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Shirley MacLaine Biography

Birth Name:Shirley MacLean Beaty

Birth Place:Richmond, Virginia, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Director, Writer, Producer

Fast Facts

Recognized in Hollywood from her first motion picture, Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble with Harry", which garnered her the first of many award nominations to come
Close friends with the members of the Rat Pack after filming "Ocean's Eleven" with the group in 1960
Born to a family of teachers in Virginia, she was named after actress Shirley Temple
Quote: "I wasn't afraid of getting old, because I never had the problems the other actresses my age had․ I was never a great beauty, I was never a sex symbol․․․I wasn't interested in my stature as a star․ Ever․ I was just interested in good parts․"
Quote: "It's useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk or running for office․"
Her love of performing blossomed after her mother enrolled her in ballet class as a child, but was cast as the male lead in several plays early on due to her height
Noticed by Hollywood film producer Hal B․ Wallis who would eventually sign her to a contract with Paramount Pictures while performing on Broadway in "The Pajama Game" as an understudy for Carol Haney, who broke her ankle several months earlier
Broke her ankle minutes before a grade school performance of "Cinderella" and insisted on completing the performance, only to summon an ambulance minutes after the curtain call
Older sister of actor Warren Beatty, who would eventually change the spelling of his last name
Uses the song "If My Friends Could See Me Now" from the 1969 film "Sweet Charity" as a personal theme and requests that talk shows play it for her entrance music

Awards

1955Golden Globe-Most Promising Newcomer - Female: winner
1957BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: nominated
1959Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1959Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actress: winner
1959Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: nominated
1959Golden Laurel-Top Female Dramatic Performance: nominated
1960BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: winner
1960Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1960Golden Laurel-Top Female Musical Performance: winner
1960Volpi Cup-Best Actress: winner
1961Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1961BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: winner
1961Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: winner
1961Golden Laurel-Female Dramatic Performance: winner
1962CEC Award-Best Foreign Actress (Mejor Actriz Extranjera): winner
1962Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: nominated
1962Golden Laurel-Top Female Dramatic Performance: winner
1963Golden Laurel-Top Female Dramatic Performance: nominated
1964Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1964David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): winner
1964Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: winner
1964Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: winner
1965BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: nominated
1967Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1967Golden Laurel-Female Comedy Performance: nominated
1968Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1970Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1970Golden Laurel-Female Comedy Performance: nominated
1971Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actress: winner
1971Golden Laurel-Best Comedy Performance, Female: nominated
1971NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1976Oscar-Best Documentary, Features: nominated
1978Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1981BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1983LAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
1983NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
1983NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1984Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1984David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): winner
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1984NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1985BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1985Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1985Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1988Volpi Cup-Best Actress: winner
1989David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1990American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1990CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
1991American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1991BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
1991BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1995American Comedy Award-Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1996STFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1997Lone Star Film & Television Award-Best Actress: winner
1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
2005SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2006Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2009WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Mini-Series / Made for Television Movie: nominated
2012Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2012VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2013Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2013Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy: nominated
2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2013OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2014WFCC Award-Best Screen Couple: nominated
2023Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
2023OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated