The Tumultuous Set of Sabrina: A Tale of Love Amidst Chaos
Let me tell you, the making of the 1954 romantic comedy Sabrina was no walk in the park. The set was filled with tension—script changes were happening daily, the leading man wasn’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye with the director, and two of the costars couldn’t stand each other from the get-go. Yet, amidst all this drama, there was one shining light: Audrey Hepburn and William Holden. They seemed to be having the time of their lives because, well, they were in love!
Sabrina, a story about a chauffeur’s daughter caught between two wealthy brothers, would go on to become a timeless classic. It would also earn Audrey her second Oscar nomination. But here’s the kicker—her romance with Bill, her married co-star, didn’t exactly end in happily ever after. Still, it set Audrey on a path toward fulfilling her dreams of starting a family.
Audrey Finds Her Guardian Angel
Even though Roman Holiday had already made Audrey a household name, she still felt like a rookie when Sabrina started filming. Enter William Holden, who played the charming playboy son, David. Audrey called him her “guardian angel” because he took her under his wing, helping her navigate the complexities of working on such a high-pressure set. Before long, they were bonding over post-filming cocktails with none other than their legendary director, Billy Wilder. They were laughing together, sharing stories, and building a connection that went beyond the screen.
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Humphrey Bogart: The Unhappy Third Wheel
Not everyone was thrilled about Audrey and Bill’s blossoming friendship. Humphrey Bogart, the film’s second lead, was definitely not amused. “We didn’t even think about inviting Bogart,” Billy Wilder admitted later. But let’s be real—Bogie wasn’t exactly in the mood to party. He had stepped in to replace Cary Grant as the older brother, Linus, and he felt completely miscast. This led to frequent clashes with both Wilder and Holden, whom he sarcastically nicknamed “Smilin’ Jim.”
A Secret Affair: Love in the Shadows
Amidst all the chaos, Audrey and Bill managed to rise above it all. Their bond deepened into something more, and soon they were sneaking off for romantic rendezvous. They knew they had to keep their relationship under wraps—if word got out, Audrey could’ve been labeled a homewrecker, which might’ve derailed her budding career. But love can be powerful, and for a while, they found joy in each other’s company.
Audrey was fully aware that Bill was married. In fact, she had even met his wife, Ardis. Still, she held onto the dream that somehow, they’d find a way to be together and build a life as a family. She couldn’t help but gush about how he was “the most handsome man [she’d] ever met.”
The Heartbreaking Truth
Unfortunately, Audrey’s romantic dreams were shattered when Bill revealed a devastating truth—he had already undergone a vasectomy. And if that wasn’t enough, he showed no intention of divorcing his wife. As Barry Paris, author of the definitive biography Audrey Hepburn, puts it, “For a woman who wanted to marry a good man and have children, this was a double blow.”
Months later, Audrey announced her engagement to Mel Ferrer, a former flame, at a party hosted by none other than Paramount Studios at Bill and Ardis’ home. Though their love affair had been fleeting and tinged with sadness, Audrey and Bill remained lifelong friends.
