Katharine Hepburn reveals the biggest regret of her career: “I could have done more”
The saying goes that we are our worst critics, and in the performing arts, actors and filmmakers often find that their harshest feedback comes from themselves. This was certainly the case for Katharine Hepburn, despite being one of the most influential actors of her time and scooping up countless awards to show for it. From the witty banter and electric chemistry of Bringing Up Baby, in which she stars alongside Cary Grant in a pitch-perfect pairing, or the sparky humour of Holiday and Philadelphia Story, Hepburn became known for her eccentric characters and kooky sense of charm.
Over the years, she collaborated with directors such as George Cukor, Howard Hawks and Stanley Kramer, remaining one of the key players within their respective filmographies and a shining star of the Golden Hollywood era. However, while she was decorated with acclaim and a lasting cult status, the actor shared her biggest regrets from her undoubtedly accomplished career and the dreams she didn’t quite realise.
It’s hard to imagine someone as iconic as Hepburn having regrets, with some citing her as one of the most crucial figures from this era due to her portrayal of headstrong characters and feminist values that made her genuinely ahead of her time. At the beginning of her rise to fame, women were still expected to fulfil docile and submissive roles, with few being given the opportunity to play leading ladies or characters of substance.
However, this all changed when Hepburn stepped onto the scene. Characters such as Susan Vance, Tracy Lord, and Christina Drayton became renowned for their assertiveness and ‘take no prisoners’ attitude, paving the way for more three-dimensional female characters and those who challenged the men around them.
This particular quality is perhaps what she is most known for, with her characters regularly outsmarting the men around her and giving them a run for their money through her fast-talking style and razor-sharp sense of wit. But while we now revere her performances in films like Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner and Summertime, the actor shared her own regrets over what she didn’t achieve and how she viewed her time in the spotlight.
When discussing her career trajectory, Hepburn said, “With all the opportunities I had, I could have done more. And if I had done more, I could have been quite remarkable”. Alongside her acting career, Hepburn also found success in fashion, extending her creativity to many different areas and expressing her signature flair in another industry.
Hepburn’s career was a juggling act between many different outlets, and while it looks as though she had it perfectly under control from the outside, it sounds as though she struggled to equally split her time and was left feeling as though she could have done more. While many would be more-than happy with the credits she has to her name, working with some of the greatest directors and actors of her generation and remaining as the ultimate leading lady from this era, true artists are never happy with their work and always strive for more, no matter how much they have achieved.
