Celebrating the legend that was Katharine Hepburn -

The Hollywood legend was born on May 12, 1907

Katharine Hepburn, one of the best actresses in Hollywood history, epitomized the modern woman. She challenged societal norms in all forms, from her clothes, to her attitude, and her choice to remain childless and unmarried. Beautiful, fierce, and fearless, she embodied American culture like few have been able to do, before or since.

Click through this gallery to revisit her life and career in captivating photos.

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Early life - Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 12, 1907.

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Early life -

She was one of six children raised by a doctor and a feminist campaigner.

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Greatest star -

She is considered by many to be the greatest actress in American cinema.

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Star attributes - Hepburn was known for her fierce independence and spirited personality.

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Versatility - A versatile actress, she starred in a range of genres from screwball comedy to literary drama.

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Record breaker - Hepburn is the only actress to have won four Academy Awards for Best Actress.

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A unique set of features - Hepburn is noteworthy for combining timeless beauty, wit, and fiery passion.

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Passion for acting - As a child, she would charge US$0.50 to put on plays and perform for her neighbors with friends and siblings.

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Young activist - She raised money for the Navajo people.

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Education - She began to act while a student at Bryn Mawr College, a women's liberal arts college.

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Upbringing - Both parents fought for social change in the US.

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Upbringing: father - By helping establish the New England Social Hygiene Association, Thomas Hepburn promoted education about venereal disease.

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Upbringing: mother - The elder Katharine was the head of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, and later campaigned for birth control alongside Margaret Sanger.

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Unconventional - The actress was unconventional and progressive. She wore pants when it was still frowned upon and long before it was fashionable.

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Outspoken - She was outspoken, assertive, and athletic.

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Sports - Hepburn was interested in sports and played from a young age.

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Sports - She particularly enjoyed swimming, tennis, and golf.

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Yet again, unconventional - At age nine, she shaved her head.

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Jimmy -

She also decided that she wanted to be called "Jimmy," according to Vanity Fair.

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Jimmy -

According to the same Vanity Fair article, Hepburn stated that Jimmy embodied a role she liked to play.

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Alter ego - She said: "I created Jimmy for the others. Inside I never felt like Jimmy."

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Work on Broadway -

In 1932, she made several appearances on Broadway, for which she was making about US$1,500 a week, a considerable amount for the time.

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Fruitful career - Hepburn's career spanned six decades, which earned her the nickname "First Lady of Cinema."

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Debut - She had her screen debut in the hit 'A Bill of Divorcement' (1932).

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1930s - Her early career includes movies like 'Little Women' (1933), 'Alice Adams' (1935), 'Sylvia Scarlett' (1935), 'Stage Door' (1937), 'Holiday' (1938), and 'Bringing Up Baby' (1938).

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Setbacks - Despite her initial success, Hepburn also starred in a series of unpopular films.

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"Box office poison" -

That resulted in her being added to a list of actors considered "box office poison" after the release of 'Bringing Up Baby,' according to Legacy.

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Starting over - Determined to reignite her career, Hepburn left Hollywood in search of a stage project.

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Comeback - She landed a role in Philip Barry's new play, 'The Philadelphia Story,' which quickly became a success.

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Comeback - She bought the rights to the play and later sold it to MGM, Hollywood's number one studio.

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On her own terms - She sold the rights on the condition that she'd be the star. Hepburn was back for good.

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1940s - In the 1940s, she starred in popular films, including, of course, 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940). Other films included 'Woman of the Year' (1942), 'State of the Union' (1948), and 'Adam's Rib' (1949).

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1950s - Into the following decade, she starred in 'The African Queen' (1951), 'Pat and Mike' (1952), 'Summertime' (1955), and 'The Rainmaker' (1956).

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1960s - Throughout this decade, she starred in films such as 'Long Day's Journey into Night' (1962), 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967), and 'The Lion in Winter' (1968).

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Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy - Tracy, who co-starred opposite to her in nine films, became her longtime companion.

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Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy - The two managed to hide their 26-year affair from the public.

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First Oscar - Her first Oscar came early on in her career.

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First Oscar - She won Best Actress for 'Morning Glory' (1933).

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Oscar hiatus - She wouldn't win another one for 34 years.

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Consecutive Oscars - Then she won two back-to-back.

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Consecutive Oscars - She won Best Actress for 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967) and 'The Lion in Winter' (1968).

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Fourth Oscar - She waited another 13 years to win her fourth Oscar.

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Fourth Oscar - She won Best Actress for 'On Golden Pond' (1981).

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Late career: 1970s - In the 1970s, she starred in 'The Trojan Women' (1971) and 'Rooster Cogburn' (1975).

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Late career: 1980s - In the 1980s, she starred in the aforementioned 'On Golden Pond' (1981).

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Final film - Hepburn's final film role was in 'Love Affair' (1994), at age 87.

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Tony - From December 1969 to August 1970, she starred in the Broadway musical 'Coco,' based on Coco Chanel's life. Her work earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

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Modern woman - Through her unconventional lifestyle and the fierce characters she portrayed, Hepburn became the image of the modern American woman of the 20th century.

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Autobiography - In 1991, Hepburn released her autobiography titled 'Me: Stories of My Life.'

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Autobiography - Her autobiography went on to become a best seller for over a year.

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TV - In 1973, she tried starring in a TV show for the first time.

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TV - She starred in a production of Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie' with great success.

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Emmy Award - She went on to star in the TV film 'Love Among the Ruins' (1975), which earned her an Emmy Award.

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Greatest female star - In 1999, the American Film Institute named Hepburn as the greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema.

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Oil paintings - Hepburn also enjoyed painting and produced works that were auctioned in 2004.

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Death - She died on June 29, 2003, at her family home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She was 96.

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No funeral service -

As per her request, Hepburn was buried with no memorial service.

See also: Elizabeth Taylor: her star shines on!

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