Katharine Hepburn!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the history of Hollywood Starlet, Katharine Hepburn! I was even lucky enough to ask a few questions to the Communications Coordinator of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT; Emma Burbank!

Katharine Hepburn was one of the most influential actresses in Hollywood history, remembered for her fierce independence, sharp wit, and extraordinary career that spanned more than six decades. Born in 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut, she was raised in a progressive household that valued education, sports, and self-confidence. Hepburn studied at Bryn Mawr College before heading to Broadway, where her talent quickly caught the eye of Hollywood. By the 1930s, she was starring in films like “Morning Glory” (1933), which won her the first of four Academy Awards for Best Actress; a record that still stands today. Her refusal to conform to Hollywood’s expectations, from her outspoken personality to her preference for trousers over dresses, made her a trailblazer both on and off screen.

Her film career produced some of the most iconic performances of the 20th century. Hepburn starred in “The Philadelphia Story” (1940), “Bringing Up Baby” (1938), “The African Queen” (1951), and her later work in “On Golden Pond” (1981), which earned her another Oscar at the age of 74. She became especially famous for her on-screen and off-screen partnership with Spencer Tracy, with whom she made nine films. Hepburn’s versatility; able to switch from screwball comedy to sweeping drama; cemented her as a Hollywood legend. Unlike many of her peers, she managed to stay relevant across generations, reinventing herself with each new era of film.

Behind the spotlight, Hepburn lived a life full of interesting quirks and passions. She was an avid athlete who excelled at tennis, swimming, and golf, and she credited her active lifestyle with keeping her strong well into old age. Known for her fiery independence, she avoided Hollywood’s typical social scene and often retreated to her Connecticut home for privacy. Fun facts about her include her love for painting, her adventurous spirit (she once swam in Venice’s canals while filming Summertime), and her famous “Yankee” voice and mannerisms that became her trademark. Hepburn passed away in 2003 at the age of 96, leaving behind a career unmatched in both longevity and achievement.

Her legacy lives on not only in her films but also through the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center; known as “The Kate”; in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Located in a restored historic theater, the center celebrates Hepburn’s life with exhibits of her costumes, photographs, and personal memorabilia, while also serving as a performance venue for plays, concerts, and films. It stands as a tribute to her contributions to both the arts and her Connecticut roots. More than two decades after her passing, Hepburn’s cultural impact is still felt; she redefined what it meant to be a woman in Hollywood and inspired generations of actors to embrace individuality, intelligence, and authenticity.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: What is the most important thing about Kate Hepburn that most people don’t know?

Emma Burbank: There's a lot people don't know about her, and she did that on purpose. She spent a long time making sure her personal life was kept completely private—she didn't talk about herself, her family, or her relationships publicly until her 1973 interview with Dick Cavett. There are a lot of important things about Kate, but I think a big one is that she wasn't trying to be a trailblazer—she was trying to be famous. I don't say that to put her down at all; but when we see her wearing pants against societal norms, or being demanding when she was expected to be demure, I think it's important to know that she wasn't making a point. She was just trying to live authentically. She wore pants because they felt comfortable and practical; the fact that her choice to do so continues to influence women's fashion to this day is sort of coincidental. It wasn't her goal. That being said, she DID blaze trails for women whether she meant to or not, like donning menswear-inspired looks and continuing to portray active, desirable women long past the age when both society and the film industry would normally say she wasn't worth looking at anymore. 

Giancarlo: What is the most unique or rare item in your collection, and what makes it significant?

Emma Burbank: In my opinion, one of the most unique things we have is her costume from the movie "Christopher Strong" (1933). Her character goes to a costume party dressed as a moth: a floor-length, long-sleeved silver dress made of actual tiny pieces of metal; a head covering of the same material; a cape that mimics wings; and curly antennae. What's left is the headpiece and about half of the dress. The culture of repurposing in early Hollywood and the costume's uniqueness meant that the best way to reuse it was to cut away chunks of the skirt and use the pieces to make other costumes. At first glance, it's a really odd piece because it looks so shiny and otherworldly, but totally tattered at the same time. I love telling the story of this costume to visitors. We also have the beautiful dress she wore to her own 1928 wedding, which is on view right now!

Giancarlo: How does the museum decide which pieces go on display versus staying in storage?

Emma Burbank: We take two factors into consideration: the story we're trying to tell and the health of the object. Clothes, for example, will fade and weaken if they are left permanently on mannequins, with strain on the fabric and light exposure. So we rotate those in and out of storage regularly so they can "rest." We also have to consider the story of the display; which objects will bring this part of Kate's legacy to life? Which things haven't been seen in a while that offer interesting insight into her story? 

We are part of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, which houses a very active theater. Folks who come in for a show are welcome to peruse the museum; with lots of wonderful local patrons, we want to make sure the museum doesn't get stale for them when they're here multiple times a year. We completely change our Special Exhibit twice a year, and when we do that, we usually see what might want some refreshing in the other cases as well.

Giancarlo: What programs or exhibits are you most excited about in the near future?

Emma Burbank: There's always something exciting coming up around here! Our next museum-specific event is in October, when we will host the Al Hirschfeld Foundation for a presentation about the new book "Hirschfeld's Sondheim," followed by a pop-up lithograph and print sale. It will be a great benefit to the museum and a perfect opportunity to highlight the Hirschfelds in our collection (he drew Kate many times). We also have a new Special Exhibit coming up in early 2026 that will bring some really iconic costume pieces to the Katharine Hepburn Museum for a visit!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Emma Burbank: I'm struggling to find a good answer to this one. Kate GAVE plenty of advice (of course), but I'm having trouble finding an example of her getting advice—or at least of her acknowledging it.

If it would be appropriate to share advice she gave/lived by rather than received: Kate was much more in the business of offering advice than taking it, and I have two favorites. One, which we use a lot in the gift shop here at the Museum, is "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." Kate was someone who broke rules, not for the sake of it, but because she wasn't interested in conforming to meaningless societal expectations. Wearing pants, sitting comfortably, and being assertive didn't harm anybody, and they led to not only notoriety but a richness of life that became very rewarding for her.

The other is "Listen to the song of life." This was a Hepburn family saying, which simply meant, "Take it all in; don't get so lost in any one thing that you lose sight of the big picture and everything life has to offer." 

The Museum: https://www.thekate.org/museum/

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo