While attending the prestigious Ravenhill Academy, Grace modeled fashions at local social events with her mother and sisters. At the age of twelve she played a lead role in a play produced by the Old Academy Players in East Falls, called Don't Feed the Animals. During high school, she acted and danced, graduating from Stevens School, a small private school in a mansion on Walnut Lane in Germantown, Read more...

Because of low mathematics scores Grace was rejected by Bennington College in July 1947. To the dismay of her mother, Grace decided to pursue her dreams of a career in the theater. For an audition into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York she used a scene from her uncle's 1923 play, The Torch-Bearers. Although the school already selected its semester quota, Grace wangled an interview Read more...

To audition for the role of Linda Nordley in MGM's production of Mogambo, the studio had her flown to Los Angeles in September 1952. Gene Tierney was initially cast in the role, but due to emotional problems dropped out at the last minute. Kelly won the role, along with a 7-year contract, although she was hired at a relatively low salary of $850 a week. Kelly signed the deal under two conditions: Read more...