Grace Kelly
After the marriage Prince Rainier banned the screening of her films.[7] Hitchcock offered Grace the lead in his film, Marnie in 1962. She was eager but public outcry against her involvement made her reconsider and ultimately reject the project. Director Herbert Ross attempted to lure Princess Grace for his 1977 The Turning Point, but Prince Rainier quashed the idea. Later that year, Grace returned to the arts in a series of poetry readings on stage and the narration of the documentary The Children of Theater Street. She also narrated ABC's made-for-television film The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966).
As princess, she was active in improving the arts institutions of Monaco, and eventually the Princess Grace Foundation was formed to support local artisans. She was one of the first celebrities to support and speak on behalf of La Leche League, an organization that advocates breastfeeding; she planned a yearly Christmas party for local orphans, and dedicated a Garden Club that reflected her love of flowers.
In 1981, the Prince and Princess celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
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Personal life
Grace Kelly was the object of the tabloids and gossip throughout her life. Her love life was a particular focus of speculation. Stories of affairs circulated from her first major role in motion pictures and eventually included the names of almost every major actor at the time.
Grace and the Shah of Iran became acquainted near the end of 1949 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel during the Shah's official visit to America. Grace's childhood friend (and later, her bridesmaid) Maree Frisby Rambo said in an interview with biographer Wendy Leigh that Kelly and the Shah had gone on at least six dates. The Shah had been the ruler of Iran since 1941, and was thirty years old at the time. The Shah besieged Kelly with vast amounts of jewellery including: a gold birdcage housing a diamond sapphire bird, a gold vanity case with a clasp set with thirty-two diamonds, and a gold bracelet with an intricate pearl and diamond face. Grace, however, had no intentions of marrying the Shah, and immediately sent the gifts back. She decided to keep the jewels and later presented the pieces to her bridesmaids as keepsakes on the eve of her wedding.[8] Despite the alleged brutality of the Shah's regime, Grace fiercely defended him until his death.[9]
During the making of Dial M for Murder, Kelly seduced her co-star Ray Milland. Milland was 22 years older than she, but just as charming and suave as he was when she swooned over him years earlier as a teenager watching The Lost Weekend. Milland was married to Muriel Milland for thirty years, and the two had a son. Milland assured Kelly that he had left his wife, which she would later find out to have been a lie.[10] After Muriel Milland found out about the affair, she and Ray Milland separated and Kelly was branded a homewrecker. Muriel Milland was one of the most popular wives in Hollywood and had the support of many friends, including gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. After Kelly gave a press interview explaining her side of the story, the town seemed to lose interest in the scandal.
It was reported to the press that Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby met for the first time when they were introduced during the making of The Country Girl. This, however, was untrue. Sue Ladd, the widow of Alan Ladd, told Grace Kelly biographer James Spada that while Bing's then-wife Dixie was battling terminal cancer, Bing and Grace had been trysting in the Ladds' home.[11] What Kelly didn't know was that by the time filming commenced on The Country Girl, Crosby had already been dating actress Kathryn Grant. Three days before the date scheduled for Crosby's marriage to Grant, he confessed to having had an affair with Grace Kelly and that he no longer wished to marry her. Unbeknownst to Kelly, Bing had continued to express his love for Grant throughout their affair despite Kelly's determination to become Crosby's wife. Crosby later reconciled with Kathryn Grant and proposed to her once again, explaining to her that he had broken off the relationship with Grace Kelly.
In a strange twist of fate, Russian fashion designer Oleg Cassini, having just seen Mogambo earlier that evening, encountered Grace Kelly having dinner at Le Veau d'Or. Cassini, who was raised in Florence, having an abundance of charm and courtliness and whose ex-wife was actress Gene Tierney, became just as captivated by Kelly in person as he had previously watching her in the film. Kelly's curiosity was soon piqued when she began receiving a bouquet of red roses every day. Cassini's persistence paid off when Kelly accepted his invitation to lunch, with the provision that she bring her sister Peggy along. Cassini and Kelly became engaged within the first month of meeting. Their desire to marry quickly was later revealed to have been prompted by the fact that she was pregnant. "The couple planned to have a small secret wedding, with Grace taking time off to have the baby," John Glatt wrote. "But at the last minute she changed her mind. Torn between her devout Catholic upbringing, her movie career and her love of Cassini, Grace decided she could not risk a scandal. So, instead of going through with the marriage, she had an abortion." When Cassini was asked by Glatt about the abortion, he remained defensive and evasive, commenting that, "It's too delicate a matter. I don't have to answer this and I will make no comment about that. Absolutely no comment. Let people think what they want to think," Cassini explained.[12][13]
In a 1960s interview, Kelly explained how she had grown to accept the scrutiny as a part of being in the public eye, but expressed concern for her children’s exposure to such relentless scandalmongering. After her death, celebrity biographers chronicled the rumors with renewed enthusiasm.
