Grace Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grace Kelly |
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Kelly in 1953
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| Princess consort of Monaco | |
| Tenure | April 18, 1956 – September 14, 1982 |
| Born | Grace Patricia Kelly 12 November 1929 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 14 September 1982 (aged 52) Monaco Hospital, La Colle, Monaco |
| Burial | 18 September 1982 Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, Monaco-Ville, Monaco |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Grimaldi (by marriage) |
| Father | John B. Kelly Sr. |
| Mother | Margaret Majer |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Signature |  |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active |
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Works
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Full list |
| Awards | |
Grace Patricia Kelly (born November 12, 1929 – died September 14, 1982) was a famous American actress. She starred in many important films in the early to mid-1950s. Later, she became the Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier III in April 1956.
Grace Kelly grew up in Philadelphia in a well-known family. After finishing her studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1949, she started acting in plays and on television in New York City. She became a big star after her role in the adventure film Mogambo (1953). For this movie, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the drama The Country Girl (1954).
Some of her other famous movies include the Western High Noon (1952) and the musical High Society (1956). She also starred in three exciting thrillers directed by Alfred Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954), and To Catch a Thief (1955).
At age 26, Grace Kelly stopped acting to marry Prince Rainier and begin her duties as Princess of Monaco. They had three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stéphanie. She did a lot of charity work, especially for children and the arts. In 1964, she started the Princess Grace Foundation-USA to help local artists. Her group for children's rights, AMADE Mondiale, worked with UNICEF and UNESCO. Her last film project was narrating the documentary The Children of Theatre Street (1977).
Grace Kelly passed away at age 52 on September 14, 1982, from injuries from a car accident the day before. She is remembered as one of the greatest female stars in Classical Hollywood cinema. Her son, Prince Albert, helped create the Princess Grace Awards in 1984. These awards celebrate new performers in film, theater, and dance.
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Early Life and Family Background
Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She came from a wealthy and well-known family. Her father, John B. Kelly Sr., was the son of Irish immigrants. He was an amazing athlete who won three Olympic gold medals in rowing. He also owned a very successful company that built with bricks. He was a well-known figure in politics, serving on the Fairmount Park Commission and as a National Director of Physical Fitness during World War II. His brother, Walter C. Kelly, was a famous performer in vaudeville shows and movies. Another brother, George, won a Pulitzer Prize for his plays.
Grace's mother, Margaret Majer, had German family roots. She taught physical education at the University of Pennsylvania and was the first woman to coach women's sports there. After marrying John B. Kelly in 1924, Margaret became a homemaker. Once her children were older, she became very active in community groups.
Grace had two older siblings, Margaret and John Jr., and a younger sister, Elizabeth. The children were raised in the Catholic faith.
Grace grew up in a friendly Catholic community. She went to Saint Bridget's parish school in East Falls, Philadelphia. While attending Ravenhill Academy, a Catholic girls' school, she modeled clothes at local charity events with her mother and sisters. In 1942, at age 12, she played the main role in a play called Don't Feed the Animals.
In May 1947, she graduated from Stevens School, a private school. There, she took part in drama and dance. Her yearbook said she would be "a famous star of stage and screen." Even though her parents were not sure at first, Grace decided to follow her dream of becoming an actress. In 1947, she started modeling for the Walter Thornton Model Agency.
Grace Kelly's Acting Career
Early Roles: 1949–1950
To start her acting career, Grace auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She used a scene from a play written by her uncle, George Kelly. Even though the school was full, she got an interview and was accepted with her uncle's help. Grace worked very hard and practiced her speech using a tape recorder.
She soon started acting on stage. Her first appearance on Broadway was in a play called The Father. She was only 19 when she performed in The Philadelphia Story for her graduation. Her uncle continued to guide her throughout her acting career.
Grace lived at the Barbizon Hotel for Women in Manhattan. She also worked as a model for the John Robert Powers agency. She later said she had "wonderful memories" of her three years at the Barbizon.
A TV producer named Delbert Mann chose Grace for her first of nearly sixty live television shows. She was called a "most promising personality of the Broadway stage of 1950."
