave her the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

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She spent the last years of her life as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She wasn't just a figurehead. She was on the ground in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh. She used her fame as a tool, not a pillow. Her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, accepted the award on her behalf because she died just weeks before the ceremony.

It’s the most important statue in her collection because it represents who she was when the cameras weren't rolling.

Why This Record Still Matters

The sheer volume of awards won by Audrey Hepburn is impressive, but it’s the variety that sticks. She won for acting, for speaking, for hosting, and for helping. Most modern stars are lucky to get one of those.

She remains one of only 21 people in history to hold the EGOT (as of early 2026). That list includes names like Elton John and Viola Davis. Audrey was one of the pioneers of that "grand slam."

If you want to truly appreciate her work, don't just stick to Breakfast at Tiffany's. Watch The Nun's Story. It’s probably her best acting work, and it won her a BAFTA and a New York Film Critics Circle award for a reason.

Next Steps for Audrey Fans:

  • Watch the Documentary: Check out the 2020 documentary Audrey for a look at the woman behind the trophies.
  • Listen to the Grammy Winner: Find a recording of Enchanted Tales on streaming services to hear that Grammy-winning performance.
  • Support the Legacy: Look into the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, which continues the humanitarian work that won her the Jean Hersholt award.