Interviewed for British television by Michael Parkinson, David Niven recalled an awkward conversation with Prince Ranier in which the latter asked him who had been his most exciting lover. Niven began to say "Grace Kelly", but caught himself in time and answered "Gra..cie Fields". Fortunately, Ranier had never heard of Fields and didn't realise how absurd the suggestion was.
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Friendship with Josephine Baker
In 1951, the newly famous Kelly took a bold stand against a racist incident involving Black American expatriate singer/dancer Josephine Baker, when the Sherman Billingsley's Stork Club in New York refused Baker as a customer. Kelly, who was dining at the club when this happened, was so disgusted that she rushed over to Baker (whom she had never met), took her by the arm, and stormed out with her entire party, vowing never to return (and she never did). The two women became close friends after that night. A significant testament to their close friendship was made evident when Baker was near bankruptcy, and was offered a villa and financial assistance by Kelly (who by that time had become Princess Grace), and her husband Rainier III of Monaco. The princess also encouraged Baker to return to performing, and financed Baker's triumphant comeback in 1975, attending the opening night's performance.
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Death
On September 13, 1982, while driving with her daughter Stéphanie to Monaco from their country home, Princess Grace, then 52, suffered a stroke, which caused her to drive her Rover P6[14] off the serpentine down a mountainside. Princess Grace was pulled alive from the wreckage, but had suffered serious injuries and was unconscious. She died the following day at The Princess Grace Hospital Centre, having never regained consciousness. It was initially reported that Princess Stéphanie suffered only minor bruising, although it later emerged that she had suffered a serious cervical fracture.[15] It was rumored that Princess Grace had been driving on the same stretch of highway that had been featured in her 1955 movie To Catch a Thief; her son has always denied it.[16]
Princess Grace was buried in the Grimaldi family vault on September 18, 1982, after a requiem mass in Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco.[17] Prince Rainier, who never remarried after Kelly's death, was buried alongside her following his death in 2005. The 400 guests at the service included representatives of foreign governments and of present and past European royal houses (Diana, Princess of Wales was the only member of the British royal family to attend), as well as several veteran US film stars. Nearly 100 million people worldwide watched her funeral.[18]
In his eulogy, James Stewart said: "You know, I just love Grace Kelly. Not because she was a princess, not because she was an actress, not because she was my friend, but because she was just about the nicest lady I ever met. Grace brought into my life as she brought into yours, a soft, warm light every time I saw her, and every time I saw her was a holiday of its own. No question, I'll miss her, we'll all miss her, God bless you, Princess Grace."
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Legacy
The Princess Grace Foundation was founded in 1964 with the aim of helping those with special needs for whom no provision was made within the ordinary social services. In 1983, following Princess Grace's death, Caroline, Princess of Hanover assumed the duties of President of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Albert II, Prince of Monaco is Vice-President.[19]
On June 18, 1984, Prince Rainier inaugurated a public rose garden in Monaco in Princess Grace's memory due to her passion for the flower.[20]
In 1993, Princess Grace became the first U.S. actress to appear on a U.S. postage stamp.[21][7]
On April 1, 2006, The Philadelphia Museum of Art presented an exhibition entitled, Fit for a Princess: Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress, that ran through May 21, 2006. The exhibition was in honor of the 50th anniversary of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier's wedding.[22]
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of her death €2 commemorative coins were issued on July 1, 2007 with the "national" side bearing the image of Princess Grace.
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Titles
- November 12, 1929 – April 19, 1956: Miss Grace Patricia Kelly
- April 19, 1956 – September 14, 1982: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco
- Informally: Princess Grace of Monaco
Grace Kelly's spirit still lives on today. A song was written, called Grace Kelly by Mika, commemorating her name.
