Two-Time Academy Award Winner Audrey Hepburn Returns To The Red Carpet

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Feb. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DOVE® Chocolate is rolling out the red carpet this Sunday, Mar. 2, for its newest TV ad, which features Audrey Hepburn and is airing during the OSCARS® "Red Carpet Live" on ABC. The cinematic ad for DOVE® Dark Chocolate uses 3D computer-generated technology to capture Hepburn's classic style and infectious smile.

The ad shows a stylish Hepburn taking a tour of an Italian town by bus, which gets stuck in a traffic jam. Out her window, a handsome stranger in a convertible tempts her to leave the bus and ride with him. She accepts the offer and playfully hops into the backseat. As they drive away, she rewards herself with a bite of a DOVE® Dark Chocolate bar and leans back with a pleased expression.

"We cast Audrey Hepburn for this new ad because she's timeless and truly embodies the DOVE® Chocolate consumer," said Roy Benin, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America. "Hepburn possesses a spark in her eye and radiates the confidence to make choices that are more enjoyable to her."

To recreate Hepburn's appearance and gestures, the visual effects (VFX) team at Framestore, in partnership with the BBDO network, used the star's entire feature film catalog and all available photographs as reference. Many scenes required frame-by-frame hand animation techniques to ensure the model was authentic from every possible angle.

Hepburn's children, Sean Ferrer and Luca Dotti, encouraged the use of their mother's image and likeness in the ad, which originally launched last year in the UK to promote Galaxy chocolate bar.  Ferrer said, "Our mother loved rewarding herself with a piece of chocolate, but it always had to be dark chocolate."

The tagline – "It's not just dark. It's DOVE®." – reinforces that DOVE® Dark Chocolate is unlike any other dark chocolate experience. As the #1 solid dark chocolate brand¹, the never-bitter, silky-smooth taste of DOVE® Dark Chocolate is guaranteed to make people reconsider dark chocolate altogether.

The new TV spot will air on Networks such as MTV, Adult Swim, A&E, Bravo and Lifetime reaching Adults, ages 18 to 49, throughout 2014. For more information about DOVE® Chocolate and to view the new TV ad, please visit www.Facebook.com/DoveChocolate.  

About Mars, Incorporated
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™ and WISDOM PANEL™.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars.

¹ According to the latest data from Nielsen covering the latest 52-week period ending February 15, 2014.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America