Grace Kelly Had One Strange 'Encounter' On A Train That Completely Upended Her Life
Grace Kelly became an icon in American cinema — remarkably, her rise only took 5 years. Beloved by Hollywood and film fans everywhere, this insecure Philadelphia girl put her family problems behind her and was living the dream. But was it meant to last? As she set out on the trip of a lifetime, one fateful meeting had Grace questioning her entire future.
Family matters
Ever since she was young, Grace Kelly understood what a wealthy life looked like, but it would never bring her happiness. Her childhood was difficult, as her parents were uncaring and body image insecurities chipped away at Grace's confidence. Nevertheless, she dreamed of becoming an actor, which would have her following in the footsteps of two big names close to her.
Education in acting
Two of her uncles, Walter and George Kelly, were both renowned actors in the U.S. Hoping to match their success while making her goal-oriented parents proud, Grace acted in school plays to build up her self-esteem. As she grew into adulthood, a relentless string of romances would temporarily distract her from her goals, but that wasn't the love she needed at the time.
Problem parents
Grace's parents never believed in her dreams. They even laughed when Grace's acting instructor — and secret lover, at the time — told them that she could be a huge success. What they really wanted was for her to "grow up to marry some nice boy." Fed up with their callousness, Grace wanted to prove her worth to the world.
Fierce actor
The romances never really stopped coming, but neither did Grace's resilience. After working through acting school and supporting herself through a modeling job, she made her break as an actor in a series of live television dramas. She performed in about 60 of those before making her real debut in 1952.
