Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jonesis a Jamaican singer, songwriter, lyricist, supermodel, record producer, and actress. She was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica and raised by her grandparents. At 13 she moved with her siblings to their parents' home in Syracuse, New York. Jones started out as a model, initially in New York state, then in Paris, working for Yves St. Laurent, Claude Montana, and Kenzo Takada, and appearing on the covers of Elle, Vogue, and Stern working with Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, and...
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth19 May 1948
CitySpanish Town, Jamaica
It was very painful combing my hair. My grand-uncle was a Pentecostal bishop, and he was very strict: our hair couldn't be permed or straightened. So I just cut it all off.
I am an actress first, a singer second.
When you become such a strong personality in music, it's hard for people to accept you as a different character.
I loved all those classic figures from the '30s and '40s... Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth. They had such glamour and style. I loved the movies of those times too - so much attention paid to details, lights, clothing, the way the studios would develop talent.
I like to isolate myself when I work because I end up losing my voice by doing interviews all day.
I don't think 'pop' should mean that you had no talent.
I don't take the English press seriously at all because all they want is dirt... I hate them.
I would have rebelled against parental authority, no matter what. When I was 15, I started painting my face and making my own clothes.
I like dressing like a guy. I love it. When I was modeling I used to do pictures where I would dress up like my little brother. No makeup and I looked like a boy.
I came from a very strict background, and didn't hear any Jamaican music when I was growing up.
I've turned down millions of dollars to go on reality TV. It's an absolute no-go.
My mother was a champion high-jumper. My three brothers are basketball players. We've all been very athletic.
Rock n' roll can get quite overwhelming. You can get caught up in the cycle.
I see myself as no color. I can play the role of a man. I can paint my face white if I want to and play the role of white. I can play a green, I can be a purple. I think I have that kind of frame and that kind of attitude where I can play an animal. If you think in color, then everyone around you is going to think in color and that puts limits on the way you think. I don't think like that. A lot of the roles that I'm doing are roles that a man or a person of any color can do.