Movies - TV
It Took Three False Starts Before Cary Grant Would Get To Work With Audrey Hepburn
By SHAE SENNETT
“Charade” brought Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, two of the biggest names of their time, together for a romantic mystery that put both actors’ comedic charm on full display. Their on-screen chemistry was so compatible that many fans wondered why they only co-starred in a single film — it turns out Grant was offered several roles opposite of Hepburn but turned them down for one reason.
Grant was offered the romantic lead in Hepburn’s breakout role, the 1953 “Roman Holiday,” but the veteran actor turned it down due to the 25-year age difference between him and the young actress. Over the next few years, Grant would be offered two more roles in what would become Hepburn’s most iconic films, “Sabrina” and “Love in the Afternoon,” citing the same reason.
At first, Grant didn’t join “Charade” with its director Stanley Donan explaining, “Cary thought he was going to do a picture with Howard Hawks called ‘Man’s Favorite Sport,’ [so he] said no to ‘Charade.’” However, Grant disliked Hawks’ script, and the actor agreed to join the matured Hepburn in “Charade,” giving his last memorable performance before retiring in 1966.