Grace Beverly Jones
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Grace Jones launched her music career with the 1977 album Portfolio on Island Records, later earning the Order of Jamaica. She gained fame as a model for Yves Saint-Laurent and as an actress playing May Day in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill. Her androgynous style and provocative performances made her a gay icon and a lasting influence on pop culture.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Grace Jones — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Grace Jones by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Grace Jones — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
When she was 12, Grace Jones moved from Spanish Town, Jamaica to Syracuse, New York to join her family. Her father, Reverend Robert W. Jones, was a minister, and her mother, Marjorie Jones, raised the children. She attended Onondaga Community College and studied acting at Syracuse University, appearing in her first musical there. A drama professor recruited her for a play in Philadelphia, leading her to leave college early and pursue performance.
Grace Jones moved to Paris after modeling in New York didn’t take off. Her androgynous look quickly made her a top model for designers like Yves Saint-Laurent and photographers like Helmut Newton. Disillusioned with modeling, she turned to acting, starting with a small role in the 1973 blaxploitation film Gordon’s War. Her film career soared in the 1980s with supporting roles in Conan the Destroyer 1984 as Zula, A View to a Kill 1985 as Bond villain May Day, and Vamp 1986 as a vampire queen. She also released several albums on Island Records, starting with Portfolio 1977, and had hits like La Vie en Rose. In 2017, she appeared in the documentary Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, directed by Sophie Fiennes.
Grace Jones lived with Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren for four years; he appeared with her in A View to a Kill. She has one son, Paulo Goude born 1979, from a relationship with artist Jean-Paul Goude. She was in a relationship with music producer Chris Stanley from 1989 to 1991, but they never married. On February 24, 1996, she married Turkish-born Atila Altaunbay, who is 28 years her junior; they separated in 2004 but remain legally married.
Grace Jones’s androgynous style and fearless performances challenged conventional beauty standards and inspired countless artists. She was dubbed the Queen of Gay Discos for her large gay following and sexually charged shows. Her role as May Day in A View to a Kill remains one of the most memorable Bond villain performances. In 2017, she was awarded the Order of Jamaica, her home country’s highest honor. She is still remembered for her impact on fashion, music, and film.
Browse the complete filmography of Grace Jones — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Grace Jones — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Grace Jones's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Grace Jones — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Was Always Really Determined to Look the Way I Wanted to Look, and I Wanted to Cut My Hair. I Wanted to Look Different Because I Was Used to Looking Different. Because of My Religious Background, I’d Always Been Encouraged to Look Different.
It’s Much Better to Do Coke in the Open; There Are so Many Germs in the Toilet.
Little-known facts about Grace Jones — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
She speaks six languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and German.
In 1998 she shocked audience members at a Disney World performance by exposing her breasts; she was banned from the park.
She lived with Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren for four years; he appeared with her in the Bond film A View to a Kill 1985 and once served as her bodyguard, though contrary to popular rumor they were never engaged.
She turned down the role of Zhora in Blade Runner 1982, a decision she later regretted.
She attended the 1986 wedding of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver on Cape Cod with Andy Warhol.
Her androgynous and statuesque style made her extremely successful in New York City’s underground and nightlife scenes; her sexually evocative stage shows and songs like I Need A Man earned her the title the Queen of Gay Discos because of her large gay following.
While modeling in Paris, she roomed with fellow models Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange; they have remained lifelong friends.
She performed 90% of her own stunts in Conan the Destroyer 1984.
She was given the casting couch treatment by a producer of her debut film, Gordon’s War 1973; she refused his advances, he later apologized, and she was cast.
From a relationship with Jean-Paul Goude she has a son, Paulo born 12 November 1979, and a paternal granddaughter.
She was to appear in the 25th James Bond film No Time to Die 2021 but quit minutes after arriving on set when she learned how minimal her screen time was.
She famously attacked British interviewer Russell Harty when he turned away from her to speak to other guests on his show.
Within three months of arriving in Paris she was one of France’s top models.
She became friends with Sarah Douglas during filming of Conan the Destroyer 1984 and bought her a motorcycle for her 34th birthday.
In her autobiography, she says Tony Scott wanted her for the small role of Cory in The Last Boy Scout 1991, but producers opposed it and cast Halle Berry instead.
In her autobiography, she states she was never married to music producer Chris Stanley who produced her 1989 album Bulletproof Heart, though they were in a relationship from 1989 to 1991; she has only married once, on 24 February 1996, to Atila Altaunbay, a Turkish Muslim born in 1976, making him 28 years younger; they separated in 2004 but are still legally married.
During the 1970s she often attended the legendary New York disco Studio 54.
Bishop Robert W. Jones Way, a street in Syracuse, New York, is named after her father for his community outreach with the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ; her mother was Marjorie Williams; they already had two children when she was born and had four more after her.
Arnold Schwarzenegger supposedly complained she was too tough during filming of Conan the Destroyer 1984.
She was the original choice to sing The Best Is Yet to Come for the film 9½ Weeks 1986, but disagreements with producer Narada Michael Walden led her to walk out; the song was later sung by Canadian singer Luba.
She is friends with fellow former Bond girl Ursula Andress.
Her first single La Vie en Rose went gold in France and Italy.
She was ranked #19 in Channel 5’s World’s greatest supermodel.
She was ranked #82 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock ‘n Roll.
She signed to Island Records and released her debut album Portfolio.
She is the sister of Noel Jones, subject of Sophie Fiennes’ 2002 documentary Hoover Street Revival.
She recorded original songs for Colt 38 Special Squad 1976, Boomerang 1992, Toys 1992, Freddie as F.R.O.7. 1992, and Wolf Girl 2001.
She was honored with Q’s Idol Award.
She has one granddaughter.
She is the aunt of Noel Jones III, Tifani Jones, and Eric Jones.
She is the only person to appear in both an EON Productions James Bond movie and a Conan movie.
She is a cousin of Marcia Hines and Deni Hines.
She is the brother of Chris Jones.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Grace Jones.
Celebrities similar to Grace Jones — same craft, ranked by reach.
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