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Irish America (1999) - Grace Kelly: Princess

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Stewart Granger, a co-star on another film, Green Fire, also praised Kelly's poise. "She has a mental attitude that says, well, if there's nothing she can do about a bad situation, she's perfectly calm," remarked Granger. "If there's something she can do about it, then she's not calm. It's a wonderful philosophy of life." During her lifetime, Kelly made several trips to Ireland, and bought her ancestral home in Louisburgh, County Mayo. Her grandfather, John Henry Kelly, had left his native Mayo in the 1860s, landing in Vermont, where he met and married fellow Irish immigrant Mary Anne Costello in 1869. They eventually settled in Philadelphia and had ten children, one of whom was [John Brendan], the father of Princess Grace and a champion oarsman. [Grace Patricia Kelly]'s brother, John Junior, or "Kell" as he was known, took his father's athletic prowess a step further. "John Kelly, grandson of an Irish pig farmer...won the Olympic singles gold medal," his proud sister is recorded as saying years later. Grace's uncle, George Kelly, won a Pulitzer Prize for his play Craig's Wife.

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Grace Kelly: Princess

She was known for her icy cool blond poise and her ladylike charm, and when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, it was seen the world over as a fairytale match -- the prince had found his beautiful princess.

Born in Philadelphia to Margaret Majer and John Brendan "Jack" Kelly on November 12, 1929, Grace Patricia Kelly was a leading lady long before she met Prince Rainier. Discovered while modeling in New York, she went on to act in almost a dozen feature films. Her first stage appearance occurred at the age of 11, when she acted with The Old Academy Players, an East Falls little-theater group. According to Kelly family biographer Arthur H. Lewis, "Miss Kelly did nothing outstanding there but was respected as a quiet, dependable member of the cast."

Kelly won an Academy Award in 1954 for her portrayal of Georgie in The Country Girl. Actor William Holden, with whom she starred in that movie, said of her, "With some actresses you have to keep snapping them to attention like a puppy. Grace is always concentrating. In fact, she sometimes keeps me on track."

Stewart Granger, a co-star on another film, Green Fire, also praised Kelly's poise. "She has a mental attitude that says, well, if there's nothing she can do about a bad situation, she's perfectly calm," remarked Granger. "If there's something she can do about it, then she's not calm. It's a wonderful philosophy of life."

As the star of such notable movies as High Noon and High Society, Kelly was the epitome of glamour and grace. She once remarked that she had no intention of becoming "a beautiful but dumb clotheshorse," adding, "I don't want to dress up a picture with just my face. If anybody starts using me as scenery, I'll return to New York." Director Alfred Hitchcock also chose her to star in three of his best-known works: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. By the end of 1954, she was the number one female box office attraction in America, receiving more fan mail than any other MGM star.

Said actor Jimmy Stewart: "She has great beauty and a quality that hits you like a cyclone.... She has class. Not just the class of being a lady -- I don't think that has anything to do with it -- but she'll always have the class you find in a really great racehorse."

Kelly retired from acting upon her marriage to Prince Rainier, and the couple had three children: Caroline, Albert and Stephanie. Her sudden death on September 14, 1982 in a car accident shook her legions of fans who had not stopped hoping for her eventual return to the screen.

During her lifetime, Kelly made several trips to Ireland, and bought her ancestral home in Louisburgh, County Mayo. Her grandfather, John Henry Kelly, had left his native Mayo in the 1860s, landing in Vermont, where he met and married fellow Irish immigrant Mary Anne Costello in 1869. They eventually settled in Philadelphia and had ten children, one of whom was John Brendan, the father of Princess Grace and a champion oarsman. Grace's brother, John Junior, or "Kell" as he was known, took his father's athletic prowess a step further. "John Kelly, grandson of an Irish pig farmer ... won the Olympic singles gold medal," his proud sister is recorded as saying years later. Grace's uncle, George Kelly, won a Pulitzer Prize for his play Craig's Wife.

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