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Early days -

Shirley MacLaine Beaty was born on April 24, 1934 in Richmond, Virginia, and was named after child actress Shirley Temple. MacLaine's interest in performing began at age three, after her mom enrolled her in ballet classes, ostensibly to strengthen her daughter’s weak ankles.

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Star siblings -

Shirley MacLaine's younger brother is Warren Beatty (he changed the spelling of his surname when he became an actor). The siblings are seen here in 1962 attending a celebrity function.

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Dancer -

As a teenager, MacLaine landed a number of roles in high school musicals. After graduating, the aspiring dancer headed for Broadway. Her big break came in May 1954, when she replaced the lead actress in the musical 'The Pajama Game.' Shortly afterwards, MacLaine was signed by Paramount Pictures.

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Shirley MacLaine -

In 1954, she married Steve Parker (1922-2001). The couple divorced in 1982. Their daughter, Stephanie ("Sachi"), was born in 1956.

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'The Trouble with Harry' (1955) -

Just 21 years old, Shirley MacLaine made her film debut in 'The Trouble with Harry,' a rare comedy made by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock (pictured on set with his actors). For her efforts, MacLaine won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year—Actress.

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'Some Came Running' (1958) -

With her star in the ascent, MacLaine quickly rose to big screen prominence. In 1958, she appeared alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in the Vincente Minnelli-directed 'Some Came Running,' for which she received an Academy Award Best Actress nomination.

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'Ask Any Girl' (1959) -

The following year the actress made 'Ask Any Girl' with English actor David Niven. For this she won a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe.

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'The Apartment' (1960) -

In 1960, MacLaine appeared alongside Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder's hit comedy 'The Apartment.' Often cited as one of the greatest movies ever made, 'The Apartment' was nominated for and won several awards. Lemmon and MacLaine were Oscar nominated, with both later winning Golden Globes for their performances.

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'Irma la Douce' (1963) -

Lemmon and MacLaine teamed up again for 'Irma la Douce.' The role of Irma la Douce was originally slated for Marilyn Monroe, but after Monroe's death in 1962 the movie was recast with MacLaine. The chemistry between the two stars once more proved irresistible. A box-office success, the film saw MacLaine again Oscar nominated, and again winning a Golden Globe.

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Golden Globe win -

MacLaine at the 21st Golden Globe Awards where she won the Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for 'Irma la Douce.'

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MacLaine on Lemmon -

Years later, MacLaine spoke warmly of her co-star. "He was a great friend," she told Variety magazine. "He was the best… I adored him." The pair are seen at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood during their handprint ceremony.

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'Sweet Charity' (1969) -

MacLaine breezed through the mid-1960s appearing in several movies that met with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. In 1969, she starred in 'Sweet Charity,' a musical comedy-drama directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. While reviews at the time were mixed, 'Sweet Charity' has since been reappraised in a more positive light.

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'Two Mules for Sister Sara' (1970) -

MacLaine kicked off the 1970s by scooping top billing over Clint Eastwood in 'Two Mules for Sister Sara,' a Western set in Mexico. The actress portrayed a bawdy prostitute posing as a nun who teams up with a gunslinger (Eastwood) and Mexican revolutionaries in the struggle against occupying French forces.

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Campaign -

In the early 1970s MacLaine, along with her brother Warren Beatty, actively campaigned for Democrat George McGovern's 1972 race for the White House.

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'Gypsy in my Soul' (1976) -

In 1976, MacLaine won a Primetime Emmy Award for the TV movie 'Gypsy in my Soul,' which costarred Lucille Ball. She'd previously been Emmy nominated for 'If They Could See Me Now' (1975), also with Lucille Ball and Ginger Rogers (pictured). MacLaine was later Emmy nominated for other TV work. 

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'Shirley MacLaine Live at the Palace' (1976) -

In the mid-1970s, MacLaine returned to the stage for a series of musical concerts at the London Palladium and New York's Palace Theatre. A live album, 'Shirley MacLaine Live at the Palace' recorded during the New York run, was released to rave reviews.

