Princess or actress? Surprising facts about the tragic fate of Grace Kelly

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Rich but unhappy childhood

Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia. Her father, John Brendan Kelly, was a three-time Olympic rowing champion who made his fortune in brick construction.

The father always preferred eldest daughter Peggy: “We always competed for her love,” Grace recalls. The mother approved of corporal punishment. Subsequently, relatives noticed that the actress herself sometimes spanks children.

Grace Kelly began performing on stage during her school years. In addition, she studied ballet, but with a height of 167 cm she was too tall for him.

Invaluable support was provided by her father’s brothers: actor Walter and screenwriter George. But her parents did not see her as an actress. Nevertheless, Grace went against the family and entered the Academy of Drama.

After that, her parents deprived her of financial support, and Kelly won as a model. She starred in commercials and received about $400 a week (and then it was much more than $400 – 26,000 rubles – today).

Kelly’s Catholic family grew even more estranged from her when she began an affair with a Jewish actor. He was married, but separated from his wife before the affair, but more so, they did not like his nationality. However, the relationship did not last long.

Kelly wanted to act in films, but she started her career on Broadway. She participated in several productions, but she realized that her high voice did not sound very good on stage. She worked on it, but nothing worked.

The first film with her participation was the tape “Believe it or not” (1950). Two years later, the director Alfred Hitchcock offers him a meeting. As a result, she starred in three of his films in 1954-55: “In Case of Murder, Dial M”, “Back Window”, “Catch a Thief”.

Hitchcock becomes his mentor, and she becomes his muse: “Thanks to Alfred, I realized that the murder scenes should be short, like those of love.

The career of the movie actress lasted only seven years, but Grace Kelly managed to get two Golden Globes and an Oscar (Country Girl) and write her name in world cinema history. And not only.

In 1956, Grace married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, who became the ruler of the country. Newspapers called the wedding ceremony of the century. The beaded dress was made by designer Helen Rose and donated to the actress by MGM. The outfit took more than 90 meters of tulle and silk!

The ceremony itself was held in Monaco, attended by 600 guests, including Cary Grant and Aristotle Onassis, and the cake weighed 90 kilograms.

After the wedding, the new husband forbade Grace Kelly to act, and films with her participation were no longer shown in Monaco. Looks like it was her decision: Grace wasn’t going to give up her career after the wedding: “I’m reading new scenarios, choosing the best ones, I’m not going to leave,” she said a few months before the ceremony .

In 1962, she wanted to return and even agreed to participate in a new Hitchcock film, but her husband again imposed a ban on acting. But who has improved? Certainly not Grace!

In 1957, Carolina was born, a year later – Albert II (the current ruler of Monaco), in 1965 – Stephanie. All three remember that in their childhood, they were closer to the nanny than to their own parents. Grace Kelly loved children, but they bored her.

But she did not leave attempts to return to the screen. In 1977, the 30-minute documentary Reloaded was filmed, but it was never released due to a ban imposed by her husband.

The actress opened a fund to support the arts in Monaco and beyond, and at least got busy with useful activities. She also supported the Red Cross and an organization for orphans.

On September 13, 1982, Grace took her daughter Stephanie to Paris. In a sharp turn, the car came off the track and rolled down the mountain for about 40 meters. Stephanie escaped with minor injuries, while Grace was seriously injured. Doctors deemed her condition too serious and, under Renier’s direction, disconnected her from life support devices.

Princess Caroline later recalled that Stephanie said her mother complained about broken brakes. The mystery of the accident has not yet been solved. It is unclear why she was driving herself, and not the driver, perhaps she had a brain hemorrhage, which led to the tragedy. But we will never know.

Grace’s funeral was held at the same St. Nicholas Cathedral, where she was married 26 years ago. The procession was broadcast on television, the audience was over 100 million. Everyone loved Grace Kelly… except, maybe, her own husband.