ACTOR · BORN 1929 · DIED 1982
Grace Kelly
- Born
- 12 November 1929, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Died
- 14 September 1982
- Known for
- Rear Window (1954), Dial M for Murder (1954), To Catch a Thief (1955), High Noon (1952)
71 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
27 Interesting Facts About Grace Kelly
- #004
Grace Kelly went down in history as the first actress to appear on a postage stamp. The title underscores her unique position both in the world of cinema and in Monaco's royal family. The stamp immortalized her beauty and elegance.
- #007
The traffic accident that caused Grace Kelly's death apparently resulted from a stroke she suffered while driving. The tragic event took place in Monaco on September 14, 1982. Kelly's sudden death caused great sorrow around the world.
- #009
Grace Kelly's wedding dress was the most expensive garment MGM designer Helen Rose ever made. Sewn using twenty-five yards of silk taffeta and one hundred yards of silk net, the dress was adorned with 125-year-old rose-point lace and thousands of pearls. This magnificent gown became an unforgettable part of the 1956 wedding.
- #010
Grace Kelly hoped to return to acting in Alfred Hitchcock's 1964 film 'Marnie'. However, the people of Monaco did not want their princess to play a thief and share romantic scenes with Sean Connery. Kelly therefore had to turn the role down and ended her film career.
- #015
Grace Kelly's films were banned in Monaco by order of Prince Rainier. The ban was imposed to ensure the princess cut herself off completely from her film career. Kelly complied with the ban in order to adapt to the royal family.
- #016
While pregnant with Princess Caroline, Grace Kelly often used her Hermès bag to hide her belly from paparazzi. This led to the bag becoming known as the 'Kelly bag'. Hermès immortalized the bag under her name, and it is still regarded today as an iconic fashion accessory.
- #018
In January 1959, the Austrian government awarded Grace Kelly a medal of merit for helping Hungarian refugees. Kelly had helped Hungarians fleeing the Soviet invasion through the Monaco Red Cross. The award shows the importance she placed on humanitarian work.
- #019
During the period she lived in New York, Grace Kelly was one of the famous tenants of the Barbizon Hotel for Women. Over the years the hotel hosted many celebrities, including Kim Basinger, Candice Bergen, Liza Minnelli, Cloris Leachman, Ali MacGraw and Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. Kelly's stay at the hotel recalls her modest beginnings.
- #020
In 1995, Empire magazine ranked Grace Kelly 5th among the 100 sexiest stars in film history. The ranking underscores her timeless beauty and her allure on screen. Even years after her death, Kelly is still regarded as an icon.
- #024
Grace Kelly's tombstone in the Monaco Cathedral does not use the title 'princess'. Instead it bears the phrase 'uxor principis' (wife of the prince), which is traditional in the Grimaldi dynasty. This shows how her position in the royal family was officially defined.
- #030
Grace Kelly's first date, Harper Davis, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after returning from World War II and died in 1953. Kelly attended his funeral. This event shows the emotional ties of her youth.
- #032
When Grace Kelly left Hollywood, some roles offered to her went to Lauren Bacall: 'Designing Woman' (1957) and 'The Cobweb' (1955). Director George Stevens also wanted her for 'Giant' (1956). Kelly's early retirement changed the casts of many projects.
- #036
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier's wedding ceremony took place on 19 April 1956 at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco and was specially filmed by MGM. This footage was released as the documentary 'The Wedding in Monaco' (1956). Six hundred guests attended the ceremony, including David Niven, Gloria Swanson, Ava Gardner and Conrad Hilton.
- #039
Grace Kelly made only eleven films, but most of the actors who appeared alongside her in them were considerably older than she was. Gary Cooper and Clark Gable were 28 years older, Bing Crosby 26, Cary Grant 25, Ray Milland 22 and James Stewart 21. Others included Robert Cummings (19 years), James Warren and Stewart Granger (16 years), Frank Sinatra (14 years), William Holden (11 years) and Louis Jourdan (8 years).
- #043
Grace Kelly has been commemorated in numerous songs, among them Die Ärzte's 'Grace Kelly', Eels' 'Grace Kelly Blues', Piebald's 'Grace Kelly with Wings' and Mika's 'Grace Kelly'. These songs demonstrate her lasting impact on popular culture. Kelly continues to be a source of inspiration in both the film and music worlds.
- #045
Grace Kelly was considered for the role of Maggie the Cat in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (1958), but the part ultimately went to Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor's performance drew great acclaim. Kelly's loss of the role coincided with the period after the end of her film career.
- #046
Cecil B. DeMille wanted Grace Kelly to play Sephora, Moses's wife, in 'The Ten Commandments' (1956). MGM, however, refused to loan Kelly to Paramount, and the role went to Yvonne De Carlo. Kelly nonetheless visited the set, and a photograph of her shaking hands with Anne Baxter appeared in the press.
- #047
It was claimed that the car Grace Kelly was driving in the traffic accident that killed her was a British Rover 3500. This detail gave rise to speculation about the circumstances of the crash. Kelly's death remains a tragedy that has never been fully explained.
- #052
Actress Rita Gam was among the bridesmaids at Grace Kelly's wedding. Gam was one of Kelly's close friends. This detail shows that Kelly carried her Hollywood friendships into her wedding as well.
- #053
It was claimed that Grace Kelly, as a member of the Twentieth Century Fox board, was responsible for shutting down Russ Meyer's unfinished film 'Who Killed Bambi?'. The claim points to her influence in the film industry. There is, however, no definitive information on the matter.
- #056
Of the eleven films Grace Kelly made, the one she liked least was 'Green Fire' (1954). The film is known as a production she did not consider very successful in her career. Kelly did not remember her experience on the film fondly.
- #057
Grace Kelly is among the celebrities mentioned in Billy Joel's song 'We Didn't Start The Fire'. The song recounts the major events and figures of the 20th century. Kelly's presence on that list is an indication of her cultural impact.
- #061
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered $70,000 to Grace Kelly for her wedding, including dresses and a bonus. The offer reflected the studio's high regard for Kelly, and she accepted it to finance her wedding.
- #062
Grace Kelly's biography appears on pages 447-450 of the first volume (1981-1985) of 'The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives'. The encyclopedia documents significant figures in American history, and Kelly's inclusion underscores her importance in American culture.
- #064
Men's Health magazine ranked Grace Kelly 86th on its list of the '100 Hottest Women of All Time'. The ranking highlights her elegance as well as her physical attractiveness, and Kelly is remembered for her acting as much as her beauty.
- #067
One of Grace Kelly's acquaintances from the jet-set circle on the Riviera was Carole Mallory, a fellow Philadelphia native. The two enjoyed drinking wine together, and the friendship was part of Kelly's social life.
- #068
In Italy, most of Grace Kelly's films were dubbed by Fiorella Betti. She was also dubbed by Miranda Bonansea in 'High Noon' (1952), by Dhia Cristiani in 'Dial M for Murder' (1954) and by Rina Morelli in 'To Catch a Thief' (1955). These voice artists brought Kelly to Italian audiences.
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