Although a British citizen, Hepburn had a rich and diverse multi-cultural heritage. Her father, Joseph, was a British subject born in Bohemia, and her mother, Ella, was a Dutch aristocrat. Audrey herself was born in Belgium, meaning that much of her childhood was spent divided between a host of different countries. Because of their background, the family travelled often between Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Hepburn was fluent in both English and Dutch, and following years of travel, also became proficient in Spanish, Italian and French. Her accent, thought by many to be one of her most endearing traits, remains oddly unique. As an aside, Joseph left the family abruptly in the late 1930s after being caught in bed with the children's nanny by Ella. He and Audrey lost contact for many years, but were reunited by The Red Cross years later. He remained emotionally distant, but his daughter's kindness shone through once more as she continued to support him financially until his death.
