In my opinion, I think this is Audrey Hepburn's greatest performance by far. She's wonderful in films such as Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Charade, but Audrey truely shines in The Nun's Story. Anyone else agree?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
I agree.I have seen this movie countless times and each time am staggered that she never won an Oscar for it.Surely the standout performance of 1959 (or any other year come to that) no doubt.Also Peter Finch is perfect as Dr. Fortunati and should have got best supporting actor.
shareNot by a longshot. Although, she probably should have taken Oscar for NS.
I love Audrey because of her grace, her charm, her personality, her honesty and her GREAT SMILE. Her performance in NS was great but it cannot be considered her best bc it suppresses a lot of her natural charm.
Thus, I'd have to say Roman Holiday, Breakfast, etc would have to be rated higher bc we get to see her charm at its greatest.
God truly blessed Miss Hepburn. She is a joy to watch :)
This is not my favourite Audrey film but I think it was her greatest performance.
shareI believe that "The Nun's Story" was Hepburn's best movie performance. I first saw the film in my early teens (ca 1976) and I fell in love with it. I was baptized as a Catholic when I was young and even attended Catholic school in my first academic years. Beyond that, I learned a great deal about discipline, obedience, and charity from this movie, much like "a religious" has to struggle to "learn" these things. "Gabby's" struggle also became my own struggle when I was a young man. I later read the novel and I believe that Hepburn studied the character so much that she was able to play it perfectly. Shall I also note that Hepburn was born in Belgium and spent her early childhood in occupied Holland during WWII? Certainly these facts influenced her performance in this movie.
I've always admired Hepburn's poise, charm and wisdom. She had these attributes her whole life right up to the end of her life. That made her truly stand out as a person and as an actor.
John Martin, 45, Texas
ps Let me add that I have never seen a performance by Audrey Hepburn that I didn't like.
Audrey Hepburn is my definition of a movie star. That is not the same thing as an "actress", but with The Nun's Story, she proved herself to be a dramatic actress of the highest order. I simply cannot imagine anyone else in the part. That said, I would not have wanted to see her tackle Lady Macbeth or Hedda Gabler. Leave those parts to someone like Bette Davis, but Audrey had her own magic, totally unique. We shall not see her likes again.
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I'll admit it, this was the first movie starring A. Hepburn I've ever watched start to finish.. I've been meaning to watch many of her flicks for a long time now but have never set aside the time.
But tonight I saw TNS listed on 'Encore Avenue HD', and even though I'd never even heard of the film, decided to stay up late to watch it...
WoW! :o I was totally impressed by the acting and the storyline.. It was a very well done movie in many ways, but I have one question: How can a leading lady who spends the majority of the movie wrapped up in a sexless 'habit', sans makeup, be more attractive than any dolled-up starlet wearing next to nothing in any movie today?!?
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To this long-lived thread I would like to add: I agree with the OP. I've seen most of Audrey Hepburn's other films and liked her in every one; I've loved her in Charade, How to Steal a Million, and Wait Until Dark; but in The Nun's Story she quietly reveals the soul of this profoundly conflicted character--her performance is one of the greatest film performances I've ever seen.
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I agree. She was perfect in this movie.
shareYes, I agree. Before I saw this movie, I thought Wait Until Dark was her best performance. Then I saw The Nun's Story, and was blown away. Not just by her, but the movie in and of itself. I don't know if this is the best example of going through and becoming a nun in all of moviedom, but it made an impression on me.
~You wanna have like 10,000 of his babies~
Angela Hayes
Yes, it is!
I'm just after the screening. What a great movie. One of the most beautiful that I've ever seen.
Apparently there are not too many dialogues, or 'action', but I never stopped watching it.
Audrey Hepburn, as usual - GREAT.
I think that she was born to play that role of Sister's Luke! Once again she proved how great actress she was.
I am surprised that the Oscar nomination behind this role did not ensure its statue, because - in my opinion it is the role of her life.
Audrey - without makeup, with rings under his eyes emanated internal warmth,
wisdom and good above all ...
Amazing photos of Congo.
I was touched like a slug...
Viva Bardot!
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No. "Roman Holiday," in MY opinion, was Audrey's greatest triumph. "The Nun's Story" was simply a fair costume epic.
"You can't HANDLE the truth!" Jack Nicholson, "A Few Good Men."
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"Jack Benney who was Jewish..."
Ah, do you mean Jack Benny? He played the violin (badly)? He was cheap? He had a driver named "Rochester?"
The question WAS: Greatest Performance (as in MY opinion.
Hands down, "Roman Holiday."
The movie brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
"You can't HANDLE the truth!" Jack Nicholson, "A Few Good Men."
I agree, she was just flawless from beginning to end, I really think she was a million times better than Simone Signoret in Room at the Top and the film is also billion times better.
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