Member review

A face plastered on a calender. The image on the cover of "500 Best Films" on my bookshelf. Her picture to be put on mugs, walls, instagram posts.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" was released 58 years ago, yet Audrey Hepburn's Holly Gollighty is still universally recognisable. Known for her little black dress – a look that is still popular today – Holly was a fashion icon of the Golden age.

There are even Holly Gollighty tea bags. Yes, I own these. (The set comes with Charlie Chaplin and Frankenstein teabags, in case you were wondering.)

Whilst Audrey has graced many a film, it is perhaps “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” for which she is most popular. But why is the film so popular, beating her other classics like Roman Holiday? And just what is it about?

Socialite Holly lives alone in New York, with only a cat – with the original name Cat – for company. Occasionally she holds swanky parties in her apartment.

She lives the sort of graceful life that we all wish we could have in our twenties. A nice Manhattan apartment. Morning walks with a pastry. Doesn’t it sound bliss?

With no surprise to the viewer, a man does eventually appear on the scene. (This film is, after all, labelled a romantic comedy.) Paul is a writer and whilst Holly ends up finding him attractive, I certainly did not. Nevertheless, the writer is to take on a crucial role in her life, eventually becoming a love interest.

Despite outward appearance of a beautiful life, Holly does have a sad family tale to accompany her. I won’t go into details, though it does come as a shock to the viewer.

Audrey takes on the role of extroverted Holly with ease. Apparently Hepburn, as an introvert, found this one of her most difficult roles of all. At any rate, for the audience, it doesn't look like she is having any difficulties - she looks like she is in her element. What stands Audrey apart from other actresses is how elegant she is. And no wonder – you know she studied ballet before coming an actress?

The author of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote, initially did not approve of the casting of Hepburn for the role. He wanted Marilyn Monroe. And whilst I love both actresses, I don't think anyone could have played Holly other than Hepburn.

A haunting melody plays throughout the film, Moon River.

“Moon River, off to see the world. There’s such a lot of world to see.”

It is beautiful but rather creepy. The sort of tune that would freak you out if you were playing it alone in the middle of the night. Not that that has stopped me from playing it incessantly on Spotify.

Audrey, ever the style icon, obviously has a great selection of clothes on offer here. Her wardrobe here puts the costume department to every other film since to shame – how did this not win at least a best costume award?

At age fifteen I tried to imitate the iconic look of Holly Gollighty. Pouting into the camera, hair in a bun, cheap pearls around my neck. Sadly the spots on my face ruined the Holly effect I was trying to create – this face would not be gracing any calenders, I can tell you that.

I am not the only one who has tried to copy her. She has even inspired the likes of Lady Gaga, who donned her signature outfit at the Academy Awards this year. She even had the necklace and all, worth $30 million. (A Star is Born cost $36 million to produce, by contrast!)

At the end of the day, Hepburn may not have won an Oscar for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. (She did, however, for Roman Holiday.)

But does it matter? Holly Gollighty has had far more of a cultural impact than, say, the winner of the 1962 Best Actress. (Sophia Loren.) And I suppose that is what matters.

In my room, by the door, there is a calender with her face on it. In the picture for April she wears a tiara. Move over, Beyonce. Before music stars such as Queen B and Lady Gaga were around, another woman was taking over the media. Back in the 1950s, Audrey was the one with the tiara. She was the Queen.

Whilst I didn't achieve the Hepburn look at age fifteen, I did in some ways get to be like my idol in March. Decades ago she attended a film premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square, the same place I would be at the Into Film awards. And that is nice, isn’t it? Isn’t that what she would have wanted? To still be admired by teenagers like myself, inspiring us even after she is long gone.