History Creator / KatharineHepburn

* DeadpanSnarker: Both on and off the screen.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: So ''very much''.
** Her official biography by Charlotte Chandler says that she always enjoyed walking barefoot, and for her first major role of Pandora in the play ''The Woman in the Moon'', she insisted that her heroine should not wear shoes.
** When she had to put on footwear, she preferred informal sandals, even wearing them for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0NLHXcH0fY her]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bqx3tHXq4g TV interviews]].
** In [[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/15/arts/hepburn-i-had-a-corner-on-the-rich-arrogant-girl.html yet another interview]], she said this was the reason why she didn't like skirts: with skirts, you have to wear stockings, and with pants, you can always go barefoot.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Notable ones are Creator/LaurenBacall (17 years), Creator/BrianBlessed (29 years), and to a lesser extent, Music/MichaelJackson (51 years).
* ProperLady: Especially in her later years.

* SpiritedYoungLady: Not all of her characters were young, but name one who wasn't spirited!

Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was, according to the Creator/AmericanFilmInstitute, the greatest female star ever to grace American cinema.

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.

* ''Sylvia Scarlett'' (1935), as the [[GenderBender gender-bent]] eponymous Sylvia/Sylvester. The first of her four films with Creator/CaryGrant.

* ''The Madwoman of Chaillot'' (1969), as Countess Aurelia. The first of a series of revivals of classic plays, done mainly for television.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/katharine_hepburn.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:She's not "outdoorsy", she's athletic.]]

* ''Film/TheLionInWinter'' (1968), as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The third of her UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning roles. Shared the Oscar with Creator/BarbraStreisand for ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'', after the vote ended in a tie. This was only the second time that a tie was declared in an acting category, and the first time ever that an EXACT tie occurred (in the Academy's earliest years, all one had to do was earn within 3 votes of 1st place to tie, which allowed Wallace Beery and Fredric March to share the Best Actor statue of 1932).

Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was, according to the American Film Institute, the greatest female star ever to grace American cinema.

No, she's not related to Creator/AudreyHepburn. (She was from across the pond.) [[note]]They were, in fact, close friends in real life; Katharine nicknamed her "my little daughter".[[/note]]

* ''Desk Set'' (1957), as Bunny Watson. The eighth of her films with Spencer Tracy.

A long string of memorable films followed, among them ''Film/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.

No, she's not related to Creator/AudreyHepburn. (She was from across the pond.)

* Being tart and abrasive, which led some of her Hollywood detractors to nickname her "Katherine of Arrogance." During the filming of ''Film/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''.

* RealitySubtext: [[invoked]] When Creator/SpencerTracy did his "If it's half of what we felt, it's everything" speech in ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', Hepburn is seen standing to the side with tears spilling down her cheeks. That wasn't acting - Tracy's monologue was very obviously about his real life relationship with Hepburn.

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 ''Film/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.

Her mother, also named Katharine Hepburn, was one of the founders of what eventually became Planned Parenthood.

* ''A Bill of Divorcement'', as Sydney Fairfield (1932)
* ''Christopher Strong'', as Lady Cynthia Darrington (1933)
* ''Morning Glory'', as Eva Lovelace, her first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning role (1933); she lost the Oscar after a hurricane destroyed her house in 1938.
* ''LIterature/LittleWomen'', as Jo March (1933)
* ''The Little Minister'', as Babbie the Gypsy (1934)
* ''Literature/AliceAdams'', as the title character (1935) Oscar nom.
* ''Sylvia Scarlett'', as the [[GenderBender gender-bent]] eponymous Sylvia/Sylvester (1935) -- The first of her four films with Cary Grant
* ''Film/MaryOfScotland'', as [[UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland Mary, Queen of Scots]] (1936)
* ''Quality Street'', as Phoebe Throssel (1937)
* ''Film/StageDoor'', as Terry Randall (1937) -- As noted, provided her SignatureLine, spoken as a character in a play. The full speech runs:
-->''The calla lilies are in bloom again -- such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day, and now I place them here in memory of something that has died.''
* ''Film/BringingUpBaby'', as Susan Vance (1938) -- Her second film with CaryGrant
* ''{{Film/Holiday}}'', as Linda Seton (1938) -- Her third film with Cary Grant
* ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'', as Tracy Lord (1940) -- Her fourth and final film with Cary Grant. Oscar nom.
* ''Film/WomanOfTheYear,'' as Tess Harding (1942) -- The first of her nine films with Spencer Tracy. Oscar nom.
* ''Dragon Seed'', as Jade Tan (1944) -- In a very unconvincing {{yellowface}} role.
* ''Song of Love'', as ClaraSchumann (1947) -- A Biopic of [[UsefulNotes/DichterAndDenker German composer]] Music/RobertSchumann
* ''Theatre/StateOfTheUnion'', as Mary Matthews (1948) -- The fifth of her films with Spencer Tracy
* ''Film/AdamsRib'', as Amanda Bonner, one of a married couple of contending lawyers (1949) -- The sixth of her films with Spencer Tracy
* ''Film/TheAfricanQueen'', as Rose Sayer (1951) Oscar nom.
* ''Pat and Mike'', as Patricia Pemberton (1952) -- The seventh of her films with Spencer Tracy
* ''Film/{{Summertime}}'', as Jane Hudson (1955) Oscar nom.
* ''The Rainmaker'', as Lizzie Currie (1956) Oscar nom.
* ''Desk Set'', as Bunny Watson (1957) -- The eighth of her films with Spencer Tracy
* ''Film/SuddenlyLastSummer'' as Violet Venable (1959) Oscar nom.
* ''Long Day's Journey Into Night'', as TheAlcoholic Mary Tyrone (1962) Oscar nom.
* ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner'', as Christina Drayton (1967) -- The ninth and last of her films with Spencer Tracy -- The second of her UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning parts
* ''Film/TheLionInWinter'', as Eleanor of Aquitaine (1968) -- The third of her UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning roles. Shared the Oscar with Creator/BarbraStreisand for ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'', after the vote ended in a tie. This was only the second time that a tie was declared in an acting category, and the first time ever that an EXACT tie occurred (in the Academy's earliest years, all one had to do was earn within 3 votes of 1st place to tie, which allowed Wallace Beery and Fredric March to share the Best Actor statue of 1932).

