A new Audrey Hepburn biopic is currently casting its perfect Hepburn, but it’s not Lily Collins who has been fancast as the late actress for years.
Deadline reported Hepburn’s new biopic, titled Dinner With Audrey, has cast their lead role as Thomasin McKenzie, known for her roles in Late Night in Soho and Jojo Rabbit. Ansel Elgort is set to appear alongside McKenzie’s Hepburn as designer Count Hubert de Givenchy. Two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon is potentially on board for the project.
Dinner With Audrey is directed by Abe Sylvia, who has credits in Palm Royale, Dead to Me, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The film is set to explore Hepburn’s 40-year friendship with fashion designer de Givenchy over the course of one magical night in Paris. The dinner sparked their longtime collaboration on Hepburn’s most iconic outfits, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Funny Face, Charade, and Sabrina.
Kara Holden, known for Clouds and Carrie Pibly, is writing the screenplay. Ashok Amritraj and Priya Amritraj will be producing the biopic through Hyde Park alongside Mad Chance and Wayfarer.
McKenzie is set to star in British spoof Fackham Hall alongside Tom Felton and is the narrator for Mona Fastvold’s newest movie, The Testament of Anne Lee, alongside Amanda Seyfried. Elgort is known for The Fault in Our Stars, West Side Story, and Baby Driver.
Hepburn’s friendship with de Givenchy began in 1953 and lasted until she died in 1993 at the age of 63 due to having appendix cancer. De Givenchy often described the late actress as his sister and muse. They first met when Hepburn walked into Givenchy’s Parisian atelier in 1953, and he was expecting Katharine Hepburn. Their first collaboration was her wardrobe for her role in Sabrina.
Givenchy retired from fashion in 1995 and published a book with fashion sketches titled To Audrey with Love, which was later the subject of an exhibition in 2016. The French fashion designer passed away at the age of 91 in 2018.
Many have often fancast Collins as Hepburn due to their similar features, and Collins often pays homage to Hepburn’s unique and iconic style in her latest Netflix show, Emily in Paris. However, McKenzie is soft-spoken and has similar features to Hepburn and has delivered raw, emotional performances in her latest roles, which can be translated to Hepburn’s.
- Birthdate
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July 26, 2000
- Birthplace
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Wellington, New Zealand