Editing Grace Kelly (section)

== Philadelphia Childhood ==

Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, the third of four children of John Brendan Kelly Sr. and Margaret Majer Kelly. Her father, a self-made millionaire from the construction business and Olympic gold medalist in rowing, was one of Philadelphia's most prominent figures. The family's East Falls home on Henry Avenue provided privileged upbringing, while the competitive Kelly household emphasized achievement that Grace would pursue through acting rather than athletics.<ref name="lacey">{{cite book |last=Lacey |first=Robert |title=Grace |year=1994 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York}}</ref>

Her education at Ravenhill Academy and later Stevens School reflected her family's Catholic identity and social position. Her theatrical interests, nurtured through school productions and the Old Academy Players in East Falls, suggested ambitions beyond the domestic life her mother expected. After graduating, she moved to New York to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, beginning the journey toward Hollywood that her family initially opposed.<ref name="spoto"/>

Philadelphia's social elite, of which the Kellys were prominent members, shaped Grace's refinement and poise that would later distinguish her screen presence. The combination of wealth, achievement, and expectation that characterized her upbringing provided foundation for a persona that Hollywood would amplify but could not have created. Her Philadelphia identity, though later overshadowed by Hollywood and Monaco, remained visible in the dignity and reserve that defined her public presence.<ref name="lacey"/>