Breakfast At Tiffany's to Become Stage Show

The Classic Hollywood Film Gets The Live Treatment

Aug 14, 2009

British actress Anna Friel has the challenging task of taking on the role that Audrey Hepburn so successfully established as her own.

American author and socialite Truman Capote’s (1924 - 1984) classic novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958) was made into an iconic film starring Belgian actress and Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn (1929 - 1993).

Legendary Film

Directed by Blake Edwards, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) tells the story of Holly Golightly, a charming but neurotic girl who has a less than conventional lifestyle and a former identity she is running from. She develops a close relationship with her neighbour, and gradually the path of true love takes its course.

Truman Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) to play the part of Holly Golightly but she declined as she felt playing a call girl was not the correct direction for her image at that time. Monroe was trying to establish herself as a serious actress, so the role went to Audrey Hepburn.

The male lead was played by American actor George Peppard, who later went on to achieve fame in the cult TV show The A-Team (1983 - 1987), where he played John 'Hannibal' Smith.

Establishing An Icon

The image and elegance of this film are just as noted as the plot-line and established Audrey Hepburn as an elegant and stylish actress. Hepburn's lifelong friend and French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy designed the costumes for her, as he did in many of her movies. Working alongside studio costume designer Edith Head, they created the timeless and stylish looks of the film. Head did recognise that Hepburn herself played a part, saying, "Audrey could have been a designer herself, she has such perfect taste..."

Along with the visuals, the movie also gave the world a classic song, Moon River was the movie's theme and was composed by Henry Mancini especially for the film. Audrey Hepburn was not necessarily known for her vocal talent but did record all her own vocals for this.

Stage Version

September 2009 sees a stage version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London. Attempting to fill Audrey Hepburn’s couture shoes is British actress Anna Friel. Friel shot to fame in Britain with her role as Beth Jordache in soap opera Brookside (1982 – 2003), where her character was controversially involved in the first lesbian kiss screened on prime-time television. She more recently starred in the comedy drama series Pushing Daisies (2007 – 2009).

Friel will be acting alongside American actor Joseph Cross and the initial run is from September 2009 to January 2010. Tickets can be bought here.,

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