Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to wealthy parents on November 12, 1929. Her father was from a prominent Irish family; her mother, Katherine Majer, was a German convert from Lutheranism. Grace knew she wanted to become an actress at a very early age, and after graduating from high school in 1947, she traveled to New York in search of bright lights and success. Her family was opposed to her becoming an actress, and she found work first as a fashion model. In 1949, she made her Broadway debut and she also appeared on television. She soon moved to California, however, drawn to the promise of work in motion pictures.
At the age of twenty-two in 1951, Grace nabbed her first film role in “Fourteen Hours.” The following year marked her big break as Amy Kane in “High Noon” opposite Gary Cooper, with whom she had an affair. In 1953, she appeared in “Mogambo” opposite Ava Gardner and Clark Gable, with whom she also had an affair. She would not become a star, however, until 1954 when Alfred Hitchcock cast her in his classic thriller, “Dial M For Murder” opposite Ray Milland, with whom, well, I’m sure you can guess. (Ray Milland fell in love with Grace Kelly and considered leaving his own wife for her.) Grace then made “Rear Window” later that same year, and won an Academy Award for “Best Actress” in “The Country Girl” (also 1954). Her last Hitchcock film was “To Catch A Thief” in 1955, on the set of which she met her husband-to-be, Prince Ranier of Monaco.
Grace Kelly appeared in eleven films, her last performance in “High Society” (1956) with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. On April 19, 1956, she became Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, and she gave up her acting career. She had three children with Ranier, two girls and one boy.
On September 14, 1982, her life ended tragically in an automobile accident along the rocky, mountainous roads of Monaco. She was only fifty-two years old. She is the first actress ever to have her face appear on a postage stamp.
What are some of YOUR favorite Grace Kelly performances?