English Heritage has announced that Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn and Marc Bolan, frontman of T. Rex, will be honored with blue plaques in London.
This year’s awards spotlighted individuals whose artistic contributions have significantly influenced the city’s cultural landscape.
Additional recipients include author Barbara Pym, artist Graham Sutherland, ballerina Alicia Markova, and poet, playwright, broadcaster, and activist Una Marson.
According to English Heritage, these plaques will celebrate their considerable influence on the cultural identity of London.
Matt Thompson, the curatorial director of English Heritage, remarked, “From literature and art to dance and music, these remarkable individuals have helped shape contemporary London.
“Their legacies not only transformed their respective disciplines but continue to motivate future generations.”
Bolan was a leading figure in the Glam Rock movement during the 1970s, celebrated for his vibrant style that blended rock, folk, and theatrical flair, producing hits such as “Get It On” and “Ride a White Swan.”
English Heritage noted that his “distinctive appearance, characterized by sequins, feather boas, and platform boots,” epitomized the Glam Rock aesthetic and “challenged conventional ideas of masculinity.”
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, and English Heritage expressed hopes that his plaque will be placed at one of his residences in west London.
Hepburn’s formative years in London, during which she shifted from ballet to acting, will be honored with a blue plaque in Mayfair.
While in the city, she landed her initial film and stage roles, including her Broadway debut in “Gigi,” and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Princess Ann in “Roman Holiday,” while also becoming celebrated for her fashion sense.
The esteemed ballerina Markova, a co-founder of the English National Ballet and a pivotal figure at the Royal Ballet, will also receive a blue plaque at her childhood home in Muswell Hill.
Una Marson, a Jamaican poet, playwright, broadcaster, and advocate for racial and gender equity, will likewise be acknowledged.
As the first black woman to serve as a programme assistant and later as the first black producer at the BBC, Marson was a catalyst for transformative changes in British broadcasting.
Additionally, a plaque will be placed at the London childhood home of Graham Sutherland, who famously painted Sir Winston Churchill, recognizing its importance in his artistic journey.
Barbara Pym’s residence in Pimlico, which inspired the setting of her novel “Excellent Women,” will also be commemorated with a plaque.
English Heritage highlighted that all blue plaques require the full approval of property owners, with ongoing collaboration between them and the organization.
