On November 12, Grace Kelly (1929 – 1982) would have celebrated her 93rd birthday surrounded by her royal family, had it not been for a tragic car accident that took the actress-princess’s life 40 years ago. The magnetic Hollywood blonde left behind a cloud of mountain dust and a trail of speculation.
Women like her are rare, which is why everyone talks about them. For a long time—both before Grace faded into obscurity and after—endless discussions have revolved around the nature of her popularity.
Critics tried to convince the public that the Hollywood actress was utterly devoid of talent, claiming her allure was solely due to her captivating beauty. They argued that Alfred Hitchcock, who cast Grace in his films, and her co-stars often lost their minds when they saw the enchanting beauty, completely abandoning their professional instincts.
To debunk the naysayers, one only needs to revisit the films featuring Grace Kelly, reaffirming her skill and the fact that Oscars were not handed out to everyone during that era (referring to her statuette for her role in “The Country Girl,” 1954).
In supporting Grace, we, as difficult as it may be, do not focus solely on her physical attractiveness. If everything revolved around this fleeting characteristic, film scholars would have little to study. Hollywood at that time cultivated a trend for platinum blondes and eventually became saturated with them. Not all of them had a chance for recognition. Grace is one of the few whose name is etched in the history of cinema in bold letters.
As Kelly carved her path to cinematic Olympus, she wielded a magical tool: charisma. Or, to put it another way, charm. The ability of charm to dominate, manipulate, and influence has only recently been acknowledged. This, in essence, is what charisma is—a term worn thin by modern image-makers. The keys to the success of the charismatic Grace also included determination, hard work, and, of course, talent.
Among her long list of romantic partners were mostly the most prestigious. Kelly belonged to that rare type of woman who could do anything. Their actions are judged by a different standard—a more liberal one, so to speak. While others strayed, Grace indulged in her passions. While others were condemned for numerous intimate relationships, Grace traveled among men, discovering herself and the world.
By the way, the great Hitchcock referred to his favorite actress as a “snow-capped volcano.”
When the seductress turned 26, she ended her single life and chose the role of a princess—not a cinematic one, but a real one. She married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, later becoming the mother of their children: Caroline, Albert, and Stéphanie. This transformation of a Hollywood star worked wonders for the PR of the small country, drawing in tourists. To this day, interest in this royal family remains endlessly heated.
The Prince and Princess of Monaco arrive at the White House for lunch (1961)
As for Grace in her roles as wife and mother, she may have gained something in those areas. However, cinema lost out, as it was deprived of one of its most charming actresses.
True, she made sporadic appearances and hosted poetry evenings for her loyal fans. But this was already a different Grace Kelly.
In 1982, following a car accident on a steep road, the princess was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. She never regained consciousness. With her family’s consent, she was removed from life support. Her unexpected death—let’s be harsh—was, in a sense, a blessing for Grace, whose beauty was gradually fading as she approached her 53rd birthday. Fate spared fans of celebrity gossip the chance to witness the slow aging of the star. Instead, she remains forever an icon of perfection.
Selected filmography: “Fourteen Hours” (1951), “High Noon” (1952), “Mogambo” (1953), “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” “The Country Girl,” “Green Fire,” “The Bridges at Toko-Ri” (1954), “To Catch a Thief” (1955), “The Swan,” “High Society” (1956), “Poppies Are Also Flowers” (1966).