'She thought she had a big nose and feet, was too skinny and not enough breast': Audrey Hepburn's son reveals how the movie star never believed she was beautiful

Published: 11:51 EST, 2 April 2013 | Updated: 16:48 EST, 2 April 2013

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Audrey Hepburn’s youngest son has opened up about his mother's self-image, revealing that the late movie star never believed she was beautiful.

Luca Dotti, whose new book Audrey in Rome will feature some 200 photos - some of which have never been published before - that capture his mother throughout the Italian city, told Vanity Fair that Hepburn thought of herself as 'a good mixture of defects.'

The 43-year-old explained: 'She thought she had a big nose and big feet, and she was too skinny and not enough breast. She would look in the mirror and say, "I don’t understand why people see me as beautiful."'

Dynamic duo: Audrey Hepburn¿s youngest son, Luca Dotti, has opened up about his mother's self-image, revealing that the late movie star never believed she was beautiful (pictured together in 1984)

Dynamic duo: Audrey Hepburn's youngest son, Luca Dotti, has opened up about his mother's self-image, revealing that the late movie star never believed she was beautiful (pictured together in 1984)

But Mr Dotti, who is Hepburn's son from her second marriage to Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, believes that his mother was 'perfect'.

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'Even in these candid shots she was always herself—perfect,' he said of the thousands of paparazzi shots taken of her throughout Rome - where she lived after marrying Andrea.

On the twentieth anniversary of her death, the iconic movie star features on this month's Vanity Fair cover, in lieu of her son's book release.

Audrey in Rome: His new book titled Audrey in Rome will feature some 200 photos - some of which have never been published before - that capture Mr Dotti's (right) mother throughout the Italian city Audrey in Rome: His new book titled Audrey in Rome will feature some 200 photos - some of which have never been published before - that capture Mr Dotti's (right) mother throughout the Italian city

Audrey in Rome: His new book titled Audrey in Rome will feature some 200 photos - some of which have never been published before - that capture Mr Dotti's (right) mother throughout the Italian city

Mr Dotti explained: 'She didn’t live a life secluded or behind bars; she would walk around and everybody knew her. She was part of the city. The majority of these photos are in the streets.'

Reflecting on his mother’s signature style - of wearing scarves and oversize sunglasses, he said: 'She had, like every woman, maybe 30 or 40. It was a good way to be in disguise, big sunglasses and a scarf. 

'Occasionally she was able to do her shopping without having all the crowds behind.'

Got the moves: Hepburn, a former ballet dancer (pictured in Rome on the set of War and Peace in 1955), said she thought her feet were too big Got the moves: Hepburn, a former ballet dancer (pictured in Rome on the set of War and Peace in 1955), said she thought her feet were too big

Got the moves: Hepburn, a former ballet dancer (pictured in Rome on the set of War and Peace in 1955), said she thought her feet were too big

Iconic features: The 43-year-old explained: Mr Dotti explained that his mother (pictured in 1967 on the set of Wait Until Dark) thought 'she thought she had a big nose...was too skinny and not enough breast'

Iconic features: The 43-year-old explained: Mr Dotti explained that his mother (pictured in 1967 on the set of Wait Until Dark) thought 'she thought she had a big nose...was too skinny and not enough breast'

Legendary actress: But Mr Dotti, who is Hepburn's son from her second marriage to Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, believes that his mother (pictured in 1988 five years before her death) was 'perfect'

Legendary actress: But Mr Dotti, who is Hepburn's son from her second marriage to Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, believes that his mother (pictured in 1988 five years before her death) was 'perfect'

When it came to aging, Hepburn, who died age 63 in 1993, 'was always a little bit surprised by the efforts women made to look young,' Mr Dotti recalled.

Cover star: On the twentieth anniversary of her death, Audrey Hepburn features on Vanity Fair's latest cover

Cover star: On the twentieth anniversary of her death, Audrey Hepburn features on Vanity Fair's latest cover

'She was actually very happy about growing older because it meant more time for herself, more time for her family, and separation from the frenzy of youth and beauty that is Hollywood. She was very strict about everybody’s time in life.

'The only big regret I have, and she would have had, is not knowing her grandchildren.

'Because she would have been a fantastic grandmother—cooking cakes, keeping the grandchildren on every occasion, and telling them stories,' he said.

Mr Dotti explained that he remembers his mother 'through scent... the light sensation of a smell.'

He said: 'We joked a lot together about the fact that both she and I have a very good sense of smell. So there are certain scents, you know, a certain cake, or a flower, things like that. It’s not so physical, but it’s powerful.

'And every spring, especially here in Rome, you have this smell of orange blossom in the air. Spring is coming and it was her favorite season. It makes me think of her.'

Audrey in Rome, available on Amazon, will be released April 16, 2013.

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