UNITED NATIONS HONORS AUDREY HEPBURN

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UNITED NATIONS HONORS
AUDREY HEPBURN

Release Date:

March 27, 2002

Press Release:

Daily Variety

by Army Archerd
Daily Variety Senior Columnist

HOLLYWOOD, CA - Another catchup to the world that stopped September 11, 2001 will take place May 7, 2002 in the United Nations Plaza adjacent to UNICEF headquarters.

The Spirit of Audrey, a dramatic, seven-foot bronze sculpture, a depiction of Audrey Hepburn and a small child, will be unveiled. Hepburn was one of UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassadors commissioned from showbiz. On hand to celebrate her will be past Ambassadors Peter Ustinov and Harry Belafonte and current standard-bearer Roger Moore.

Who can ever forget the scenes of Hepburn bringing joy to the poor, afflicted, frightened children of Africa and the rest of the world as she made her assignment so meaningful to the children? She served from 1988 until her death in 1993. The dedication of her statue comes three days after her birthday (May 4, 1929) and coincides with the first event of a special session of the U.N. devoted to children's issues. Among those who will attend: her son Sean Ferrer and Robert Wolders, who commissioned the statue created by sculptor John Kennedy and donated it to UNICEF.

Wolders was Hepburn's companion for nearly 14 years. "I can't say 'husband' unfortunately," Wolders told me. "We had discussed it many times, but she always said our relationship was more romantic this way."

He says, "All of us who loved Audrey are thrilled that this beautiful piece of art in her honor will be on permanent display in N.Y.C., a place she cherished and particularly that its home will be at UNICEF."

Wolders and Shirlee Fonda have been companions these past six years, but he reminds they have been friends since days when she was married to Henry Fonda and he was Merle Oberon's companion. Currently visiting at the Wolders-Fonda house is Jane Fonda with daughter Vanessa (Vadim) and her 2-year-old son Malcolm.