Audrey Hepburn: She Ate Tulip Bulbs in the War… Then Helped Hungry Children
In the war, Audrey Hepburn was so hungry that her family made flour from tulip bulbs. United Nations workers helped her get well. Years later, the famous actress worked for UNICEF and helped children get food. Learn five A2 words with the true story of Audrey Hepburn.
Coming 15 November 2026, 3:00 pm New York time
Transcript
Tap a time to jump to that moment. Highlighted words have a meaning: tap them. Words in bold show today's grammar.
During the , a young girl in the Netherlands was very hungry.
She ate tulip bulbs.
Years later, she helped hungry children all over the world.
This is the story of Audrey Hepburn.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
. In a , countries fight.
The came to her town.
. A moves to music.
She wanted to be a .
. An plays a person in a film.
She became a famous .
. When you a place, you go there for a short time.
She many countries.
. A person is good to other people.
She was to everyone.
Now, one pattern: help someone do something.
We say help, then a person, then a verb.
She helped children.
They got food.
She helped children get food.
Ready? Let's begin.
Audrey Hepburn was born in Belgium in 1929.
She grew up in the Netherlands.
She loved .
She wanted to be a .
Then the came to her town.
Audrey danced in secret shows.
She said the money helped people fight for freedom.
In the last winter of the , there was very little food.
Her family made flour from tulip bulbs.
She was very thin and ill.
Who would help them?
In May 1945, the ended.
United Nations workers came with food and medicine.
They helped her get well.
Later, this work became part of UNICEF.
She became a famous .
She won an Oscar for her first big film.
People everywhere loved her.
In 1988, she started to work for UNICEF.
She many countries.
She helped children get food, water and medicine.
She was to everyone.
Let's review. The came to her town.
She wanted to be a .
She became a famous .
She many countries.
She was to everyone.
And remember: she helped children get food.
Audrey Hepburn's story teaches us: remember the help you got, and give it back.
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Step 3
Words from the story
Say the word, guess its meaning, then flip the card. Keep the ones you know, and practise the rest again.
Great work, you know every word in this story. Now try the quiz below.
war noun
a time when countries fight
“The war came to her town.”
dancer noun
a person who dances, often as a job
“She wanted to be a dancer.”
actress noun
a woman who plays a person in a film or on a stage
“She became a famous actress.”
visit verb (past: visited)
to go to a place or a person for a short time
“She visited many countries.”
kind adjective
good, friendly and helpful to other people
“She was kind to everyone.”
ballet noun
a kind of dance that tells a story with music
“She loved ballet.”
film star noun
a very famous actor or actress
“She became a film star.”
hunger noun
the feeling or problem of not having enough food
“She knew hunger as a child.”
Grammar in the story
help + someone + (to) + verb
We use it for: to say who gets help and what they can do
- She helped children get food.
- They helped her get well.
- The money helped people fight for freedom.
From the story
- She helped children get food.
- They helped her get well.
Find it in the story 5 times
Your turn
She helped children food.
They helped get well.
The money helped people for freedom.
Step 4
Story Challenge
9 quick rounds: choose, fill the gap, build the sentence and match the words. Answer in a row to build a streak and earn bonus points.
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Take it further
Before you watch: Have you ever been very hungry? Who helps hungry children in your country?
After you watch: Write three sentences with help + someone + verb. For example: My mother helped me learn English. My friend helped me find a job. I help my brother do his homework.
Think about it: Audrey Hepburn got help as a child and gave help as an adult. Who has helped you? How can you help someone else?
