Audrey Hepburn holding her Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday with presenter Jean Hersholt at the 26th Academy Awards, New York, 25 March, 1954

While performing in Ondine on Broadway, Audrey learned that she had been nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Roman Holiday. Dashing to the NBC Century Theater in New York for the bi-coastal ceremony on 25 March, 1954, Audrey still wore her stage make up for water nymph Ondine, together with a little white dress by Givenchy. I was so surprised when they called my name that I didn't know what to do, Audrey told reporters the next day, Mother and I wanted to celebrate, so we bought a bottle of champagne on the way home. It was warm - but it was the best champagne I ever tasted. Only three days later, Hepburn was presented with a Tony award for best stage actress for Ondine, then only the second actress ever to have won an Oscar and a Tony award in the same year.