Audrey Hepburn’s Son Says He 'Can Understand Why' Marilyn Monroe Passed on Holly Golightly Role in Breakfast at Tiffany's

People ^ | Apr 12, 2026 | Tereza Shkurtaj

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Audrey Hepburn remains closely associated with Breakfast at Tiffany's, but the film's lead role was first offered to Marilyn Monroe.

Now, Hepburn's oldest son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, 65, is offering insight into why he thinks Monroe ultimately turned it down.

Truman Capote, who wrote the original novella, had drawn inspiration from the blonde bombshell— something Ferrer believes may have made the role less appealing.

“I can understand why Marilyn said no, because she probably felt like she was going to be playing herself,” Ferrer told the outlet. “It's not very interesting, but if you take someone like Audrey Hepburn, which is the last thing you expect her to do, it's going to create something completely new. And I think it worked.”

Directed by Blake Edwards, Breakfast at Tiffany's went on to become one of the defining films of the early 1960s, blending romance, humor and a stylized vision of New York City life. Hepburn's portrayal of Golightly helped shape the film's lasting appeal and continues to influence fashion and film decades later.

Ferrer also reacted to the newly announced biopic about his mother, which is set to star actress Lily Collins.

“I have to be honest, I'm very excited, because I like Lily very much,” he told Woman's World, adding that he has watched her series Emily in Paris “as much as I could have.”

On Feb. 23, 2026, Collins confirmed that she will portray Hepburn in a film written and produced by Alena Smith, based on Sam Wasson's nonfiction book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Dawn of the Modern Woman.

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TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: alenasmith; audreyhepburn; blakeedwards; breakfastattiffanys; classicfilms; classichollywood; emilyinparis; ferrer; hepburn; hollygolightly; hollywood; lilycollins; marilynmonroe; monroe; movies; newyorkcity; oldhollywood; people; samwasson; seanhepburnferrer; terezashkurtaj; trumancapote; womansworld

[CondoleezzaProtege]

[BenLurkin]

It would have been a disaster.

[Joe 6-pack]

The video for ‘90s song, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” by Deep Blue Something features a Hepburn/Golightly look alike casually walking by the band at about the 3:48 mark. It’s a nice hat tip to her IMHO.

[xkaydet65]

Wouldn’t say disaster, just very different. Capote may have actually been more receptive to Monroe as more faithful to the novella. But then it wouldn’t have become the greatest chick flick ever.

[Responsibility2nd]

Dittoes.

I’m trying to be objective here, but I can’t see Marilyn as Holly.

It was bad enough having Mickey Rooney play a Japanese guy. And I think having Uncle Jed play her husband also did not work.

[HYPOCRACY]

Two whores. One is Hannibal from the A team as a male whore. The female whore is smoking hot and married to oil magnate Jed Hillbilly. Mickey Rooney as the racist fake Japanese guy. Only Blake Edwards would make that movie.

[Getready]

The movie is almost nothing like the novella. The novella depressing, Holly, in the novella, is not like Audrey Hepburns character.
They took some ideas from the novella and turned into a “hollywood” movie. Meant to please middle of the road romantics.
Recommend reading the novella to get a glimpse of that eras sensibilities in movie making ...oh, yeah, Mickey Rooney as a Japanese guy ..ridiculous...on the other hand movie released 1961...about 20 years after Pearl Harbor... don’t think people were ready for Japanese character actors yet.

[Bullish]

They were both HOT!

But for me... Audrey.

[Bullish]

Marilyn was pretty damn good at all of the roles she was asked to do. She could have pulled it off just fine, IMO.
In fact, the novel was written for a woman quite like Marilyn.

[Veto!]

Audry had charm, Marilyn had red hot sexuality, Audrey was a better fit for the part.

[Bullish]

Marilyn didn’t always play the sexpot blonde you know? When she got more serious roles she stepped up and did great. She really was a fantastic talent and would have had a really good, long career in film.