orig. Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston
born May 4, 1929, Brussels, Belg.
died Jan. 20, 1993, Tolochenaz, Switz.
Belgian-born film actress.
After spending World War II in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, she studied ballet and acting in London. She was discovered by Colette , who insisted she play the lead in Gigi on Broadway (1951). She made her U.S. film debut in Roman Holiday (1953, Academy Award), then returned to Broadway in Ondine (1954, Tony Award). She projected a radiant, elfin innocence combined with elegance in films such as Sabrina (1954), War and Peace (1956), Funny Face (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), and Wait Until Dark (1967). She later devoted herself to charity work and was a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF .