History Creator / KatharineHepburn

[[quoteright:225:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KateHepburn.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:225:She's not "outdoorsey", she's athletic.]]

Hepburn is famous for winning four {{Academy Award}]s out of twelve nominations, all for Best Actress. Her next closest competitor, the great Creator/MerylStreep, has seventeen nominations under her belt -- fourteen for Best Actress, three for Best Supporting Actress -- and three wins, two for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress.

Hepburn is famous for winning four Oscars out of twelve nominations, all for Best Actress. Her next closest competitor, the great Creator/MerylStreep, has seventeen nominations under her belt -- fourteen for Best Actress, three for Best Supporting Actress -- and three wins, two for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress.

* ''Sumertime'' as Jane Hudson (1955) Oscar nom.

-->--'''Katharine Hepburn''', ''when asked what "star quality" consists of''

'''Katharine Houghton Hepburn''' (1907 -- 2003) was, according to the American Film Institute, the greatest female star ever to grace American cinema.

* OddFriendship: with no less a person than BrianBlessed when filming Trojan Women

* ''Alice Adams'', as the title character (1935) Oscar nom.

* ''Theature/StateOfTheUnion'', as Mary Matthews (1948) -- The fifth of her films with Spencer Tracy

* ''State of the Union'', as Mary Matthews (1948) -- The fifth of her films with Spencer Tracy

* OddFriendship: with no less a person than BRIANBLESSED when filming Trojan Women

->''"I don't know what it is, [[AchievementsInIgnorance but I've got it.]]"''

After ''Little Women'', Hepburn unfortunately hit a rough patch. For a number of years, she was given unsuitable roles by RKO, in films such as ''The Little Minister'', ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', ''Sylvia Scarlet'', and ''Quality Street''. Even parts well-regarded now, such as her turn as the title character in ''Alice Adams'', Susan Vance in ''Film/BringingUpBaby'', Terry Randall in ''Film/StageDoor'' (which provided her SignatureLine, "The calla lilies are in bloom again..."), and Linda Seton in ''Film/{{Holiday}}'' failed to break her reputation as "box office poison." Hepburn's box office woes were not helped by her reputation for being difficult to work with due to her HairTriggerTemper. However, 1939 marked her triumphant return as Tracy Lord in ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and the film of the play the following year. A long string of memorable films followed, among them ''TheAfricanQueen'' (opposite the equally legendary HumphreyBogart), ''Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight'', ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner'', and ''Theatre/TheLionInWinter''. She also made nine films -- largely romantic comedies -- with Creator/SpencerTracy, whom she met on the set of their first film, ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' The couple [[RomanceOnTheSet became romantically involved during that film]] and, in spite of Tracy's marriage to another woman whom he refused to divorce, remained together until Tracy's death in 1967. Hepburn categorically refused to watch ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', their last film together, because the memories of Tracy were too painful for her.

* Being tart and abrasive, which led some of her Hollywood detractors to nickname her "Katherine of Arrogance." During the filming of ''SuddenlyLastSummer'', she was so disgusted with how the director treated another actor that she ''spat right in his face'' when filming was over - and Hepburn herself was notorious for belittling and criticizing actors who didn't measure up to her standards. She once tore into Creator/RobertMitchum for doing an unflattering yet accurate impression of her, telling him he had no talent and only got by on his looks. His response? He just shrugged as if to say ''Whatever''.

* ''TheAfricanQueen'', as Rose Sayer (1951) Oscar nom.

* ''SuddenlyLastSummer'' as Violet Venable (1959) Oscar nom.

* Being tart and abrasive, which led some of her Hollywood detractors to nickname her "Katherine of Arrogance." During the filming of ''SuddenlyLastSummer'', she was so disgusted with how the director treated another actor that she ''[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome spat right in his face]]'' when filming was over - and Hepburn herself was notorious for belittling and criticizing actors who didn't measure up to her standards. She once tore into Creator/RobertMitchum for doing an unflattering yet accurate impression of her, telling him he had no talent and only got by on his looks. His response? He just shrugged as if to say ''Whatever''.

