Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn (Katharine Houghton Hepburn) was born on May 12th, 1907. Katharine passed away June 29th, 2003 at 96 years old. Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Hepburn attended Bryn Mawr College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in .
Katharine Hepburn was an American actress and one of the most celebrated performers in Hollywood history. Over a career spanning 66 years, she received 12 Academy Award nominations and won four, setting a record for the most Oscar wins by a single actor. She first gained recognition in 1932 with her role in
A Bill of Divorcement and later starred alongside Spencer Tracy in
Woman of the Year (1942). The two went on to make eight more films together and shared a long, deeply devoted romantic relationship. However, they never married, as Tracy remained committed to his estranged wife.
In 1991, Hepburn published
Me: Stories of My Life, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her world. Known for fiercely guarding her privacy, she defied expectations by sharing a candid, theatrical, and often poetic collection of personal memories rather than a conventional autobiography.
At its core, the book is a reflection on ambition, fame, and personal insecurities. Hepburn is brutally honest about her self-doubt and her need for reassurance, yet she maintains a playful self-awareness, jokingly insisting that she’s “adorable” in all her films. One of the book’s most poignant moments comes in the chapter titled “Voice,” where she reveals her lifelong but unfulfilled dream of becoming a singer.
Hepburn’s perspective on feminism is both complex and revealing. She deeply admired her mother, a passionate suffragette, and took pride in her own independence and business acumen. Yet, she also romanticized an era when gender roles were more defined, longing for strong men and reserved women.
Her relationships with men further illustrate this contradiction. She recalls her affairs with Howard Hughes and Leland Hayward as modern and carefree, mirroring the confident, witty heroines she portrayed in the screwball comedies of the 1940s. However, she is notably reserved when discussing sex, offering only a vague reference to director George Cukor’s homosexuality and avoiding deep discussions of romance in her own life. Instead, she focuses on work, discipline, and an unwavering "keep going" attitude.
In the end,
Me: Stories of My Life is a compelling portrait of a bold, witty, and larger-than-life woman who redefined Hollywood’s vision of femininity. Hepburn’s memoir challenges us to consider her legacy with one lingering question: Are we finally ready to embrace the strong, independent woman she embodied?
Katharine Hepburn: Lists & Other Mentions
- Me: Stories of My Life was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1991 and 1992.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Katharine Hepburn are:
- Sue Grafton, author of the Kinsey Millhone Series.
- James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
- Kate Atkinson, author of the Jackson Brodie Series.
- Paula Hawkins, author of the novel: The Girl on the Train.
- Gillian Flynn, author of the novel: Gone Girl.
Katharine Hepburn: F.A.Q
When was Katharine Hepburn Born?
Katharine Hepburn was born on May 12th, 1907.
When did Katharine Hepburn die?
Katharine Hepburn died on June 29th, 2003 at 96 years old.
Where was Katharine Hepburn Born?
Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
What was the first book Katharine Hepburn wrote?
The first book written by Katharine Hepburn was World of Stories: Six Stories, published in 1982.
What was the most recent book Katharine Hepburn wrote?
Her most recently released work was Me: Stories of My Life on January 1st, 1991.
How many books has Katharine Hepburn written?
Katharine Hepburn has written 3 books. 2 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the Collections.