But she kept trying...She was trying very hard to use as much of herself as possible." Nixon pointed out that not all the singing in the film was her; Eliza's working-class singing voice was really Hepburn's own, while the "posher" sounding voice after Higgins has worked his phonetic magic is the ghost-singer.
Dubbing. Hepburn's singing was judged inadequate, and she was dubbed by Marni Nixon, who sang all songs except "Just You Wait", in which Hepburn's voice was preserved during the harsh-toned chorus, with Nixon on the melodic bridge section. Hepburn sang the brief reprise of the song in tears.
Whose voice sang for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady?
Filming My Fair Lady in 1963, she worked hand-in-glove with Audrey Hepburn (as Eliza Doolittle), even to the extent of sharing a limousine to the studio on working days. Although the original plan was to make composites, or blends, of their two voices, the songs in the final cut were sung entirely by Marni Nixon.
His highest profile film appearance was as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady (1964), again with Audrey Hepburn. Although Brett sang well, as he later demonstrated when he played Danilo in a BBC Television broadcast of The Merry Widow (Christmas Day 1968), his singing in My Fair Lady was dubbed by Bill Shirley.
Professor Higgins uses Received Pronunciation accent which also considered as an upper class language or a “proper” English because he is an educated person (a phonetician), while Eliza uses Cockney accent, a lower class language, because she is only a flower seller.
GROSS: That's Marni Nixon on the soundtrack of the film "My Fair Lady." Audrey Hepburn played the role of Eliza Doolittle in the film, but Nixon did the singing for the role. In fact, she dubbed vocals for some 50 films.
How old was Audrey Hepburn in the My Fair Lady movie?
Although playing a 21-year-old flower girl, Hepburn was actually 34 in real life. The opera that was playing the night Professor Higgins and Eliza meet in Covent Gardens was Faust. The inspiration for the library in Professor Henry Higgins' home was a room at the Château de Groussay, Montfort-l'Amaury, in France.
Casting for the film adaptation of My Fair Lady began in 1962; Jay Lerner hoped for Andrews to reprise her role, but Warner Brothers studio head Jack Warner decided Andrews lacked sufficient name recognition; the part was played by the established film actress Audrey Hepburn, with the bulk of the singing dubbed by ...
Why didn't they let Audrey Hepburn sing in My Fair Lady?
Hepburn got the part over Julie Andrews for the role of Eliza Doolittle, despite the fact she couldn't sing. She took singing lessons in an attempt to improve, but still couldn't cut it. As a result, Marni Nixon was drafted in to perform the vocals instead.
Audrey Hepburn was pretty well consistent with non-rhotic. and spoke refined English. Her accent can be characterized as British with somewhat of Flemish or Dutch blend because of her Belgian and Dutch roots. Audrey was born in Brussels, Belgium.
Audrey Hepburn revealed many years later that had she turned down the role of Eliza, the next actress to be offered it would not have been Dame Julie Andrews, but Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who wanted it desperately.
Did someone sing for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady?
Filming My Fair Lady in 1963, she worked hand-in-glove with Audrey Hepburn (as Eliza Doolittle), even to the extent of sharing a limousine to the studio on working days. Although the original plan was to make composites, or blends, of their two voices, the songs in the final cut were sung entirely by Marni Nixon.
As the voice of Maria in 'West Side Story' and Eliza Doolittle in 'My Fair Lady', Marni Nixon should have been one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Instead, other actors got the credit and she became American cinema's 'most unsung singer', writes Alexandra Pollard.
Noël Coward was the first to be offered the role of Henry Higgins, but he turned it down, suggesting the producers cast Rex Harrison instead. After much deliberation, Harrison agreed to accept the part. Mary Martin was an early choice for the role of Eliza Doolittle, but declined the role.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, lyricist Alan Jay Lerner had his eye on Andrews for My Fair Lady's film adaptation. "I so wanted you to do it, Julie, but they wanted a name," Lerner shared. This was in reference to Hepburn's status in the film industry compared to Andrew's.
Instead, he wanted a huge star attached. With Hepburn coming off a series of popular films such as 1953's Roman Holiday, Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany's — the Belgique/British actress was Warner's ideal choice.
Less attention was paid to the vocal of Jeremy Brett as Freddy Eynsford-Hill being dubbed by Bill Shirley over the objections of Jeremy Brett, who was indeed a good singer. (Bill Shirley – an Indianapolis native – also provided the voice of Prince Phillip in Walt Disney's 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty.
How much older was Mel Ferrer than Audrey Hepburn?
At the time, Ferrer was a twice-divorced father of four who was 12 years older than Hepburn. But despite the age difference, Hepburn came to like Ferrer.
Audrey Hepburn wearing a gown designed by Cecil Beaton in My Fair Lady (1964). Beaton won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design- Color, and you can see why!
Did Audrey Hepburn sing in Breakfast at Tiffany's?
"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Did Jeremy Brett do his own singing in My Fair Lady?
Jeremy Brett, who celebrated his 30th birthday during filming, was very surprised to learn that all of his singing was to be dubbed by a 43-year-old American named Bill Shirley, especially since his own singing voice at that time was remarkably good.
It is sung in the musical by the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill, who was portrayed by John Michael King in the original production. In the 1964 film version, it was sung by Bill Shirley, dubbing for actor Jeremy Brett.
