Audrey Hepburn was widely considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. But her son Luca Dotti has revealed that his mother didn't have quite the same perception of herself, considering her looks a "good mixture of defects". "She thought she had a big nose and big feet, and she was too skinny and not enough breast," Luca told Vanity Fair in an interview. "She would look in the mirror and say, 'I don’t understand why people see me as beautiful.'"
The 43-year-old was promoting his new book, Audrey in Rome, for which he has gathered 2500 photos of the film icon. While doing so, he revealed that he was struck by how "she was always herself – perfect." He also appeared on US chat show TODAY to talk about his new venture and opened up about his famous mother. "She didn't care that much about external beauty," he said. "She cared more about matters of the heart. Of course, she was a woman, so she cared about looking good." Luca went on to reveal that she was taken aback by women's efforts to combat the physical effects of ageing. "She was always a little bit surprised by the efforts women made to look young. She was actually very happy about growing older because it meant more time for herself, more time for her family, and separation from the frenzy of youth and beauty that is Hollywood."
He continued: "She was a professional, so in a way she expected [to be photographed]. The beauty behind and the reason behind the book is precisely that. It's a middle step within the private life and the public life." Audrey lived in Rome for twenty years, where she met and married Dr Andrea Dotti, an Italian psychiatrist. At the age of 40, she gave birth to Luca. His new book features 200 candid photographs of his mother that show her living her life in the beautiful city. The snaps include Audrey out with family and friends, on film sets and photos of her out shopping alone.
