Hollywood loves a good myth. Especially one involving a reclusive billionaire and a gamine icon with a penchant for pearls. If you spend enough time in the deeper, dustier corners of the internet, you’ll eventually stumble across a persistent rumor: the supposed secret romance between Audrey Hepburn and Howard Hughes.
It’s easy to see why people want it to be true. It fits the "Old Hollywood" template perfectly. On one side, you have the eccentric, plane-crashing, germaphobic mogul. On the other, the most elegant woman to ever grace a screen. But honestly? Most of what you’ve heard about them as a "couple" is basically a case of mistaken identity.
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The Katharine Confusion
Here is the truth: Howard Hughes did have a legendary, high-octane affair with a woman named Hepburn. But it wasn’t Audrey. It was Katharine Hepburn.
You've probably seen the movie The Aviator. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett did a pretty decent job of portraying that specific whirlwind. They were the ultimate power couple of the late 1930s. They played golf together (Hughes once landed a plane on a golf course just to join her for a round), they flew across the country, and they shared a mutual obsession with privacy.
Because both women shared the same last name and a similar status as "screen royalty," the two histories have been tangled up by casual fans for decades.
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Did Audrey Hepburn and Howard Hughes Ever Actually Meet?
Technically, it’s possible. Howard Hughes was still very much a presence in Hollywood when Audrey Hepburn skyrocketed to fame in 1953 with Roman Holiday. By that time, Hughes was running RKO Pictures and was already starting his slow descent into the deep-seated reclusiveness that would define his later years.
While Hughes was notorious for "discovering" starlets and keeping them in "contractual cages"—basically paying for their apartments and lessons while rarely actually putting them in movies—Audrey was different. She was a Paramount star. She was managed by people who didn't let eccentric billionaires put her on a shelf.
If they did meet, there is no credible historical record of a romantic entanglement. Audrey’s heart during her peak years was usually occupied by men like Mel Ferrer or the much-discussed, bittersweet connection with William Holden.
Why the Rumor Persists
- The "Hepburn" Brand: In the 1950s, the name Hepburn was synonymous with a specific kind of independent, high-class femininity.
- The RKO Factor: Hughes owned a major studio. Audrey was a major star. In the gossip columns of the time, names were often linked simply because they were in the same room at a party.
- The Recluse Allure: People love connecting two "mysterious" figures.
The Real Romantic Timelines
To understand why a Howard Hughes and Audrey Hepburn romance doesn't fit, you just have to look at where they were in their lives.
When Audrey was winning her Oscar and becoming the face of Givenchy, Hughes was already beginning to hide. He was obsessed with the Spruce Goose, dealing with the aftermath of near-fatal plane crashes, and becoming increasingly paranoid about germs.
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Audrey, meanwhile, was busy being a mother and a humanitarian. Their worlds weren't just different; they were practically on different planets. Howard was the dark, gritty underbelly of Hollywood power. Audrey was the light.
Setting the Record Straight
It’s kind of funny how history gets smudged. You’ll find Pinterest boards and "fact" videos today that use photos of Audrey but tell stories about Katharine.
If you're looking for the juicy Howard Hughes romance, look toward the 1930s. Look toward his 18-month stint with Katharine where they lived together and almost married. Look toward his obsession with Ava Gardner, whom he once reportedly had followed by a literal fleet of private detectives.
Audrey Hepburn’s legacy is remarkably clean of that kind of chaotic, billionaire-fueled drama. She had her own struggles, sure, but they didn't involve dodging a Lockheed plane landed on a fairway.
Actionable Insights for Old Hollywood Buffs
If you want to dive deeper into the real connections between these figures without getting lost in the misinformation, here is how to navigate the history:
- Check the Year: If a story about "Hepburn and Hughes" takes place before 1950, it is 100% Katharine. Audrey didn't arrive in Hollywood until the early 50s.
- Verify the Studio: Hughes’ orbit was almost entirely centered around RKO. If a star was under contract at Paramount (like Audrey) or MGM, the chances of a Hughes "arrangement" were much lower.
- Read the Source Material: For the real Hughes/Hepburn story, read Katharine Hepburn’s autobiography, Me: Stories of My Life. She speaks quite fondly of him, actually. For Audrey, look at biographies by Donald Spoto or Barry Paris—you’ll notice a distinct lack of "Howard" in the index.
Next time you see a "Secret History" post about these two, you'll know the difference. One was a flight of fancy; the other was a flight of actual aircraft.