Film legend Katharine Hepburn died yesterday, aged 96.

An icon of feminist strength and spirit who brought a chiselled beauty and patrician bearing to such films as The Philadelphia Story and The African Queen, died in her home town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

She had been in declining health in recent years.

During her 60-year career, she won a record four Academy Awards and was nominated 12 times, which stood as a record until Meryl Streep surpassed her nomination total in 2003.

Her Oscars were for: Morning Glory, 1933; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, 1967; A Lion in Winter, 1968; and On Golden Pond, 1981.

Despite her success, Hepburn always felt she could have done more.

"I could have accomplished three times what I've accomplished," she once said. "I haven't realised my full potential. It's disgusting."

But, she said: "Life's what's important. Walking, houses, family. Birth and pain and joy - and then death. Acting's just waiting for the custard pie. That's all."

Hepburn, product of a wealthy, free-thinking New England family, was forthright in her opinions and unconventional in her conduct.

She married only once, briefly, and her name was linked with Howard Hughes and other famous men, but the great love of her life was Spencer Tracy. They made nine films together and remained close companions until Tracy's death in 1967.

A Broadway role brought a movie offer from RKO, and she went to Hollywood at $1,500 a week to star opposite John Barrymore in the 1932 film A Bill of Divorcement.

The lean, athletic actress with the well-bred manner became an instant star. The voice Tallulah Bankhead once likened to "nickels dropping in a slot machine" became one of Hollywood's most-imitated.