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Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Awards & Nominations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours | Louise Ann Fuller | |
| 1952 | High Noon | Amy Fowler Kane | |
| 1953 | Mogambo | Linda Nordley | Nominated: Academy Award, Best Supporting Actress Win: Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actress |
| 1954 | Dial M for Murder | Margot Mary Wendice | Nominated: BAFTA award, Best Actress |
| Rear Window | Lisa Carol Fremont | ||
| The Country Girl | Georgie Elgin | Win: Academy Award, Best Actress Nominated: BAFTA award, Best Actress Win: Golden Globe, Best Drama Actress |
|
| Green Fire | Catherine Knowland | ||
| The Bridges at Toko-Ri | Nancy Brubaker | ||
| 1955 | To Catch a Thief | Frances Stevens | |
| 1956 | The Swan | Princess Alexandra | |
| High Society | Tracy Samantha Lord |
[
Discography
- True Love (from High Society, duet with Bing Crosby, 1956)
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Cultural references
 |
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- American alternative/indie rock group The Eels referenced Kelly heavily in their track "Grace Kelly Blues," the opening song from their album Daisies of the Galaxy.
- Kelly was featured on the cover of Time Magazine on January 31, 1955 ("Gentlemen prefer ladies.")
- Kelly was featured on the cover of Life Magazine three times: April 26, 1954 ("Hollywood's brightest and busiest new star"), April 11, 1955 ("Winner of the Academy Award"), and April 9, 1956 ("Education of a princess: for a movie and for real"). Princess Grace was also mentioned on the March 1, 1983 cover that featured Monaco's royal family.
- In January of 2007 the artist, Mika, released a song titled "Grace Kelly", which reached number one on the UK singles charts.
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References
- ^ a b Leigh, Wendy (March 2007). True Grace. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0-312-34236-5.
- ^ Hedda Hopper Collection. Maraget Herrick Library, Los Angeles.
- ^ Spoto, Donald (1983). The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 030680932X.
- ^ Eyles, Allen (September 1987). James Stewart. Stein & Day. ISBN 0812882989.
- ^ Hedda Hopper Collection. Maraget Herrick Library, Los Angeles.
- ^ Nelson, Nancy (December 2002). Evenings With Cary Grant. Citadel. ISBN 080652412X.
- ^ a b Grace Kelly (I) - Biography
- ^ Leigh, Wendy (March 2007). True Grace, Author interview with Maree Frisby Rambo. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0-312-34236-5.
- ^ Bragg, Melvyn (1988). Richard Burton: A Life. Warner Books. ISBN 0446359386.
- ^ Robyns, Gwen (1976). Princess Grace. New York: David McKay. ISBN 0440201071.
- ^ Spada, James (1987). Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess. Garden City, NY: Double Day. ISBN 0679506128.
- ^ Cassini, Oleg (1987). In My Own Fashion: An Autobiography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 067162640X.
- ^ Glatt, John (1998). The Royal House of Monaco: Dynasty of Glamour, Tragedy, and Scandal. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0312969112.
- ^ http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feature/top+ten/1737/8 4Car Feature, Top Ten: Notorious cars
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/14/newsid_2516000/2516601.stm BBC On This Day September 14th 1982
- ^ Grace Kelly biography, information, news, links, pictures (pics) and products (actress, princess)
- ^ Death of Princess Grace - history - central - British Council - LearnEnglish
- ^ Princess Grace lingers in memory - USATODAY.com
- ^ Princess Grace Foundation
- ^ Monaco Official Site - Princess Grace Rose Garden
- ^ Healey, Barth. "U.S. and Monaco Honor Grace Kelly", New York Times, 1993-03-21.
- ^ Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Press Room : Press Releases : 2006
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External links
- Grace Kelly at the Internet Movie Database
- Grace Kelly at the TCM Movie Database
- Grace Kelly at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ancestry Chart of Prince Albert
- A list of ancestors of Grace Kelly
- Grace Kelly at Findagrave.com
- Grace Kelly at TV.com
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday |
Academy Award for Best Actress 1954 for The Country Girl |
Succeeded by Anna Magnani for The Rose Tattoo |
| Preceded by Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday |
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama 1955 for The Country Girl |
Succeeded by Anna Magnani for The Rose Tattoo |
| Preceded by Katy Jurado for High Noon |
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture 1954 for Mogambo |
Succeeded by Jan Sterling for The High and the Mighty |
| Preceded by Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday |
NYFCC Award for Best Actress 1954 for The Country Girl |
Succeeded by Anna Magnani for The Rose Tattoo |
| Monegasque royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Princess Consort to the Reigning Monarch of Monaco | ||
| Preceded by Ghislaine Marie Françoise Dommanget |
Princess of Monaco 1956 - 1982 |
Succeeded by Vacant |
|
|||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kelly, Grace |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Grace, Princess of Monaco |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American actor, Monegasque princess |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 12, 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 14, 1982 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
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