American Hollywood actress who became Princess of Monaco by marrying Rainier III in 1956. An Oscar-winning star, she gave up her film career for her royal role and devoted herself to cultural and charitable patronage until her death in 1982.
Grace of Monaco
Grace of Monaco
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia (United States)
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 for “The Country Girl”
- Acted for Alfred Hitchcock (“Rear Window” 1954, “To Catch a Thief” 1955)
- Married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19, 1956, and became princess
- Died on September 14, 1982, in a car accident in Monaco
Works & Achievements
Western with Gary Cooper that launched her Hollywood career. She plays the sheriff's Quaker wife.
Adventure film shot in Africa with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. It earned her her first Oscar nomination.
Alfred Hitchcock thriller in which she plays a threatened wife. The first of her three films with the master of suspense.
Hitchcock masterpiece that became a cinema classic. Her elegant performance in it remains famous.
Drama that earned her the Best Actress Oscar in 1955. In it she sheds her glamorous image for an understated role.
Her last film with Hitchcock, shot on the French Riviera. The shoot brought her geographically closer to her Monégasque destiny.
Musical comedy that was her final film before her marriage. In it she stars alongside Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
Charitable organization supporting young artists and humanitarian causes. It extends her commitment as a patron in Monaco.
Anecdotes
In 1955, Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco during the Cannes Film Festival, where she posed for a photo shoot at the princely palace. Less than a year later, they married: the world's press immediately dubbed the event “the wedding of the century.”
During their first meeting, a power outage at the palace forced Grace to hastily fix her hair with a flowered headband, as it was in disarray. This improvised image would paradoxically become one of the most famous of the future princess.
The diplomatic horse-trading of the marriage called for a considerable dowry to be paid by the Kelly family to the Rock: Grace's father, a wealthy building contractor in Philadelphia, had to fork out about two million dollars of the time.
Grace Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 for “The Country Girl,” beating the favorite Judy Garland. At 26, at the height of her fame, she nonetheless left Hollywood for good the following year to become a princess.
The famous manufacturer Hermès renamed one of its bags the “Kelly” after a photo of the princess using it to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi went around the world in 1956.
Primary Sources
The thrill of this moment keeps me from saying what I really feel. I can only say thank you with all my heart.
His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III and Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kelly have the honor of announcing the engagement of their children.
Grace had what I call sexual elegance, an indirect sensuality, concealed beneath an apparent calm.
Key Places
Birthplace of Grace Kelly, where her Irish-American family prospered in the construction business. She grew up there in a wealthy, Catholic household.
Capital of American cinema where she built her acting career in the 1950s. It was here that she shot her most famous films.
Official residence of the Grimaldi family on the Rock, where she lived as a princess from 1956 onward. She raised her three children there.
Home of the international film festival where she met Prince Rainier in 1955. This encounter changed the course of her life.
The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, where the religious wedding took place in 1956. She now rests there alongside Prince Rainier.
Typical Objects
Leather handbag renamed in her honor after she popularized it. It became a worldwide symbol of elegance and luxury.
Golden statuette presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It honored her performance in “The Country Girl.”
Jeweled crown worn during official Monégasque ceremonies. It embodied her new rank as a sovereign princess.
Gown of antique lace and silk created by MGM studio costume designer Helen Rose. It was watched by millions of viewers during the wedding.
Camera from the studios of Hollywood's golden age, in front of which she acted under Hitchcock's direction. It symbolizes her career as an Oscar-winning actress.
Work devoted to the art of flower arranging, a passion she cultivated in Monaco. She herself published a book on dried flowers.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
An active princess, Grace often began her day with correspondence and reviewing the affairs of the principality. An attentive mother, she made sure her children left for school before her official appointments.
Afternoon
Her afternoons were divided between protocol engagements, charitable visits, and presiding over organizations such as the Monegasque Red Cross. She also nurtured her passion for flower arranging.
Evening
Evenings were devoted to gala dinners, the festivities of the Bal de la Rose, and welcoming distinguished guests to the palace. The princely family also shared more intimate moments together.
Food
At the princely table, refined cuisine was served, blending French and Mediterranean gastronomy. Yet Grace, mindful of her figure as a former actress, watched what she ate.
Clothing
A fashion icon, she wore haute couture outfits by Dior, Givenchy, and Balenciaga. Her understated elegance, her gloves, and her famous Hermès handbag made her a benchmark of style.
Housing
She lived in the Prince's Palace of Monaco, the vast Grimaldi residence overlooking the Mediterranean. The family also owned country properties, notably the Roc Agel estate.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Le train sifflera trois fois (High Noon)
1952
Une fille de la province (The Country Girl)
1954