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'The Turning Point' (1977) -

A drama themed on the world on ballet, 'The Turning Point' brought together MacLaine with Anne Bancroft as two ballerinas the characters of which are based on two real-life American dancers. Both actresses were Academy Award nominated for their performances.

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'Being There' (1979) -

MacLaine was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe for her role as Eve Rand in this acclaimed satire in which Peter Sellers starred. MacLaine later recalled that Sellers stayed in character throughout the shoot, believing that he was indeed Chauncey Gardiner (Chance, the gardener).

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'Terms of Endearment' (1983) -

Critically acclaimed and a major box-office success, 'Terms of Endearment' finally saw Shirley MacLaine win a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Aurora Greenway in this comedy-drama.

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'Terms of Endearment' (1983) -

The movies also garnered a Best Supporting Oscar for Jack Nicholson. The film is noted for the on-set rivalry between MacLaine and co-star Debra Winger, who lost out on the Best Actress Award for the same movie.

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Oscar win -

Shirley MacLaine with her Best Actress Oscar for 'Terms of Endearment.'

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'Steel Magnolias' (1989) -

MacLaine ended the 1980s with 'Steel Magnolias,' sharing screen time with a stellar female cast that included Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, and Olympia Dukakis. MacLaine enjoyed a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Louisa Boudreaux.

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'Madame Sousatzka' (1988) -

Directed by John Schlesinger, 'Madame Sousatzka' is one of MacLaine's lesser-known movies. It follows celebrated Russian piano teacher Irina Sousatzka (MacLaine) and the progress she makes with a new student—Bengali piano prodigy Manek. MacLaine, who won a Golden Globe for her effort, has cited this forgotten gem as one of her favorite movies.

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'Postcards from the Edge' (1990) -

Carrie Fisher wrote the screenplay for this comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols, which is based on Fisher's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. MacLaine and Meryl Streep appear as troubled mother and daughter respectively in a story that mirrors Fisher's own strained relationship with her mom, actress Debbie Reynolds. MacLaine was BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated for her role.

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Later career -

The actress continued to work throughout the 1990s, but the decade proved less productive professionally than in previous years. Exceptions included 'Used People,' released in 1992, and 'Guarding Tess' (1994), both of which garnered the actress Golden Globe nominations.

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Relationship with Andrew Peacock -

Shirley MacLaine never remarried. She did, however, embark on a long-running affair with Australian politician Andrew Peacock, among other prominent lovers.

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Other relationships, other views -

MacLaine confessed to Oprah Winfrey that she and husband Steve Parker settled for an open marriage and that she often fell for the leading men she was working with. MacLaine has also used the Oprah show to voice her opinion on metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation.

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Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award -

In 1998, MacLaine was awarded the coveted Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment."

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'Coco Chanel' (2008) -

Shirley MacLaine has appeared in television productions on and off since 1955, when she appeared as herself in 'Shower of Stars.' Her role as the French fashion designer in the TV movie 'Coco Chanel' earned her Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild award nominations.

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'Downton Abbey' (2012-13) -

MacLaine appeared in the third and fourth seasons of the acclaimed British period drama 'Downtown Abbey' as Martha Levinson, the brash, outspoken mother to Cora (Elizabeth McGovern).

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AFI Award -

The actress onstage at the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony held in her honor in June 2012, in Culver City, California.

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Kennedy Center Honoree -

Carlos Santana, Shirley MacLaine, Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock, and Martina Arroyo attend a reception at the White House for 2013 Kennedy Center Honorees.

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Academy Award presentation -

Shirley MacLaine and Charlize Theron at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017. The pair presented the award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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'Noelle' (2019) -

Shirley MacLaine's latest screen appearance to date are in the Walt Disney Christmas caper 'Noelle,' and 'American Dreamer' in 2022. 

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Still working -

Here you see the actress attending the 2023 Industry Dance Awards and Cancer Benefit Show. 

Sources: (Variety) (Gawker) (The Daily Telegraph)

See also: Gorgeous actresses over 70

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