Grace Kelly (American, 1929-1982)
Despite her relatively short acting career, Kelly is considered an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood. From a prominent Philadelphia family, she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1949, and shortly after began to gain acting roles. Appearing in her first film in 1951 and her last film in 1956, Kelly quickly rose to stardom after starring in High Noon alongside Gary Cooper and went on to win an Academy Award for her performance in Country Girl. Kelly is particularly well known for her partnership with Alfred Hitchcock, appearing in three of his movies. Despite this success, she retired from acting at the age of 26 to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco, transitioning to the role of Princess of Monaco. Her portrait in the show was taken that very same year during her final months as an actress. As Princess, Kelly dedicated herself to a wide range of philanthropic causes, using her established fame as an actor and as royalty to raise money and awareness for her favorite causes.