Henry Hathaway, a film director, was impressed by her work in The Father. He offered her a small role in the film Fourteen Hours (1951). Grace played a young woman thinking about divorce. After the film came out, the "Grace Kelly Fan Club" became very popular.
Rising Star: 1951–1953
Grace Kelly was acting in Colorado when producer Stanley Kramer offered her a role in High Noon (1952). This was a Western film starring Gary Cooper. She took the role, and the movie was filmed in just 28 days in late summer 1951. She played a young Quaker bride. High Noon won four Academy Awards and is considered one of the best films ever made.
Some critics felt her acting in High Noon was not her best. Alfred Hitchcock said her performance was "rather mousy." He felt she truly "blossomed" in her later films.
After High Noon, Grace returned to New York City and took more acting lessons. She wanted to be taken seriously as an actress. She appeared in several TV plays. In September 1952, director John Ford saw her screen test and offered her a role in a new film. He said Grace showed "breeding, quality, and class." She signed a seven-year contract.
In November 1952, Grace went to Nairobi to film Mogambo. She replaced another actress who had to drop out. Grace later said, "Mogambo had three things that interested me: John Ford, Clark Gable, and a trip to Africa, with expenses paid." She played Linda Nordley, an English wife interested in Clark Gable's character. The film was a big success in 1953. Grace won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for her first Academy Award.
Becoming a Legend: 1954–1956
After Mogambo, Grace Kelly starred in the film Dial M for Murder (1954). She played a wealthy wife. Alfred Hitchcock became one of her mentors. She then worked on The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) with William Holden. She played Holden's wife in this story about American Navy jet fighters.
Grace turned down a role in On the Waterfront (1954) to play Lisa Fremont in Rear Window. Her co-star, James Stewart, was very excited to work with her. Lisa Fremont was a rich socialite and fashion model. This was her first role as an independent career woman. Hitchcock made sure to show her elegance in the film, with many beautiful dresses. When the film opened, Grace was highly praised.
Grace then played Georgie Elgin in The Country Girl (1954), starring with Bing Crosby. She played the wife of a struggling singer. Her character was dressed simply to fit the role.
For her amazing performance in The Country Girl, Grace Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her acceptance speech was short: "The thrill of this moment keeps me from saying what I really feel. I can only say thank you with all my heart to all who made this possible for me. Thank you." She also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award and a Golden Globe Award for her 1954 films.
In April 1954, Grace filmed Green Fire in Colombia. She played a coffee plantation owner. She described the filming as difficult. After several films, Grace went to the French Riviera for her third and last film with Hitchcock, To Catch a Thief. She played a charming woman, and Cary Grant played a former thief. Grace and Cary Grant became good friends. Grant later said Grace was his favorite actress because she had "serenity."
In 1956, Grace played Princess Alexandra in The Swan. Her final film role was in the musical High Society, a remake of The Philadelphia Story. She played Tracy Lord, starring with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. This film was released in July 1956.
Marriage to Prince Rainier III
In April 1955, Grace Kelly led the U.S. group at the Cannes Film Festival. While there, she was invited to meet Prince Rainier III of Monaco. They met at his palace on May 6, 1955.
After about a year of getting to know each other, they married on April 19, 1956.
The laws of Monaco and the Catholic Church required two ceremonies. The first was a civil ceremony on April 18, 1956, in the Palace Throne Room. About 3,000 people from Monaco attended a reception later that day. The next day, the church ceremony took place at Monaco's Saint Nicholas Cathedral. It is estimated that over 30 million people watched the wedding on TV. Her wedding dress, designed by MGM's Helen Rose, took six weeks to make. After the wedding, the couple went on a seven-week honeymoon cruise.
Life as Princess of Monaco
Princess Grace and Prince Rainier had their first child, Princess Caroline, on January 23, 1957. Their son and heir to the throne, Prince Albert, was born on March 14, 1958. Their youngest child, Princess Stéphanie, was born on February 1, 1965.
After her marriage, Princess Grace stopped her acting career. She focused on her duties as princess and on helping others. She became the President of the Red Cross of Monaco. She also supported Rainbow Coalition Children, an orphanage. Every Christmas, she hosted a celebration with gifts for orphaned children in Monaco. She was also president of the Garden Club of Monaco and the International Arts Foundation. Grace kept her connection to America by having both U.S. and Monégasque citizenship.
