The best actor Cary Grant ever worked with: “I was delighted”
Cary Grant is a legend of the Golden Era in Hollywood. He dazzled audiences with his contagious charisma and humour, becoming one of the ultimate leading men of his generation. His signature style has influenced countless performances, from the likes of Sebastian in La La Land to the smooth-talking abilities of Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain. His presence infuses a sense of witty cynicism and dry humour into each film.
From his stellar work with Audrey Hepburn in Charade and Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby, the actor is a master of the medium, deftly adapting from thrillers to screwball comedies and hilarious romantic dramas.
Over the years, Grant had the privilege of working with Hollywood’s best and brightest, collaborating with great directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, Stanley Donen and George Cukor. However, he is perhaps most recognised for the power of his on-screen partnerships, creating sizzling chemistry with some of the most influential leading ladies of the era. But out of all his co-stars, the actor has named one that he considered a master of her craft.
Grant was known for his close working relationship with Hitchcock, forming a long partnership that led to pictures such as North by Northwest, Notorious, and To Catch a Thief. The actor imbued a natural sense of comedy into the many mishaps and chaotic adventures of his characters, which beautifully worked in tandem with his co-stars and their indifference to his stress. Despite capturing this quality through many of his on-screen pairings, the actor highlighted the work of Grace Kelly in particular.
“Unlike most actresses, she wasn’t worried how she looked or what angle the camera was shooting her from.”
cary grant
Kelly was a scene-stealer and captivating performer, creating vivacious and bold characters in films like Rear Window, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief. When describing his love for the actor, Grant said, “I was in the Orient when I got a wire from Hitch saying, ‘Come back. I’ve got this wonderful new actress.’ Well, if Hitch had said I’m going to make a movie of the telephone book, I’d be there. So I came back. He said, ‘I have this new girl, and she’s terrific.’”
When asked who the new girl was, Grant replied, “Grace Kelly. I was delighted because I had seen her in a small role and I was very impressed. We made To Catch A Thief, and she was the best actress I ever worked with, with all due respect to Ingrid. But Grace, she was really there in a scene. She really listened. Unlike most actresses, she wasn’t worried how she looked or what angle the camera was shooting her from. So, if I changed a bit of dialogue, she went right along. Then, she had the indecency to marry Rainier. And that was the end of that.”
Kelly’s characters were always full of life and reflective of her natural aptitude for performance, creating confident, stylish and endlessly curious characters that created a gravitational presence. She was a natural on camera, and Grant’s praise for her seamless adaptation to the demands of screen acting shows a true talent that outshone everyone else in her company.