* ''The Madwoman of Chaillot'', as Countess Aurelia (1969) -- The first of a series of revivals of classic plays, done mainly for television
* ''Coco'', as UsefulNotes/CocoChanel (1969) (Broadway musical)
* ''The Trojan Women'', as Hecuba (1971)
* ''Theatre/TheGlassMenagerie'', as Amanda Wingfield (1973) (TV)
* ''Love Among the Ruins'', as Jessica Medlicott, opposite fabled actor Creator/LaurenceOlivier (1975) (TV)
* ''Film/RoosterCogburn'', as Eula Goodnight, with legendary screen He-Man Creator/JohnWayne as the eponymous bounty hunter (1975)
* ''The Corn is Green'', as Lilly Moffat (1979) (TV)
* ''On Golden Pond'', as Ethel Thayer, with classic Hollywood leading man Henry Fonda (1981) -- Her fourth and last UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning part
* ''Love Affair'', as Ginny (1994) -- Her last cinematic release
* ''One Christmas'', as Cornelia Beaumont (1994) (TV)

'''Katharine Houghton Hepburn''' (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was, according to the American Film Institute, the greatest female star ever to grace American cinema.

* ''Love Among the Ruins'', as Jessica Medlicott, opposite fabled actor LaurenceOlivier (1975) (TV)
* ''Film/RoosterCogburn'', as Eula Goodnight, with legendary screen He-Man JohnWayne as the eponymous bounty hunter (1975)

Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was, according to the American Film Institute, the greatest female star ever to grace American cinema.

* LadySnarker: Both on and off the screen.

* RealitySubtext: [[invoked]] When Spencer Tracy did his "If it's half of what we felt, it's everything" speech in ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', Hepburn is seen standing to the side with tears spilling down her cheeks. That wasn't acting - Tracy's monologue was very obviously about his real life relationship with Hepburn.

** She and Spencer Tracy starred with each other in nine films from 1942-1967.
** Before that, her and Cary Grant. The two starred with each other in four films from 1935-1940.

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

* Making a lot of films with George Cukor, with whom she got on famously.

* ThoseTwoActors:

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

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.

CateBlanchett won the 2004 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Hepburn in the Creator/MartinScorsese's Howard Hughes biopic ''TheAviator'', making Hepburn the only Oscar winner to be played by someone who would win an Oscar for the role.

* ''Film/TheLionInWinter'', as Eleanor of Aquitaine (1968) -- The third of her UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning roles. Shared the Oscar with Creator/BarbraStreisand for ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'', after the vote ended in a tie.

!!Tropes commonly associated with her acting:

* SpiritedYoungLady: Not all of her characters were young, but name ''one'' who wasn't spirited!

!!Tropes that fit her personally:

* UsefulNotes/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).
** Also famously tied with Barbara Streisand for Best Actress of 1968. It was her 3rd win, for ''Film/TheLionInWinter'', while Streisand won for "Funny Girl". This was only the second time that a tie was declared in an acting category, and the first time ever that an EXACT tie occurred (in the Academy's earliest years, all one had to do was earn within 3 votes of 1st place to tie, which allowed Wallace Beery and Fredric March to share the Best Actor statue of 1932).
* {{Bifauxnen}}: ''Sylvia Scarlett''
* MistakenForGay: Spencer Tracy initially suspected she was a lesbian.
* OddFriendship: with no less a person than Creator/BrianBlessed when filming Trojan Women
* RealitySubtext: When Spencer Tracy did his "If it's half of what we felt, it's everything" speech in ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', Hepburn is seen standing to the side with tears spilling down her cheeks. That wasn't acting - Tracy's monologue was very obviously about Hepburn, and she knew the man she loved was dying and that it would be the last film they ever did together.
* RedBaron: The Great Kate.
* ThoseTwoActors: She and Spencer Tracy.
** Before that, her and Cary Grant. The two starred with each other in 4 films from 1935-1940.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/katharine_hepburn.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:She's not "outdoorsy", she's athletic.]]

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/katharine_hepburn.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:She's not "outdoorsy", she's athletic.]]

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Katharine]] Hepburn, or "The Great Kate," had quite possibly the longest starring career ever seen in Hollywood. Her first film, ''A Bill of Divorcement'', hit theaters in 1932; her last, ''Love Affair'', was released in 1994. For those who hate math, Hepburn was a big-screen regular for six decades.