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.
Did any of the actors in My Fair Lady do their own singing?
No. She probably could have done the lighter songs, but not the rangy ones. Her singing was done by the enormously gifted Marni Nixon, whom among others, dubbed the voice of Deborah Kerr in THE KING AND I. One of the extras on the MY FAIR LADY disc shows how Audrey Hepburn actually sounded before the dubbing.
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.
Did Audrey Hepburn do any singing in My Fair Lady?
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.
Marni Nixon was the singing voice of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. Jeremy Brett who played Freddy was also dubbed by a different singer whose identity I haven't been able to find. The wonderful Marni Nixon was also the singing voice of Deborah Kerr in The King and I; and Natalie Wood in West Side Story.
"MY FAIR LADY"/"Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" - AUDREY HEPBURN
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.
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.
How old was Audrey Hepburn during the filming of My Fair Lady?
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.
The movie, which starred Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, won eight Academy Awards, including that for best picture. Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady (1964).
Hepburn's singing voice needed dubbing... and she wasn't the only one. 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.
Marni Nixon was Hollywood's great unsung singer. She dubbed the voices of Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady', Deborah Kerr in 'The King and I' and Natalie Wood in 'West Side Story'. But for most of her career, no one knew who she was.
Which actress originally played Eliza in My Fair Lady on Broadway?
Julie Andrews created Eliza on Broadway and subsequently in London's West End in the 1950s. Audrey Hepburn usurped the role, even though her singing voice was dubbed by Marni Nixon for the 1964 film.
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.
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.
The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a notable critical and popular success, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It set a record for the longest run of any musical on Broadway up to that time and was followed by a hit London production. Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews starred in both productions.
Who is the only woman of color to win the best actress Oscar?
On March 24, 2002, Halle Berry becomes the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a struggling widow who falls in love with her husband's death row executioner in Monster's Ball.
Why wasn't Julie Andrews cast in My Fair Lady movie?
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.
Did Audrey Hepburn sing in the My Fair Lady movie?
After making this movie, Hepburn resolved not to appear in another movie musical unless she could do the singing on her own. When Audrey Hepburn (Eliza Doolittle) was first informed that her voice wasn't strong enough and that she would have to be dubbed, she walked out.
Who was considered for My Fair Lady? Julie Andrews had starred in the Broadway version, but was not as bankable as Audrey was for the film version. James Cagney turned down the role of Alfred Doolittle.
However, she understood, her Broadway star power wasn't “important.” “I did, at that time, hope that maybe when the film was made, I'd be asked to do it,” Andrews began. “But it wasn't an ambition. I didn't really think that I was that important to warrant being used.
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!
Hepburn was offered the role of a Japanese bride opposite Marlon Brando in Sayonara (1957) but turned it down. She later explained that she "couldn't possibly play an Oriental. No one would believe me; they'd laugh. It's a lovely script, however, I know what I can and can't do.
