Roman Holiday

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US 1953, d William Wyler

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Speaking about Hepburn's starring debut in Roman Holiday, co-star Gregory Peck said -

"Most people think of Audrey Hepburn as regal. I like to think of her as spunky. It was my good luck to be her first screen fellow, to hold out my hand and help her keep her balance while she made everybody in the world fall in love with her."

That may sound like cosy nostalgia but even during shooting Peck recognised a considerable talent, shrewdly insisting on equal billing for the then ingenue because -

"this girl's going to win the Academy award for this picture and if her name's not above the title with mine I'm going to look like an idiot."

He was right about the Oscar, of course, with Hepburn taking home the best actress prize for 1953, beating more established actresses Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr in the process.