Grace and her husband visited Ireland three times. In 1976, she bought her family's old home in Drimurla, near Newport, County Mayo.
Grace started AMADE Mondiale, a non-profit group based in Monaco. This organization is recognized by the UN. She founded it after seeing the struggles of Vietnamese children in 1963. AMADE works to protect the "moral and physical integrity" and "spiritual well-being of children throughout the world." It has branches in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.
Princess Grace also worked to improve the arts in Monaco. In 1964, she created the Princess Grace Foundation-USA to support local artists. In 1965, she became an honorary member of La Leche League, a group that helps mothers with breastfeeding. She was a strong supporter of breastfeeding and breastfed all three of her children. In 1975, Grace helped start the Princess Grace Academy, a school for the Monte Carlo Ballet. She also worked to protect the old architecture of Monaco. Grace hosted a yearly "American Week" in Monaco, where guests played baseball and ate ice cream. The palace also celebrated American Thanksgiving every year.
Alfred Hitchcock offered Princess Grace a lead role in his film Marnie in 1962. She was excited, but public opinion in Monaco made her decide not to do the film. Later, in 1977, she returned to the arts by reading poetry on stage. She also narrated the documentary The Children of Theatre Street. She narrated another TV film called The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966).
In 1976, Grace joined the board of the 20th C.-Fox Film Corporation. She was one of the first women to do so. In 1980, she published My Book of Flowers, which shared her love for flowers. Grace and Rainier worked together on a short film called Rearranged in 1979. Sadly, Grace passed away before more scenes could be filmed, and the movie was never fully released.
In the early 1980s, Grace worked with Springmaid Company, a bed linen brand. She designed bed linens, tablecloths, and other items. Princess Grace donated the money she earned from this to her favorite charities.
Death
On September 13, 1982, Grace had a sudden medical emergency while driving back to Monaco. She lost control of her car, and it went off the road. Her teenage daughter Stéphanie was in the car and tried to help, but could not regain control. Princess Grace was taken to the Monaco Hospital. She passed away the next night, on September 14, 1982.
Princess Grace's funeral was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco-Ville, on September 18, 1982. She was buried in the Grimaldi family vault. Many important people attended, including Cary Grant, Nancy Reagan, and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Prince Rainier never remarried. He was buried next to her after his death in 2005.
Legacy
Grace Kelly left a lasting impact as an actress and a princess. She is known as one of the "classic Hitchcock blondes" and one of the most elegant women in history. In 1999, she was named one of "30 Irish-American Women Who Changed Our World."
Grace Kelly appeared on the cover of Time magazine in January 1955. The magazine called her a top movie star. She was often called the "Girl in White Gloves" because she frequently wore them.
In 1982, her husband created the Princess Grace Foundation-USA to continue her charity work. This foundation helps new artists in theater, dance, and film in America. It has given over $15 million to nearly 800 artists. The foundation also manages the use of her name and image. Her daughter, Princess Caroline, became the president of the Foundation and AMADE Mondiale after her mother's death.
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In 1955, photographer Howell Conant took famous pictures of Grace Kelly in Jamaica. He photographed her without makeup, which was unusual for actresses then. After Grace married, Conant became the unofficial photographer for the royal family. He took many pictures of her, Rainier, and their children. In 1992, Conant published a book of his photos called Grace. Many pop artists, like Andy Warhol and James Gill, have created art inspired by Princess Grace.
In 2012, Grace's childhood home in East Falls, Philadelphia became a Pennsylvania historic landmark. Prince Albert of Monaco bought the house, hoping it could become a museum or offices for the Princess Grace Foundation.
Fashion and Style
In 1956, when Princess Grace was pregnant, she was often seen carrying a special leather handbag made by Hermès. She used it to hide her pregnant belly from photographers. These photos made the purse very popular, and it became known as the Kelly bag.
Grace was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1960. In 1955, she was named the "Best-Tailored Woman." Many exhibitions have shown her life and clothing. Her wedding dress was displayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2006. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London held an exhibition of her wardrobe in 2010. This famous wedding dress took 35 tailors six weeks to make. In 2009, a plaque was placed on the "Rodeo Drive Walk of Style" to honor her contributions to fashion.
