Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 - September 14, 1982), later known as Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, was an Oscar-winning American film actress who became the wife of Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Brendan Kelly, Sr. (October 4, 1889 - June 20, 1960) and Margaret Majer ; her Irish Catholic family were new but prominent figures in Philadelphia society. Her father was a self-made millionaire and a gold-medal-winning Olympic sculler, and her brother "Jack" followed in that tradition. Kelly Drive in Philadelphia is named for John, Jr., who was a city councilman there.

Though her family had opposed her becoming an actress, Kelly became a fashion model and appeared in her first film, Fourteen Hours (1951), when she was 22. The following year she "starred" with a minor role in High Noon (1952), a generally praised but somewhat controversial western starring Gary Cooper.

The film Mogambo (1953), a drama set in the Kenyan jungle, centers on the love triangle portrayed by Kelly, Clark Gable, and Ava Gardner. It earned Kelly an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, but the award went to Donna Reed for her role in From Here to Eternity. Kelly made three films with Alfred Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

In 1955 she was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl. While it was being filmed, she had engaged in a brief affair with co-star Bing Crosby which was kept quiet to protect both their reputations.

The musical comedy High Society (1956) was her last film, as her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco marked her retirement from acting. Before her marriage, she was previously involved with Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Ray Milland, William Holden, Oleg Cassini , and Jean-Pierre Aumont. She reportedly was surprised to learn from Rainier that she was expected to give up her film career entirely, but followed his wishes.

Her Catholicism and ability to bear children were key factors in her being chosen to marry Prince Rainier, as dynasties always make great import of their survival. Tales were circulated that Monaco would revert to France in the absence of an heir; and though there is no requirement for a Catholic marriage, it was thought unlikely that a Catholic prince would divorce and remarry if his chosen wife was barren. In fact, there was really little actual danger that Monaco would revert to France as, since 1882, a childless prince of Monaco has been able to adopt an unrelated heir, thereby ensuring Monaco's survival as a principality. Prince Rainier's paternal grandfather, Prince Louis II of Monaco had done just that in 1919 when he adopted his illegitimate daughter Charlotte Louvet, who would become Rainier's mother, and made her his heir Princess Charlotte of Monaco. Nonetheless, survival of the nation was a different matter than the survival of the dynasty, and here there was a history of concern about fertility. Before Grace Kelly drew Rainier's attention, French film star Gisèle Pascal had been his love interest for six years (she was born Gisèle Tallone in Cannes, France). Gisèle and Rainier supposedly parted when a physical examination reportedly found her to be infertile (she later married and had children).

Prince Rainier and Princess Grace had three children:

1. Princess, Caroline Louise Marguerite, born January 23, 1957
2. Prince, Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre, heir to the throne, and Marquis des Baux, born March 14, 1958
3. Princess, Stephanie Marie Elisabeth, born February 1, 1965

In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco clarifies that even if there are no heirs to carry on the dynasty, the Principality will remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Presently, the line of succession is: Prince Albert, Princess Caroline, then her children by second husband Stefano Casiraghi and third husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover.

At the age of 52, Princess Grace suffered a stroke while driving on the same stretch of highway in Monaco that had featured in To Catch a Thief. It resulted in an accident, and she died the next day without regaining consciousness. Princess Stephanie, who was alleged by some sources to have been the actual driver of the car, suffered only minor injuries.

Princess Grace is interred in the St. Nicholas Cathedral, (Monaco Cathedral) Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Filmography

• Fourteen Hours (1951)
• High Noon (1952)
• Mogambo (1953)
• Dial M for Murder (1954)
• Green Fire (1954)
• Rear Window (1954)
• The Country Girl (1954)
• The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
• To Catch a Thief (1955)
• The Swan (1956)
• High Society (1956)

External link

• IMDb filmography
• An ancestor chart of her