Oscar body receives Hepburn's personal memorabilia

The haul of items once owned by the four-time Oscar winner ranks among the most comprehensive collections devoted to any single performer owned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, officials said.

The collection donated to the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library includes thousands of photos, Hepburn's personal copies of scripts and written exchanges with famed movie directors including George Cukor, John Huston and David Lean. The notoriously private Hepburn, who died in June last year at the age of 96, was meticulous about saving objects documenting her career, although she famously tossed her four Oscars into the back of a cupboard in her home.

Once catalogued, the collection will be accessible to qualified researchers, Academy officials said.

Hepburn, who was nominated for 12 of cinema's highest honours, remained at arm's length from Tinseltown throughout her career spanning more than 60 years, preferring to live far from the spotlight. The actress, who starred in such classics as African Queen and The Lion in Winter and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, eschewed Hollywood glamour to the extent that she rarely even attended the Oscars ceremonies.