After her death, Grace's style continued to inspire. Modern designers like Tommy Hilfiger and Zac Posen have said she influenced their work. She was known for her "fresh faced" look, with natural beauty and little makeup. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London had an exhibit called "Grace Kelly: Style Icon" to celebrate her impact on fashion. She is remembered for her simple, put-together "college-girl" style. In 2016, Forbes magazine included her on a list of "10 Fashion Icons and the Trends They Made Famous."
The look of Betty Draper in the TV series Mad Men was inspired by Grace Kelly. Actresses like Elle Fanning and singer Billie Eilish have worn gowns inspired by Grace Kelly's famous dresses.
In 2021, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA launched a luxury brand called Grace de Monaco. They released their first perfume, Promenade sur le Rocher, named after the Monaco palace.
Monaco and Other Tributes
A beautiful rose garden in Monaco is dedicated to Grace Kelly's memory. Prince Rainier opened it in 1984. A type of rose, called Rosa 'Princesse de Monaco', is named after her. A statue of Grace by Kees Verkade stands in the garden. Prince Rainier also created the Princess Grace Irish Library, which holds her personal collection of over 9,000 books. Avenue Princesse Grace, known as "the most expensive street in the world," is named for her.
In 2007, Monaco held a large exhibition called "The Grace Kelly Years, Princess of Monaco." It featured her letters, personal items, and fashion accessories. The Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo was started in 1985, as Princess Grace had wished. In 1993, Grace Kelly appeared on a U.S. postage stamp. To mark the 25th anniversary of her death, special €2 commemorative coins were made in 2007. In 2019, Monaco released three new postage stamps showing different parts of her life.
In 2003, the Henley Royal Regatta renamed a rowing race the "Princess Grace Challenge Cup." Many hotels around the world have suites inspired by her life, including Hotel Bel-Air and the Shelbourne Hotel. A yacht in Monaco is also named M/Y Grace.
Cheryl Ladd played Grace Kelly in a TV movie in 1983. Nicole Kidman played her in the film Grace of Monaco (2014). The film received mixed reviews, and the royal family of Monaco felt it had historical errors.
In November 2022, the Paris Mint released silver and gold coins to honor the 40th anniversary of Grace Kelly's death.
Works
Filmography
Discography
- "True Love", a song with Bing Crosby from High Society (1956)
- L'Oiseau du Nord et L'Oiseau du Soleil, in French and in English (1978)
- Birds, Beasts & Flowers: A Programme of Poetry, Prose and Music (1980)
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Project | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Theatre World Award | N/A | The Father | Won |
| 1953 | Academy Award | Best Supporting Actress | Mogambo | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won | ||
| 1954 | Academy Award | Best Actress | The Country Girl | Won |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama | Won | ||
| National Board of Review | Best Actress | Won | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Won | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| 1954 | National Board of Review | Best Actress | Rear Window | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 1954 | National Board of Review | Best Actress | Dial M for Murder | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Won | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Bambi Award | Best International Actress | Nominated | ||
| 1956 | Golden Globe Awards | World Favorite Film Female | N/A | Won |
Other Honors
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960)
- Named the 13th Greatest Female Star of Classic American Cinema by the American Film Institute (1999)
- Rosa 'Princesse de Monaco' (1981)
Titles, Styles, and Honors
When she married Prince Rainier III in 1956, she was known as "Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco." She also held all the historical titles of her husband.
National Honors
Monaco: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles
Foreign Honors
Austria: Recipient of the Red Cross Medal
Belgium: Recipient of the Red Cross Medal
France: Recipient of the Red Cross Medal
Greek Royal Family: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Beneficence
Iranian Imperial Family: Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the 2,500 year Celebration of the Persian Empire
Italy: Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Solidarity
Vatican: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Special Class
Nicaragua: Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Darío
Spain: Recipient of the Red Cross Plaque of Honor and Merit
Arms and Emblems
 Coat of arms of Grace as Princess of Monaco |
 Royal monogram of Princess Grace |
Images for kids
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Grace Kelly's signature
See also
In Spanish: Grace Kelly para niños
