princess-grace-kelly-monaco

I’m very, very reluctant to write about anyone who was an Old Hollywood movie star, and Grace Kelly may be the most Old Hollywood of all movie stars. This reluctance is largely because I feel that territory is covered so extremely well over at The Hairpin with Classic Scandals. BUT. I think the most interesting portion of Grace Kelly’s life might be less to do with her acting career, and more with the circumstances leading up to her marriage to Prince Rainier (the III) of Monaco.

Who I have always been disinclined to believe she really loved because, well, Prince Rainier was a roly-poly man and she was the most beautiful woman in the world. As you can see:

And then this is Prince Rainier of Monaco:

When telling her mother of her engagement Grace Kelly said, “He’s most attractive in every way . . . I think he’s very nice.” He certainly does look nice! But he’s still a bit of a roly-poly man compared to some of Grace’s former lovers. Incidentally, I am told not everyone knows what a roly-poly man is. This is a roly-poly man:

So now you know.

larissa

this was a great one! Never knew Grace was so promiscuous, but you wrote it in a way where I don’t feel like she’s being judged. It just seems like she was just trying to find happiness in her own way. I dig it. Good job, as always.
katie richardson

I think they considered Camilla unsuitable because she didn’t have the best pedigree.
- Eileen
  
  That, too, but make no mistake, even given that she was the beautiful daughter of an earl, they called in a doctor to examine Lady Diana to ensure she was a virgin (never mind that that’s actually impossible to do with true accuracy).
- http://twitter.com/JenAshleyWright Jennifer Wright
  
  Diana’s uncle also gave a statement to the press announcing that she was a “bona fide virgin.”
Eileen

I never know quite what to think about Grace Kelly. She allegedly slept around a lot, BUT she was also a really famous movie star, and I always sort of think that once someone has a reputation for sleeping around, men start saying they’ve slept with her because what kind of man would they be if they hadn’t? (See also: That terrible Emma Stone movie)

But I do think she probably loved her husband, and Monaco, because she gave up her career for them. Seriously, the only movies she got to make afterwards were tourism videos for visiting Monaco. And I think that if she hadn’t, Monaco would have figured it out and gotten pissed off (Monaco is a teeny-tiny country – anyone who lives there’s met the prince. Hell, my best friend’s met Prince Albert, and she only dated a man who lived there). Then again, she was a professional actress.
castallare

Fuuuuuuck yeah, Cary Grant tops that mo’fuckin’ list. Holla. (I don’t know why that just happened.)
Candace

Taylor Swift is a poormans Grace Kelly.
- Jade
  
  Taylor Swift isn’t even comparable to Grace Kelly. Other than they are both female.
- http://www.facebook.com/karen.valdivia Karen Valdivia
  
  Amen. Taylor is just trying too hard to sell her “new millenium princess” image.
Cate

I feel like Gary Cooper should be higher on this list, above William Holden, at least. Maybe even above JFK, simply because JFK did not treat ladies very well at all.
Otherwise the list order is perfect.
Sabrina

If I were Grace Kelly and had the opportunity to sleep with all of the men on that list AND be married to a prince? I would too. Cary Grant, hizzuh!
Reese

i found this so fascinating. You did a fantastic job. I knew that Blair Waldorf is modeled after grace kelly a bit on gossip girl but as i read this i noticed so many similarities in the GG plot and Grace’s life. Its so funny how everyone was intent on helping her keep her scandals secret.
Margaux

Miss Wright, I must say that this has been another cleverly-written article. I absolutely adore the shelved dolls articles and I hope to see more of it. I like Grace because I think that it was great that she got to sleep around and still be respected (or loved) by her husband. Who was also sleeping around a lot that time. The first liberated woman indeed.
Annie

I love these “Shelved Dolls” articles, they’re so well-written and fascinating. Keep up the great work!

TheGloss

Shelved Dolls: Princess Grace – She Seduced Men By Getting Naked All The Time. It Didn’t Work Out.