Grace Kelly: From Actress to Princess
by Guy Belleranti
Born in 1929 in Philadelphia, PA, Grace Patricia Kelly became one of the
most loved and admired movie actresses of the 1950’s.
Actually Grace Kelly started out as a fashion model. She then acted in a
number of anthology television dramas of the late 1940’s and early
1950’s. A few of these included episodes on Kraft Television Theatre, The
Philco Television Playhouse and The Armstrong Circle Theatre.
Kelly’s first film was Fourteen Hours in 1951. She followed this up with
the western classic High Noon in 1952, playing opposite Gary Cooper.
John Ford cast Kelly along with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner in 1953’s
Mogambo. Kelly was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting actress in
the movie, and she won the Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress award.
In 1954 the beautiful and talented actress starred in 5 films: Dial M for
Murder, Rear Window, The County Girl, Green Fire and The Bridges at Toko-Ri. Kelly won Best Actress honors from both the Academy Awards and
Golden Globes for her performance in the movie The Country Girl
Alfred Hitchcock cast her as leading lady in three of his films – Dial M
for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief (1955).
Kelly’s final two films were The Swan and High Society, both released in
1956.
Over her acting career she worked opposite many big name actors including
Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Ray Milland, James Stewart, Cary Grant, Alec
Guinness, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. She had alleged romances with
Gable, Crosby, Milland, Grant and Davis Niven among others.
On April 19, 1956 Grace Kelly left the acting world when she married
Prince Rainier III of Monaco, becoming Princess of Monaco. Later on, she
did provide narration in a couple of films, but she never appeared in
another movie as an actress.
Reportedly, Alfred Hitchcock wanted to cast her as his leading lady in
Marnie (1964), but she didn’t accept the offer. Other attempts to lure
her back into films also failed.
Princess Grace and Prince Rainier had three children – Caroline, Albert
and Stéphanie.
On September 14, 1982 Princess Grace and daughter, Stéphanie, were
driving a stretch of highway in Monaco. The Princess apparently suffered
a stroke while driving and was killed in the resulting crash.
She continues to be remembered today as a graceful and beautiful woman
whether as princess or actress. Indeed, the name “Grace” fit her to a
“T”.
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