Little Known Facts About the Legendary Grace Kelly

Grace Patricia Kelly, a famous American film actress who became the Princess of Monaco, was born 85 years ago, on November 12, 1929.

Above: Grace Kelly in "To Catch A Thief".

While she is widely known for the acting skills that earned her an Academy Award and her marriages, there are many lesser-known facts surrounding this remarkable woman.

Above: Grace Kelly, 18 months old.

Fact 1: Before marrying Prince Rainier, Grace Kelly was engaged to Oleg Cassini, a fashion designer renowned for dressing Jacqueline Kennedy.

Above: Grace Kelly puts on a bathrobe.

Fact 2: Grace Kelly was Alfred Hitchcock's favorite actress and muse, starring in two of his most successful films, 'Dial M for Murder' and 'Rear Window'.

Above: Alfred Hitchcock and Grace Kelly.

Fact 3: Kelly's engagement ring was a 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond with a platinum band. She can be seen wearing it in High Society, the last movie Grace Kelly starred in.

Above: Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly starring in "High Society".

Fact 4: Even after becoming the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly kept sending her Philadelphia neighbors hand-signed Christmas cards.

Above: Grace Kelly

Fact 5: The shoes paired with Grace’s wedding dress were designed by David Evins. A copper penny was built into the right shoe for good luck.

Above: Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco.

Fact 6: Despite all of her numerous accomplishments, Grace Kelly had a hard time impressing her father, John B. Kelly, head of a respectable brickwork contracting company and a three-times Olympic gold medalist.

Above: Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly starring in 'High Noon'.

Fact 7: Grace Kelly had mixed feelings about her royal wedding. She didn't look at the photo albums of it for 2 years after the ceremony.

Above: The wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.

Fact 9: In 1993, Grace Kelly became the first actress to appear on an American postage stamp.

Above: Princess Grace Kelly with her son, Prince Albert.

Fact 10: Grace Kelly never originally planned to be a movie star, instead seeking to become a stage actress.

Above: Grace Kelly.

Fact 11: Grace Kelly hated Hollywood, calling it "a town without pity."

Above: Grace Kelly and Lydia Reed in 'High Society'.

Fact 12: Grace was very good friends with the Kennedy family. When John F. Kennedy was in hospital with a problem in 1959, Jackie helped Grace to disguise herself as a nurse just so she could sneak in and visit him to cheer up her friend.

Above: Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly and US President John F. Kennedy.

Fact 13: In 1962, Grace managed to convince her reluctant husband to support her taking the leading role in Alfred Hitchcock’s 'Marnie', but was forced to withdraw from the role due to disapproval amongst the Monégasques.

Above: Grace Kelly holding her Academy Award for Best Actress that she earned for her performance in "The Country Girl."

Fact 14: Following her death, the widower Prince Rainier prohibited the movies that Grace Kelly starred in from ever being shown in Monaco.

Above: Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco, watches his wife Grace Kelly playing darts.