[Dodfather]

[QUOTE=kokoro;904731]Emma Thompson says the `The Breakfast at Tiffany's' star could not act.



"She can't sing and she can't really act, I'm afraid.



"I'm not hugely fond of the film. I find Audrey Hepburn fantastically twee. Twee is whimsy without wit. It is mimsy-mumsy sweetness without any kind of bite. And that's not for me.



But her voice was dubbed over and musical's most classic songs such as 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'The Rain in Spain' are by American singer Marni Nixon.

I couldn't agree with these comments more. Sorry, but Audrey really wasn't a talented actress, and certainly not a musical one. The fact that Julie Andrews had the role on Broadway and then had it taken away from her and given to Audrey really was shocking. Julie sung every word on her own and no dubbing would have been needed. Daryl Zanuck, head of Fox, took the film away from her because she wasn't enough of a "big name" for the lead. Instead, Julie did Mary Poppins and got the last laugh when she and Audrey were both up for the lead actress Oscar the following year, which Julie rightly won: "and my biggest thanks go to Daryl Zanuck who made all of this possible".

Before you say that I'm basing this opinion purely on Breakfast At Tiffany's (which I don't like) I have seen several other films with Audrey (Charade, Roman Holiday, The Children's Hour, Sabrina etc) and I'm really not a fan.

Where I think Emma is mistaken, and so I agree with you, is that she says that Audrey is a "guy thing". Her status as a style icon surely has more to do with her enduring appeal as a fantasy figure for women rather than men - in a similar way to what Sarah Jessica Parker has now.

In terms of acting ability though, in my opinion Emma Thompson is one of the most taleneted English actresses of the past 30 years. She is incredible, and let's nto forget she is an Oscar winning writer as well.

Sorry - just not an Audrey fan here!