
Audrey Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is considered one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. The 1961 film, directed by Blake Edwards, is based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name. Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly, a quirky and eccentric socialite, earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. While Hepburn did not win an Oscar for her performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's, the film received five Academy Award nominations and won two, including Best Original Song for Moon River and Best Original Score.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film name | Breakfast at Tiffany's |
| Year of release | 1961 |
| Main cast | Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal |
| Director | Blake Edwards |
| Based on | Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name |
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Awards | Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Hepburn, and winning two (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture and Best Song for Mancini/Henry Mancinci) |
| Hepburn's role | Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric “socialite” |
| Hepburn's performance | Hepburn's performance received rave reviews and is considered one of her most memorable and identifiable roles |
| Hepburn's salary | $750,000 (roughly equivalent to $7.3 million as of 2022), making her the highest-paid actress per film at the time |
| Theme song | "Moon River" |
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What You'll Learn

Audrey Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress
Audrey Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's received rave reviews, with critics citing it as one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. Hepburn's own sincerity, kindness, grace, and humour shone through her portrayal of Holly Golightly, a quirky, free-spirited escort with a "go-lightly" attitude. Hepburn's performance was so iconic that it turned her into a cinema and style icon.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film received five Oscar nominations in total, including Best Actress, Best Art and Set Decoration for a Colour Film, and Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium (Truman Capote's novella). It won two Oscars, both for Henry Mancini's musical score and the song "Moon River".
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's was not her first Oscar nomination. She had previously been nominated for her roles in The Nun's Story (1959) and Sabrina (1954). Hepburn won an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday (1953). She was also nominated for an Oscar for Wait Until Dark (1967), which was her final nomination.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is considered a classic, and the film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2012.
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Henry Mancini won two Oscars for the film's music
Audrey Hepburn's performance in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's is considered one of her most memorable and influential roles. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of the free-spirited Holly Golightly, a stylish and quirky escort who falls in love with a penniless writer, Paul Varjak. The film received five Oscar nominations in total and won two Academy Awards. However, Hepburn did not win an Oscar for her performance in this film.
The film's music, composed and conducted by Henry Mancini, won two Oscars. Mancini's score, including the beloved "Moon River," is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. The song "Moon River," with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, won an Oscar in 1962. Mancini's music perfectly captured the spirit of Holly Golightly, with "Holly's Theme" rendered in multiple forms, each reflecting the many facets of her personality. His score also included wonderful jazz pieces that authentically captured the vibe of New York City.
Mancini's collaboration with director Blake Edwards, whom he met through his wife, resulted in several successful themes and a lasting partnership that spanned numerous films. Their work on Breakfast at Tiffany's produced a timeless and intimate romantic score that showcased Mancini's genius and mastery of his craft.
Mancini's talent extended beyond "Moon River" and "Holly's Theme." The diverse musical pieces he composed for the film, such as the dreamy "Sally's Tomato" and the energetic "Something for the Cat," showcased his versatility and ability to capture the film's time and place. The Far Eastern exotica of "Mr. Yunioshi" and the Latin vibe of "Latin Golightly" are just a couple of examples of how Mancini's music brought the film's setting to life.
Henry Mancini's two Oscar wins for the music in Breakfast at Tiffany's solidified his place in film history and highlighted his extraordinary talent for composing music that enhances and complements the storytelling on screen. His collaboration with Blake Edwards resulted in a classic score that continues to be celebrated and cherished by audiences worldwide.
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Moon River won an Oscar for Best Original Song
Audrey Hepburn's performance in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's received rave reviews, with critics considering it one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Hepburn, and won two. However, Hepburn did not win an Oscar for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Instead, the film won Oscars for Best Music (Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) and Best Music (Song).
The award-winning song was "Moon River," composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Interestingly, Paramount executives initially wanted to cut the song because they thought it slowed the film's pace. However, Hepburn objected and prevailed, and the song became a hit. At the 34th Academy Awards in 1962, "Moon River" won two Oscars: Best Music (Song) and Best Music (Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture).
"Moon River" is considered one of the most memorable scenes in movie history. Mancini specifically wrote the song for Hepburn, taking into account her vocal range, and the lyrics hint at Holly Golightly's mysterious past. The song has become synonymous with the film and is an integral part of its enduring legacy.
The success of "Moon River" extended beyond the Oscars. It has since become a jazz standard and has been recorded and performed by numerous artists. The song's impact on popular culture has been significant, and it continues to be celebrated and remembered as a classic.
The Oscar win for "Moon River" also solidified Mancini's reputation as a talented composer. He went on to win two more Oscars for his work in film composition, further cementing his place in the industry. "Moon River" remains a testament to the power of music in cinema and the ability of a song to enhance and contribute to the success of a film.
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The film was nominated for five Academy Awards
The film Breakfast at Tiffany's was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn's performance as the quirky, free-spirited Holly Golightly received rave reviews and is considered one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. The film also received nominations for Best Art and Set Decoration for a Colour Film and Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium, Truman Capote's novella.
Hepburn's co-stars praised her sincerity, kindness, grace, and humour, which shone through in her performance. Producer Richard Shepherd said:
> "I can say, having worked with a lot of different actresses over my life as a producer, as a studio head, and as an agent, there just was never ever an actress as professional and as joyful to work with, and as kind, and as prepared, as Audrey Hepburn. She was, in my view, not only a giving, loving, wonderful human being, but a tribute to the motion picture industry and to life itself."
The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Original Song for "Moon River", with music by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and Best Original Score, also for Mancini. "Moon River" was also awarded Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammys.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's earned her an Academy Award nomination, but she did not win an Oscar for this role. However, she did win an Oscar for her performance in Roman Holiday in 1953.
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Hepburn's performance was critically acclaimed
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's was critically acclaimed. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including one for Hepburn herself for Best Actress. The movie was also nominated for Best Art and Set Decoration for a Colour Film and Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium.
Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly is considered one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. Her interpretation of the character has been described as "irresistible, irritating, bumbling and gentle". Hepburn's sincerity, kindness, grace, and humour shone through in her portrayal of the eccentric socialite, and she is said to have brought a blend of "sadness and vulnerability" to the role.
Richard Corliss of Time emphasised the level of Hepburn's performance, stating that "Breakfast at Tiffany's set Hepburn on her Hollywood course". Tinee Mae of the Chicago Tribune also praised Hepburn's performance, saying:
> "In the wrong hands, the unconventional, disorganized, sophisticated, innocent, utterly contradictory [lead] character could be a tiresome idiot. Audrey makes her as sweet as she is silly, as appealing as she is affected, a playgirl without scruples, a moth who doesn't quite deserve to die in a flame."
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's was not her first critically acclaimed role. She had previously won an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday in 1953. She also earned Academy Award nominations for Sabrina (1954), The Nun's Story (1959), and Funny Face (1957).
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Frequently asked questions
No, Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress but did not win.
Yes, the film won two Oscars: Best Original Song for "Moon River" and Best Original Score.
Henry Mancini won Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "Moon River".
Yes, Hepburn won an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday. She was also nominated for her roles in Sabrina, The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Wait Until Dark.

































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