In her first leading film role, Audrey Hepburn charmed audiences and Academy voters alike, playing an undercover princess who spends an enchanted day with Gregory Peck’s newspaperman in 1953′s Roman Holiday. It’s rare for the Academy to nominate a newcomer in its lead-actor categories — but Audrey was indeed that rare gem: “Paramount’s new star sparkles and glows with the fire of a finely cut diamond,” TIME magazine wrote.
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