Grace Jones proved she remains a force to be reckoned with as she delivered another show-stopping performance at the age of 78. The legendary singer, model and Bond star commanded the stage at London's Crystal Palace Bowl on Friday July 31, 2026, dressed in a dramatically structured suit and an extraordinary beaded veil that cascaded over her face. Illuminated by vivid blue stage lights, Grace looked every inch the avant-garde icon as she performed for the crowd alongside a line-up that included Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Soul II Soul. Nearly five decades after launching her music career, the famously fearless entertainer appears every bit as captivating as ever.
© RedfernsCommanding the stage at 78
Grace's latest performance demonstrated that neither her energy nor her appetite for theatrical fashion has diminished with age. Wearing exaggerated shoulders, gloves and a sparkling face covering, she transformed the concert into performance art – something audiences have come to expect throughout her remarkable career.
© Bettmann ArchiveFrom model to fashion disruptor
Before becoming a recording star, Grace established herself as a model in New York and Paris. Her striking features, statuesque physique and willingness to challenge conventional ideas of femininity made her an unforgettable presence. She worked with acclaimed photographers and appeared in major fashion publications, while her sharp tailoring, sculptural hairstyles and androgynous image would eventually become as influential as her music.
© Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio MarBecoming a music original
Grace signed with Island Records during the disco era before developing a distinctive fusion of reggae, funk, pop, rock and new wave. Albums including Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and Living My Life produced enduring tracks such as 'Private Life', 'Pull Up to the Bumper' and 'I've Seen That Face Before'. She later released 'Slave to the Rhythm', which became one of her biggest and most recognizable hits.
© Sygma via Getty ImagesHer unforgettable Bond role
In 1985, Grace brought her intimidating physical presence and unmistakable style to the James Bond movie A View to a Kill. Starring opposite Roger Moore and Christopher Walken, she played May Day – the fiercely loyal bodyguard and lover of industrialist Max Zorin. The character became one of the franchise's most memorable villains.
© Getty ImagesRomance with Dolph Lundgren
Grace was also one half of one of the 1980s' most striking celebrity couples when she dated future Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren. The Swedish actor reportedly first worked as her bodyguard before their professional relationship became romantic.
© Getty ImagesLife with her son
Away from the stage, Grace is a mother to her only son, Paulo Goude, whom she shares with Jean-Paul Goude. Paulo inherited his parents' creative instincts and has worked as a musician, model and artist, even joining his famous mother onstage as a member of her band.
