The Untold Scandals Behind Grace Kelly’s Perfect Image

The Tragic Story Of Grace Kelly, Hollywood's Fallen Princess
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Classic Facts About Grace Kelly, Hollywood's Lost Princess
Sep 13
PEOPLE
Stephanie Kelsey
Grace Kelly got to live every little girl’s dream by transforming from a glamorous actress into a beloved princess. When Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco, she traded in her scandalous Hollywood career for a golden crown—but her fairy tale romance came at a heartbreakingly high cost.
1. She Was The Ugly Duckling
Born into a wealthy but strict family, Grace Kelly was, surprisingly, not  the star of the show. Compared to her three robust siblings, she seemed the weakest of them all: skinny, sickly, and terribly shy. Shrinking in her family's shadow, Grace retreated inward and used her imagination to escape the feeling of being the odd one out.
In her childhood fantasies, Grace was the princess of her own story. Of course, she had no idea that these dreams would become her twisted fate.
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2. She Was The Rebellious One
Grace grew up in a massive home, decked out with luxuries every little princess could want. Her parents raised her as a devout Catholic and sent her to the best schools. But for any privileged child, the pressure of perfection often breeds rebellion—and Grace was no exception. Going against the grain, she bent the rules in a startlingly  unholy way.
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3. Her Dreams Scandalized Her Parents
There was always a war within Grace. On one hand, she wanted to please her parents, but on the other, she wasn't averse to being a downright hellraiser. She dated the bad boys and preferred acting over sports. However, her dreams of becoming an actress elicited a disturbing reaction from her father who, at the time, considered the profession "a slim cut above streetwalker".
But did this barrage of disapproval stop Grace Kelly? Not a chance.
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4. She Didn't Stand Out From The Crowd
Although Grace Kelly is considered one of the most stunning Hollywood actresses, she wasn't always considered the belle of the ball. Growing up, her friends always saw her wearing headscarves and glasses, her slim figure hidden away by bulky sweaters. In fact, they never considered her to be a great beauty. Of course, once they began to see Grace Kelly appear on screen, they couldn't believe their eyes.
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5. She Had A Fairytale Transformation
You see, after moving to New York to attend drama school, Grace Kelly underwent a serious transformation. She worked hard on her elocution, nailing her signature accent: slightly British and softly rounded. But her voice wasn't her only bargaining chip. Grace took control over her image—and when she stepped behind the camera, she had the power to make jaws drop.
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6. Her Beauty Shocked Them
In no time at all, 20-year-old Grace Kelly morphed from a timid schoolgirl into a gorgeous leading lady. She became a sought-after model and began acting in commercials. She was refined and glamorous, and one of her old friends admitted to seeing her in action and thinking, "My heavens,  that's our Grace"? It was a Cinderella story in the making—but sadly, it did  not promise a fairytale ending.
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7. She Broke The Rules
At her father's insistence, Grace Kelly stayed at the Barbizon Hotel for Women in Manhattan—and for one sobering reason. Her parents believed this female-only residence would help keep Grace out of trouble. But they were sorely mistaken. Most scandalously, Grace was reportedly "fond of dancing to Hawaiian music down the hallways...and given to shocking her fellow residents by performing topless ".
Oh, but that was only the beginning.
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8. She Dated Her Teacher
Along with her reckless antics at the Barbizon, Grace also took on an unsuitable lover. Theater director Don Richardson taught Grace at the college and  knew  that she was destined for greatness: "The camera did more than love her. It was insane about her—just like I was".  Unfortunately, Richardson's devotion to Grace wasn't enough to win her parents over.
When she brought her beau home to meet her family, it ended in disaster.
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9. She Never Received Their Blessing
When it came to her relationships, Grace's family was usually the nail in the coffin. Don Richardson was simply the first boyfriend in a long line of disappointments. You see, no matter who she fell for, her parents staunchly refused to give her their blessing unless the match was exactly what they envisioned for her. But although she felt stifled in her love life, she could take consolation in one thing...
Her career was about to catapult sky-high.
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10. She Fell For Her Leading Man
Although Grace had no trouble bagging parts in television, she truly believed that theater was the nobler pursuit. In 1951, the 22-year-old traveled to Denver to perform in summer stock and this is where Hollywood came knocking. Her first big break?  High Noon— a Western where she played opposite one of Hollywood's most notorious leading men, Gary Cooper .
Of course, Grace couldn't resist the charms of her love interest. Behind closed doors, her libido raged out of control and sparked the first of  many scandalous affairs.
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11. She Loved Older Men
Gary Cooper set the stage for Grace Kelly's turbulent love life. He was  exactly her type: decades older than her and married. She tended to go for strapping, authoritative men that were reminiscent of her father. What's more? Cooper certainly had no problem kissing and telling. Later, he revealed, "She looked like a cold dish with a man until you got her pants down, then she'd explode".
Grace Kelly's red-hot beginnings in Hollywood unleashed her naughty side—and it would only spill over into her next project.
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12. She Was A Classy Replacement
Although Grace didn't receive rave reviews for her performance in High Noon,  she still managed to catch the eye of director John Ford who described her as having "breeding, quality, and class". So, when Gene Tierney dropped her role in his upcoming production,  Mogambo,  Ford turned to Grace Kelly as her replacement. And so began  another scandalous production.
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13. She Had Her Eye On Him
Mogambo's  hot Nairobi setting promised a slick adventure for the Hollywood newcomer. Coming from wealth, Grace could afford to be picky about her roles. After all, she had options. However, she really wanted to be in this  particular production. She later said, “ Mogambo  had three things that interested me: John Ford, Clark Gable , and a trip to Africa with expenses paid".
Again, Grace had her head turned by the picture's suave leading man—and boy, did things get  heated.
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14. Her Love Life Horrified Her Mother
Rumors about an on-set affair began to swirl and when Grace's mother caught wind of them, she sprang into action. She wasn't about to let her daughter be debauched by Gable—and flew to Africa to chaperone her. Of course, this didn't do much to quash the…

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