This Week's Goddess - Grace Kelly

This week's Hollywood Goddess was chosen because she really is one of the most lovely and photographed hollywood goddesses of her time:

Grace Kelly

and her latest Biography by Donald Spoto was also recently released:

Grace Kelly started her career, against her families wishes, as a model studying at the New York American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Her first role was as the saintly Quaker wife of Gary Cooper in "High Noon."

"High Noon"

After the critical acclaim and box office success of "High Noon" she signed on with MGM and was cast with Clark Cable and Ava Gardner in "Mogambo:" She was nominated for Supporting Actress:

"Mogambo" (1953) with Clark Gable

She had caught the eye of Alfed Hitchcock who was looking for an elegant golden-haired lady to cast in his latest films:

"Dial M for Murder" (1954) - Murder Scene

Kissing Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window" (1954)

She then starred opposite William Holden as the wife of a drunk artist in "Country Girl" for which she controversially won the Oscar for Best Actress (even though many thought the award should have gone to Judy Garland for "Star is Born" who was also nominated that same year).

"The Country Girl" (1954) with Bing Crosby and William Holden

Grace went on to co-star again with Holden:

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)

and then co-starred with Cary Grant in one of the most beloved Hitchcock films:

with Cary Grant in Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief" (1955)

Grace starred opposite Omar Sheriff and Alec Guiness in the melodramatic British TV miniseries "The Swan..."

"The Swan" (1956) with Omar Sheriff and Alec Guiness

before making her final film appearance with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in "High Society:"

with Frank Sinatra in "High Society" (1956)

"True Love" by Cole Porter with Bing Crosby

After "High Society" Grace met the Prince Rainer of Monoco and after a 3-day courtship, she sailed to Monoco and began her life as a beloved celebrity princess:

Marriage to the Prince of Monaco

It was clear Prince Rainer adored her:

but, after their marrige he forced Grace to give up her acting career to focus on their life and children.

Grace adored her children...

...and continued to be a fashionista:

...but she seemed to miss the film spotlight and her film work.

There was only one other woman she met who ever related to the kind of sacrifices she made:

Few were aware that Kelly also played a role in the fight against segregation in her time. She became a good friend of Louis Armstrong on the set of "High Society"...

and was a very close friend and supporter of Josephine Baker.

When Jospephine died, Grace arranged for her to be buried in Monoco:

Grace Kelly (black suit in glasses in the front row)
at Josephine Baker's funeral

She aged with amazing beauty and, of course, grace:

but it seems her life ended unhappily...

Last Interview with Grace Kelly

She tragically died after suffering a stroke while driving with her daughter .

This is what Jimmy Stewart had to say at her funeral:

"You know, I just love Grace Kelly. Not because she was a princess, not because she was an actress, not because she was my friend, but because she was just about the nicest lady I ever met. Grace brought into my life as she brought into yours, a soft, warm light every time I saw her, and every time I saw her was a holiday of its own. No question, I'll miss her, we'll all miss her, God bless you, Princess Grace."
- Jimmy Stewart at the funeral of Grace Kelly

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