Her [[StarMakingRole first real success]] was in the 1933 release of ''LittleWomen'', playing Jo March; Hepburn broke box office records as the feisty, red-haired heroine. Before ''Little Women'' was ever released, however, she had already won her first Oscar. She wouldn't win her next for over thirty years, but when she did, she went an unheard-of three for three on her last three nominations, nominated (and winning) in 1967, 1968 (one of only two actresses to win back-to-back), and 1981.

After ''LittleWomen'', Hepburn unfortunately hit a rough patch. For a number of years, she was given unsuitable roles by RKO, in films such as ''The Little Minister'', ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', ''Sylvia Scarlet'', and ''Quality Street''. Even parts well-regarded now, such as her turn as the title character in ''Alice Adams'', Susan Vance in ''Film/BringingUpBaby'', Terry Randall in ''Film/StageDoor'' (which provided her SignatureLine, "The calla lilies are in bloom again..."), and Linda Seton in ''Film/{{Holiday}}'' failed to break her reputation as "box office poison." Hepburn's box office woes were not helped by her reputation for being difficult to work with due to her HairTriggerTemper. However, 1939 marked her triumphant return as Tracy Lord in ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and the film of the play the following year. A long string of memorable films followed, among them ''TheAfricanQueen'' (opposite the equally legendary HumphreyBogart), ''Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight'', ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner'', and ''Theatre/TheLionInWinter''. She also made nine films -- largely romantic comedies -- with Creator/SpencerTracy, whom she met on the set of their first film, ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' The couple [[RomanceOnTheSet became romantically involved during that film]] and, in spite of Tracy's marriage to another woman whom he refused to divorce, remained together until Tracy's death in 1967. Hepburn categorically refused to watch ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', their last film together, because the memories of Tracy were too painful for her.

* ''LittleWomen'', as Jo March (1933)

* ''Adam's Rib'', as Amanda Bonner, one of a married couple of contending lawyers (1949) -- The sixth of her films with Spencer Tracy

* ''GuessWhosComingToDinner'', as Christina Drayton (1967) -- The ninth and last of her films with Spencer Tracy -- The second of her UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning parts

* ''TheGlassMenagerie'', as Amanda Wingfield (1973) (TV)

* Being tart and abrasive, which led some of her Hollywood detractors to nickname her "Katherine of Arrogance." During the filming of ''SuddenlyLastSummer'', she was so disgusted with how the director treated another actor that she ''[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome spat right in his face]]'' when filming was over - and Hepburn herself was notorious for belittling and criticizing actors who didn't measure up to her standards. She once tore into RobertMitchum for doing an unflattering yet accurate impression of her, telling him he had no talent and only got by on his looks. His response? He just shrugged as if to say ''Whatever''.

After ''LittleWomen'', Hepburn unfortunately hit a rough patch. For a number of years, she was given unsuitable roles by RKO, in films such as ''The Little Minister'', ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', ''Sylvia Scarlet'', and ''Quality Street''. Even parts well-regarded now, such as her turn as the title character in ''Alice Adams'', Susan Vance in ''Film/BringingUpBaby'', Terry Randall in ''Film/StageDoor'' (which provided her SignatureLine, "The calla lilies are in bloom again..."), and Linda Seton in ''Film/{{Holiday}}'' failed to break her reputation as "box office poison." Hepburn's box office woes were not helped by her reputation for being difficult to work with due to her HairTriggerTemper. However, 1939 marked her triumphant return as Tracy Lord in ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and the film of the play the following year. A long string of memorable films followed, among them ''TheAfricanQueen'' (opposite the equally legendary HumphreyBogart), ''Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight'', ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner'', and ''Theatre/TheLionInWinter''. She also made nine films -- largely romantic comedies -- with Creator/SpencerTracy, whom she met on the set of their first film, ''Woman of the Year''. The couple [[RomanceOnTheSet became romantically involved during that film]] and, in spite of Tracy's marriage to another woman whom he refused to divorce, remained together until Tracy's death in 1967. Hepburn categorically refused to watch ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', their last film together, because the memories of Tracy were too painful for her.

