© Getty Images

Early life - Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 12, 1907.

© NL Beeld

Early life -

She was one of six children raised by a doctor and a feminist campaigner.

© Public Domain

Greatest star -

She is considered by many to be the greatest actress in American cinema.

© Getty Images

Star attributes - Hepburn was known for her fierce independence and spirited personality.

© Reuters

Versatility - A versatile actress, she starred in a range of genres from screwball comedy to literary drama.

© Getty Images

Record breaker - Hepburn is the only actress to have won four Academy Awards for Best Actress.

© Reuters

A unique set of features - Hepburn is noteworthy for combining timeless beauty, wit, and fiery passion.

© NL Beeld

Passion for acting - As a child, she would charge US$0.50 to put on plays and perform for her neighbors with friends and siblings.

© NL Beeld

Young activist - She raised money for the Navajo people.

© Reuters

Education - She began to act while a student at Bryn Mawr College, a women's liberal arts college. 

© NL Beeld

Upbringing - Both parents fought for social change in the US. 

© NL Beeld

Upbringing: father - By helping establish the New England Social Hygiene Association, Thomas Hepburn promoted education about venereal disease.

© NL Beeld

Upbringing: mother - The elder Katharine was the head of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, and later campaigned for birth control alongside Margaret Sanger.

© NL Beeld

Unconventional - The actress was unconventional and progressive. She wore pants when it was still frowned upon and long before it was fashionable.

© NL Beeld

Outspoken - She was outspoken, assertive, and athletic.

© NL Beeld

Sports - Hepburn was interested in sports and played from a young age.

© Getty Images

Sports - She particularly enjoyed swimming, tennis, and golf.

© NL Beeld

Yet again, unconventional - At age nine, she shaved her head.

© Getty Images

Jimmy -

She also decided that she wanted to be called "Jimmy," according to Vanity Fair.

© NL Beeld

Jimmy -

According to the same Vanity Fair article, Hepburn stated that Jimmy embodied a role she liked to play.

© Getty Images

Alter ego - She said: "I created Jimmy for the others. Inside I never felt like Jimmy."

© Reuters

Work on Broadway -

In 1932, she made several appearances on Broadway, for which she was making about US$1,500 a week, a considerable amount for the time.

© Getty Images

Fruitful career - Hepburn's career spanned six decades, which earned her the nickname "First Lady of Cinema."

© Getty Images

Debut - She had her screen debut in the hit 'A Bill of Divorcement' (1932).

© NL Beeld

1930s - Her early career includes movies like 'Little Women' (1933), 'Alice Adams' (1935), 'Sylvia Scarlett' (1935), 'Stage Door' (1937), 'Holiday' (1938), and 'Bringing Up Baby' (1938).

© NL Beeld

Setbacks - Despite her initial success, Hepburn also starred in a series of unpopular films.

© NL Beeld

"Box office poison" -

That resulted in her being added to a list of actors considered "box office poison" after the release of 'Bringing Up Baby,' according to Legacy.

© NL Beeld

Starting over - Determined to reignite her career, Hepburn left Hollywood in search of a stage project.

© NL Beeld

Comeback - She landed a role in Philip Barry's new play, 'The Philadelphia Story,' which quickly became a success.

© NL Beeld

Comeback - She bought the rights to the play and later sold it to MGM, Hollywood's number one studio.

© Getty Images

On her own terms - She sold the rights on the condition that she'd be the star. Hepburn was back for good.

© NL Beeld

1940s - In the 1940s, she starred in popular films, including, of course, 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940). Other films included 'Woman of the Year' (1942), 'State of the Union' (1948), and 'Adam's Rib' (1949).

© NL Beeld

1950s - Into the following decade, she starred in 'The African Queen' (1951), 'Pat and Mike' (1952), 'Summertime' (1955), and 'The Rainmaker' (1956).

© NL Beeld

1960s - Throughout this decade, she starred in films such as 'Long Day's Journey into Night' (1962), 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967), and 'The Lion in Winter' (1968).

© NL Beeld

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy - Tracy, who co-starred opposite to her in nine films, became her longtime companion.

© NL Beeld

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy - The two managed to hide their 26-year affair from the public.

© NL Beeld

First Oscar - Her first Oscar came early on in her career.

© Getty Images

First Oscar - She won Best Actress for 'Morning Glory' (1933).

© NL Beeld

Oscar hiatus - She wouldn't win another one for 34 years.

© Getty Images

Consecutive Oscars - Then she won two back-to-back.

© NL Beeld

Consecutive Oscars - She won Best Actress for 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967) and 'The Lion in Winter' (1968).

© NL Beeld

Fourth Oscar - She waited another 13 years to win her fourth Oscar. 

© NL Beeld

Fourth Oscar - She won Best Actress for 'On Golden Pond' (1981).

© NL Beeld

Late career: 1970s - In the 1970s, she starred in 'The Trojan Women' (1971) and 'Rooster Cogburn' (1975).

© Getty Images

Late career: 1980s - In the 1980s, she starred in the aforementioned 'On Golden Pond' (1981).

© NL Beeld

Final film - Hepburn's final film role was in 'Love Affair' (1994), at age 87.

© NL Beeld

Tony - From December 1969 to August 1970, she starred in the Broadway musical 'Coco,' based on Coco Chanel's life. Her work earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

© NL Beeld

Modern woman - Through her unconventional lifestyle and the fierce characters she portrayed, Hepburn became the image of the modern American woman of the 20th century.

© Getty Images

Autobiography - In 1991, Hepburn released her autobiography titled 'Me: Stories of My Life.' 

© NL Beeld

Autobiography - Her autobiography went on to become a best seller for over a year.

© NL Beeld

TV - In 1973, she tried starring in a TV show for the first time.

© NL Beeld

TV - She starred in a production of Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie' with great success.

© NL Beeld

Emmy Award - She went on to star in the TV film 'Love Among the Ruins' (1975), which earned her an Emmy Award.

© NL Beeld

Greatest female star - In 1999, the American Film Institute named Hepburn as the greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema.

© Getty Images

Oil paintings - Hepburn also enjoyed painting and produced works that were auctioned in 2004.

© NL Beeld

Death - She died on June 29, 2003, at her family home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She was 96.

© NL Beeld

No funeral service -

As per her request, Hepburn was buried with no memorial service.

See also: Elizabeth Taylor: her star shines on!

© NL Beeld