Audrey Hepburn's son has revealed the private torment his mother endured during her second marriage, including an overdose after discovering her husband's infidelity. In a new memoir, Luca Dotti recounts how the Breakfast at Tiffany's star was devastated when her housekeeper confessed that Mel Ferrer had been bringing other women to their marital bed while she was away.
Dotti writes that his mother's insecurity stemmed from her father abandoning the family when she was six, an event she described as the 'most traumatic' of her life. 'When I fell in love and married, I lived in constant fear of being left,' Hepburn once said. This fear shaped her relationships, leaving her vulnerable despite her public image as a graceful star.
Hepburn's second marriage to actor Mel Ferrer began promisingly, but he was controlling and secretly did not want more children. After two miscarriages, Hepburn took a year off from acting to ensure a healthy pregnancy. However, Ferrer's infidelity turned the marriage into a nightmare from which she felt unable to escape.
Dotti's memoir offers an intimate look at Hepburn's private struggles, revealing the pain behind her glamorous facade. The book details how she coped with her husband's betrayal and the lasting impact of her father's rejection.