* ''Woman of the Year'', as Tess Harding (1942) -- The first of her nine films with Spencer Tracy. Oscar nom.

* ''Morning Glory'', as Eva Lovelace, her first AcademyAward-winning role (1933); she lost the Oscar after a hurricane destroyed her house in 1938.

* ''GuessWhosComingToDinner'', as Christina Drayton (1967) -- The ninth and last of her films with Spencer Tracy -- The second of her AcademyAward-winning parts
* ''Film/TheLionInWinter'', as Eleanor of Aquitaine (1968) -- The third of her AcademyAward-winning roles. Shared the Oscar with Creator/BarbraStreisand for ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'', after the vote ended in a tie.

* ''On Golden Pond'', as Ethel Thayer, with classic Hollywood leading man Henry Fonda (1981) -- Her fourth and last AcademyAward-winning part

* AcademyAward: The only person in history to win 4 acting Oscars. They were all for Best Actress, which also makes her the only female performer to win 3 or more times in the Lead category (the closest an actor has come to this is Daniel Day-Lewis, who won 3 times for Best Actor).

* Being tart and abrasive, which led some of her Hollywood detractors to nickname her "Katherine of Arrogance." During the filming of ''SuddenlyLastSummer'', she was so disgusted with how the director treated another actor that she ''[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome spat right in his face]]'' when filming was over - and Hepburn herself was notorious for belittling and criticizing actors who didn't measure up to her standards.

* ''Song of Love'', as ClaraSchumann (1947) -- A Biopic of [[DichterAndDenker German composer]] RobertSchumann

Hepburn is famous for winning four Oscars out of twelve nominations, all for Best Actress. Her next closest competitor, the great MerylStreep, has seventeen nominations under her belt -- fourteen for Best Actress, three for Best Supporting Actress -- and three wins, two for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress.

* ''Morning Glory'', as Eva Lovelace, her first AcademyAward-winning rôle (1933); she lost the Oscar after a hurricane destroyed her house in 1938.

* ''Film/TheLionInWinter'', as Eleanor of Aquitaine (1968) -- The third of her AcademyAward-winning rôles

* ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', as [[MaryOfScotland Mary, Queen of Scots]] (1936)

After ''LittleWomen'', Hepburn unfortunately hit a rough patch. For a number of years, she was given unsuitable roles by RKO, in films such as ''The Little Minister'', ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', ''Sylvia Scarlet'', and ''Quality Street''. Even parts well-regarded now, such as her turn as the title character in ''Alice Adams'', Susan Vance in ''Film/BringingUpBaby'', Terry Randall in ''Film/StageDoor'' (which provided her SignatureLine, "The calla lilies are in bloom again..."), and Linda Seton in ''Film/{{Holiday}}'' failed to break her reputation as "box office poison." Hepburn's box office woes were not helped by her reputation for being difficult to work with due to her HairTriggerTemper. However, 1939 marked her triumphant return as Tracy Lord in ''ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and the film of the play the following year. A long string of memorable films followed, among them ''TheAfricanQueen'' (opposite the equally legendary HumphreyBogart), ''Theatre/LongDaysJourneyIntoNight'', ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner'', and ''Theatre/TheLionInWinter''. She also made nine films -- largely romantic comedies -- with Creator/SpencerTracy, whom she met on the set of their first film, ''Woman of the Year''. The couple [[RomanceOnTheSet became romantically involved during that film]] and, in spite of Tracy's marriage to another woman whom he refused to divorce, remained together until Tracy's death in 1967. Hepburn categorically refused to watch ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', their last film together, because the memories of Tracy were too painful for her.

* ''ThePhiladelphiaStory'', as Tracy Lord (1940) -- Her fourth and final film with Cary Grant. Oscar nom.