Katharine Hepburn, born May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut, was the daughter of a doctor and a suffragette. Her parents encouraged her to think for herself, speak her mind, use her brain and exercise her body. She apparently followed these directions well – she did not play the “Hollywood Game” – she wore slacks, no make-up, would not pose for pictures or give interviews. Audiences did not go to see her films and critics panned them. Ms. Hepburn went back to Broadway to work in the theater and starred in The Philadelphia Story. It was a huge success so she bought the film rights, chose the director, George Cukor, and the co-stars including Cary Grant, James Stewart and Ruth Hussey. The movie was as successful as the play, Hepburn won her third Oscar and once again she was accepted in Hollywood.

Now that Ms. Hepburn (called Kate) was in good-standing in Hollywood, she made a new film in 1942 – Woman of the Year – her first film with Spencer Tracy. They made eight more films together and their romance lasted from 1943 until his death in 1967, just a few weeks after Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was finished. Ms. Hepburn is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for “Most ‘Best Actress’ Oscars won.” She was nominated 12 times for an Academy Award, all in the Best Actress category. In fact she was never nominated for anything except Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her last film was a 1994 made-for-TV film, One Christmas. As her health deteriorated, she moved back to her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut where she died of natural causes on June 29, 2003 at the age of 96.

1932 A Bill of Divorcement – Sidney

1933 Christopher Strong – Lady Cynthia Darrington

1933 Morning Glory – Eva Lovelace

1933 Little Women – Jo

1934 Spitfire – Trigger Hicks

1934 The Little Minister – Babbie

1935 Break of Hearts – Constance Dane Roberti

1935 Alice Adams – Alice Adams

1935 Sylvia Scarlett – Sylvia Scarlett a.k.a. Sylvester

1936 Mary of Scotland – Mary Stuart

1936 A Woman Rebels – Pamela Thistlewaite

1937 Quality Street – Phoebe Throssel

1937 Stage Door – Terry Randall

1938 Bringing up Baby – Susan

1938 Holiday – Linda Seton

1940 The Philadelphia Story – Tracy Lord

1942 Woman of the Year – Tess Harding

1942 Keeper of the Flame – Mrs. Christine Forrest

1943 Stage Door Canteen – Katharine Hepburn

1944 Dragon Seed -– Jade Tan

1945 Without Love – Jamie Rowan

1946 Undercurrent – Ann Hamilton

1947 The Sea of Grass – Lutie Cameron Brewton

1947 Song of Love – Clara Wieck Schumann

1948 State of the Union – Mary Matthews (as Katherine Hepburn)

1949 Adam’s Rib – Amanda Bonner

1951 The African Queen – Rose Sayer

1952 Pat and Mike – Patricia ‘Pat’ Pemberton

1955 Summertime – Jane Hudson

1956 The Iron Petticoat – Captain Vinka Kovelenko

1956 The Rainmaker – Lizzie Curry

1957 Desk Set – Bunny Watson

1959 Suddenly, Last Summer – Mrs. Violet Venable

1962 Long Day’s Journey Into Night – Mary Tyrone

1967 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner – Christina Drayton

1968 The Lion in Winter – Eleanor of Aquitaine

1969 The Madwoman of Chaillott – Countess Aurelia

1971 The Trojan Women – Hecuba

1973 A Delicate Balance – Agnes

1973 The Glass Menagerie (TV Movie) – Amanda Wingfield

1975 Love Among the Ruins (TV Movie) – Jessica Medlicott

1975 Rooster Cogburn – Eula Goodnight

1978 Olly, Olly Oxen Free – Miss Pudd

1979 The Corn is Green (TV Movie) – Miss Lilly Moffat

1981 On Golden Pond – Ethel Thayer

1984 Grace Quigley – Grace Quigley

1986 Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry (TV Movie) – Margaret Delafield

1988 Laura Lansing Slept Here (TV Movie) – Laura Lansing

1992 The Man Upstairs (TV Movie) – Victoria Brown

1994 This Can’t Be Love (TV Movie) – Marion Bennett

1994 Love Affair – Ginny

1994 One Christmas (TV Movie) – Cornelia Beaumont

Academy Awards, USA
1982 Won – Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role: On Golden Pond
1969 Won – Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role: The Lion in Winter
1968 Won – Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
1934 Won – Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role: Morning Glory
1963 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: Long Day’s Journey Into Night
1960 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: Suddenly, Last Summer
1957 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: The Rainmaker
1956 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: Summertime
1952 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: The African Queen
1943 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: Woman of the Year
1941 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: The Philadelphia Story
1936 Nominated – Best Actress in a Leading Role: Alice Adams

Golden Globes, USA
Nominated – Best Motion Picture Actress: 1993, 1982, 1969, 1968, 1963, 196, 1957, 1953

Primetime Emmy Awards
1986, 1979, 1974 Nominated – Outstanding Lead Actress:
1975 Won – Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program: Love Among the Ruins

BAFTA Awards
1983 Won BAFTA Film Award: Best Actress – On Golden Pond
1969 Won BAFTA Film Award: Best Actress – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Lion in Winter
1958 Nominated – BAFTA Film Award: Best Foreign Actress USA: The Rainmaker
1956 Nominated – BAFTA Film Award: Best Foreign Actress USA/Italy: Summertime
1953 Nominated – BAFTA Film Award: Best Foreign Actress USA The African Queen

Cannes Film Festival
1962 Won – Best Actress: Long Day’s Journey Into Night

David di Donatello Awards
1968 Won – David Best Foreign Actress: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner


Golden Apple Awards
1981, 1975 Won Golden Apple – Female Star of the Year

Hasty Pudding Theatricals, USA
1958 Won – Woman of the Year

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
1972 Won KCFCC Award – Best Actress: The Trojan Women

Laurel Awards
1971 Won Golden Laurel Female Star
1970 Won Golden Laurel Female Dramatic Performance: The Lion in Winter

1963 Nominated Golden Laurel Top Female Dramatic Performance: Long Day’s Journey Into Night
1960 Nominated Golden Laurel Top Female Dramatic Performance: Suddenly, Last Summer

Mexican Cinema Journalists
1965 Won Silver Goddess Best Foreign Actress: Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Montréal World Film Festival
1984 Won Special Prize of the Jury: Grace Quigley

New York Film Critics Circle Awards
1940 Won NYFCC Award Best Actress: The Philadelphia
1955, 1952, 1937, 1936 NYFCC second place
1942 NYFCC third place

People’s Choice Awards, USA
1983, 1976 Won Favorite Motion Picture Actress
1977, 1975 Nominated Favorite Motion Picture Actress

Screen Actors Guild Awards
1980 Won Lifetime Achievement Award

Venice Film Festival
1934 Won Golden Medal Best Actress: Little Women

Walk of Fame
1960 Won Star on the Walk of Fame – Motion Picture