In our celebrity-obsessed culture, where so-called stars are often adored for their outrageous antics rather than, say, talent, it’s hard to recall a time when movie stars were glamorous; when dreams came true through hard work and a little luck rather than a goofy YouTube clip. But the new Grace Kelly exhibit at TIFF Bell Lightbox reminds us of a bygone era, when an actress was appreciated for her grit, talent and, well, grace.
Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, which opened Nov. 4, curates the life of the actress-turned-princess. You see, before our current commoner-turned-princess, Kate Middleton, there was Grace Kelly. Like Kate, Grace personified the classic fairytale-come-true with charm and impeccable style. Both ladies had their wedding ceremonies broadcasted to millions around the world (wearing very similar wedding gowns; Kate’s Alexander McQueen design was apparently styled after Grace’s dress by Helen Rose), but Grace Kelly was a bona fide movie star and Oscar-winning actress before she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She ended her short-yet-stellar career (she only made 11 movies) to fulfill royal obligations.
The exhibition is sure to be a draw for both sartorialists and cinephiles alike. On display are film clips of the actress as a child, as well as movie trailers from her most popular films (our favourites are her turns in Hitchcock classics like To Catch a Thief and Rear Window). Her 1954 Oscar for The Country Girl is also on display, alongside her legendary aquamarine Oscar silk gown by famed costume designer Edith Head. Though most of the displays are dedicated to the couture that made her an international style icon (like the famed Kelly bag by Hermès) there are a few other interesting tidbits. Known as a bit of a pack rat, Grace kept most of her letters and telegrams, and many of them are on display, including a letter warning Grace about Jack Nicholson’s crush on her.
Then there is a photograph, alongside an Yves Saint Laurent taffeta purple gown, which shows Princess Grace meeting Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981. Both royal women, revered for their fashion sense and philanthropy, would die in car accidents.
Last weekend, Grace Kelly would have turned 82 years old. Who’s to say how her life would have played out (would she have returned to movies? Or maybe she would have pursued her poetry, as she did in the ‘70s), but it’s almost certain she would have lived her golden years with plenty of style and of course, grace.
Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Nov. 4-Jan. 22