Audrey Hepburn A-Z: I is for...

I is for...Ip the Deer!

via tumgir

Today's Audrey Hepburn A-Z entry honestly is one of the cutest stories I've ever heard. It brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it. I'm taking about Audrey Hepburn and Ip the Deer, co-stars in Green Mansions. 

Audrey met her cutest co-star (you can tell Peter O'Toole and George Peppard I said that) in pre-production on the 1958 film. Her husband, Mel Ferrer, was directing the film, and by all accounts Audrey was only starring in it as a personal favour to him. As her character, Rima, is basically one with nature in the jungles of Venezuela, that meant wildlife needed to interact with her at ease.

Enter Ip the Deer. 

Ip, real name Pippin, was brought to Audrey from the zoo, with the aim of creating a bond with her and an ease around her that she'd follow Audrey around on camera (to aid with the jungle girl character). Audrey worked with an animal trainer to earn Pippin's trust, and it worked. The deer lived with Audrey and Mel and Mr. Famous, Audrey's Yorkshire Terrier, for a spell, and accompanied her everywhere. 

Photographer Bob Willoughby, who captured all the pictures of Audrey and Ip, said that, "It was truly amazing to see Audrey with that fawn… Audrey’s maid had been told about the little deer, [but] she could not believe her eyes seeing Ip sleeping with Audrey so calmly. She was shaking her head and just kept smiling."

Audrey and Ip had the press captivated, and stories quickly filled the newspapers about the duo. How Audrey would let Ip chew on plastic knitting needles to play. How she (Ip) was so well-behaved and sweet. How they were inseparable and loved to cuddle. Audrey even said that she'd be devastated when Green Mansions wrapped and Ip had to return to her zoo. But Ip's whereabouts were always a mystery. Did Audrey keep her after all? 

A few years ago, I tweeted Luca Dotti to get a straight answer. He revealed that Ip returned to the zoo and that both Audrey and Ip were heartbroken at being separated.

Afterwards, Audrey went to Mexico to work on The Unforgiven and when she suffered an accident after being thrown from a horse that fractured her vertebrae, Mel reportedly retrieved Ip from the zoo to come and cheer up Audrey. Reunited once more!

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Don't you just love this story? 

Come back soon for the letter J!