Found her!

It is with great pleasure that I announce that I have eventually found her! Had spent many a nights wondering how would I want her to be, where she was, when would I find her, who she was. Some time back I used to think I knew the answer to all these questions. But at some point I lost interest. Yes - call me an asshole - I just lost interest. I would not say I missed her, but I missed the emotion her thought evoked in me.

For most of my post-adoloscent years Madhubala was my favorite on screen persona. She was beautiful and I was enamored by her charms. Her naughty eyes, her disarming smile. Look at all scrap books I have signed in years 1996-2001 - she was my favorite actress.

And then one day I stopped having a favorite actress. That question was either left unanswered or a name was chosen at random to appease the curious - Kajol, Juhi, Sushmita, Julia Roberts, Keira Knightley....



Enter her. Couple of days back I was watching To Catch a Thief and I found her - Grace Kelly - The Goddess of charm, The Princess of Monaco and The Queen of many a hearts.

Her role in this movie demanded the grace of a lady and unabashedness of the woman desperate for love. She was introduced as this propah lady that her debauched mother commented: "Sorry I ever sent her to finishing school. I think they finished her there." Cary Grant was working his charms on her mother and the daughter seemed to have a very condescending attitude. Until he dropped her mother to her hotel room. In 5 seconds Grace Kelly changes gears, surprises Cary Grant and shocks the audience by giving him one of the most talked about kisses of the 50s!

She flirts with him for a while. Sample this:
Grace Kelly: I have a feeling that tonight you're going to see one of the Riviera's most fascinating sights. [pause] I was talking about the fireworks!

And eventually caves in as the vulnerable woman desperate for the only man she knew who was worthy of her love.

She just rocked in the movie!

I had loved her in Rear Window and thought that she had breathed life into an otherwise average High Society, but after this movie she is surely the favorite!