I used to be raised in Spanish City, Jamaica, by my grandmother and step-grandfather. My grandmother’s brother was a Pentecostal bishop, so we had been made examples of on the Jamaican Pentecostal church, the place the Bible is interpreted very actually. I wasn’t allowed to put on trousers or straighten my hair, so combing my hair was very painful, and I’d be punished if any of my actions had been thought of idle.
At 18 I travelled to Paris, Italy and New York – and took a whole lot of acid. I discovered it mind-opening. There have been at all times docs round, so it by no means actually felt harmful, even after I took an STP, an excellent journey tablet, and couldn’t come down for no less than three days.
I made a decision to pursue appearing after acting at my first summer time inventory musical at Saint Joseph’s faculty in Philadelphia. The modelling was only a option to pay my hire. I didn’t need to go residence to Jamaica. I believed: “If I’m going to behave, I would as properly attempt all the things.” I took as many roles as I might – for one week, two weeks, a month – simply to study the method.
The primary journal to rent me was GQ in New York, however they needed me to put on a wig. I bear in mind flicking by way of it and pondering: “I don’t even recognise myself. This isn’t going to work.”
I by no means needed to maneuver to Hollywood – I by no means did – so after I first went there to movie Vamp, I surrounded myself with pals: Keith Haring [who body-painted Jones], Andy Warhol, Antonio Lopez. I lived like a vampire: up all night time, asleep all day.
Roger Moore made me giggle on A View to a Kill. I’d heard he had a status that lightened the temper: he’d conceal intercourse toys across the mattress and goose you with them. I beat him to it. I went right down to the prop room and located an enormous black-and-white polka-dot dildo, strapped it on below my gown, and shocked him as an alternative.
My greatest remorse just isn’t doing Blade Runner. Jean-Paul Goude – my son’s dad – and Ridley Scott had been very aggressive as artists. Ridley needed me to play a snake girl, however Jean-Paul was very French and didn’t wish to share.
My son, Paulo Goude, is my greatest achievement. He’s a songwriter, producer and unimaginable musician – and my lovely granddaughter, too.
The final time I cried was throughout Covid. I obtained detained at an airport. I’m not going to say which nation. I like to depart a bit of thriller.
Once I labored as a go-go dancer, I referred to as myself Grace Mendoza. I discovered how one can tweak one facet of my ass, then tweak the opposite and make it soar. Now I can’t do the dances they do in Jamaica. I attempt so laborious to make my complete butt bounce up and down, however even when I stand on my head, I nonetheless can’t do it. How these younger ladies twerk, I don’t know.
How would I like to be remembered? Keep in mind me as the entire tequila, worm and all the things.
I’m not scary in the event you haven’t achieved one thing to make me scary. I’ve realised that when some folks lash out, it’s not likely me they’re lashing out at. They normally have an issue with themselves. So I ended hitting folks. Let’s simply say that I don’t beat anyone up any extra.
Grace Jones has partnered with Boy Smells to launch the limited-edition Grace candle, obtainable from Area NK