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Background:
” An actor has many lives and many people within him. I know there are lots of
people inside me. No one ever said I’m dull.” Shirley MacLaine
From the very start, actress Shirley MacLaine was a cinematic phenomenon with
her silver screen debut as Jennifer Rogers in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble
with Harry (1955), which awarded her 1955’s Golden Globe Most Promising Female
Newcomer award. After a string of award-winning screen roles, MacLaine made her
signature success with the starring turn of Aurora Greenway in the drama Terms
of Endearment (1983). Thanks to her touching performance, she harvested an
Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and others.
The performer became a five-time Oscar nominee thanks to her fine portrayal in
the drama Some Came Running (1958, as Ginnie Moorehead), The Apartment (1960,
also won a Golden Globe Award for playing Fran Kubelik), the comedy Irma la
Douce (1963, also netted a Golden Globe Award for her titular role) and the
romantic drama The Turning Point (1977), as well as for her multiple tasks in
the documentary film The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir (1975, wrote,
produced, co-directed and appeared as herself). Receiving critical acclaim,
MacLaine was garnered with a Golden Apple Award for Most Cooperative Actress
(1955), a Golden Globe Special Award (1955), a Women in Film Crystal Award
(1978), a Golden Camera Award (1997), a Golden Globe’s Cecil B. DeMille Award
(1998) and an Honorary Golden Berlin Bear Award from the Berlin International
Film Festival (1999). Soon, the veteran actress will be seen in such upcoming
projects as Closing the Ring (2007) and Dallas (2007).
Outside the limelight, in the late 1980s the performer led the “Higher Self
Seminars,” which told about her views on New Age practices and techniques.
MacLaine, formerly married to Steve Parker (1954-1983), once made headlines for
her relationship with politicians Andrew Peacock and later, Dennis Kucinich.
Unfaithful Husband
Childhood and Family:
Shirley MacLaine Beaty (later famous as Shirley MacLaine) was born on April 24,
1934, in Richmond, Virginia, to Ira O. Beaty (educator) and Kathlyn MacLean
Beaty (actress). She is the older sister of actor/filmmaker Warren Beatty.
Encouraged by her mother, Shirley took dance lessons when she was 2 and first
performed at age 4. In 1946, the pre-teen had her first professional dance
performance with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. After graduating
from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, she attended the
Washington School of the Ballet. While in school, Shirley went to New York to
launch a professional career as a performer.
As for her romantic life, the actress married producer Steve Parker in 1954 and
has a daughter, Stephanie Sachiko Parker (Sachi Parker, born in 1956), who later
also became an actress. Shirley, who filed for divorce after finding out Steve
had a mistress in Japan, divorced him in 1983. She then had an on-off
relationship with former Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Peacock
and later, was linked to Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich (a candidate in the
2004 Democratic presidential election).
The Apartment
Career:
In 1950, Shirley MacLaine briefly appeared in New York in the chorus for the
revival of “Oklahoma.” Two years later, she returned to the Big Apple and worked
as a model under the professional name “Shirley MacLaine.”
With her dancing skill, MacLaine made her Broadway debut in “Me and Juliet”
(1953), which was followed by her breakthrough role in the production of “The
Pajama Game” (1954, replaced the injured star Carol Haney). Apparently, the
performance was seen by Hal Wallis, who later helped her sign an eight-year
contract with Paramount. Soon, she launched a screen career with an episodic
appearance in the drama series “Shower of Stars” (1955) and a minor part, as
Jennifer Rogers, in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry (1955).
The same year, MacLaine won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Female Newcomer
for her fine performance in Hitchcock’s movie and earned a BAFTA nomination for
Best Foreign Actress. After appearing as Princess Aoda in Around the World in
Eighty Days (1956), the new performer was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden
Globe for her beautiful portrayal of Ginnie Moorehead in the drama Some Came
Running (1958).
MacLaine continued with her dead-on acting as Meg Wheeler, a naïve young girl in
a big city, in Ask Any Girl (1959) and took home a BAFTA award for Best Foreign
Actress and a Silver Berlin Bear for Best Actress from the Berlin International
Film Festival, as well as a Golden Globe nomination. Additionally, she was
handed a Golden Apple for Most Cooperative Actress and a Golden Globe Special
award for the most versatile actress. Delivering an impressive turn as dancer
Simone Pistache in the drama Can-Can (1960, also sang “Apache Dance” and “C’est
Magnifique”), MacLaine won her first Golden Laurel award for Top Female Musical
Performance and a Cinema Writers Circle (Spain) for Best Foreign Actress.
The impressed director Billy Wilder later cast her to costar as elevator
operator-turned-mistress Fran Kubelik, opposite Jack Lemmon, in The Apartment
(1960). For her brilliant acting, MacLaine collected such awards as a Golden
Globe, a Golden Laurel and a Volpi Cup for Best Actress. In addition, she
received a BAFTA Best Foreign Actress award and an Oscar nomination. After
winning her third Golden Laurel for playing lesbian teacher Martha Dobie in The
Children’s Hour (1961, also earned a Golden Globe nomination) and giving a fine
turn as Gittel Mosca in Two for the Seesaw (1962), MacLaine scored another
success with director Billy Wilder and actor Jack Lemmon in the romantic comedy
Irma la Douce (1963, had the titular role of a prostitute). Before long, her
titular role netted a Golden Globe and a Golden Laurel award, as well as an
Oscar and BAFTA nomination.
Following the black comedy What a Way to Go (1964, had a BAFTA-nominated turn as
Louisa May Foster) and John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965, starred in and
sang the title song), MacLaine received rave reviews for her witty portrayal of
Nicole Chang in the crime comedy Gambit (1966, earned a Golden Globe and a
Golden Laurel nomination). She then took on multiple roles in the love-themed
collage collection Woman Times Seven (1967), had the title turn in The Bliss of
Mrs. Blossom (1968), starred as Charity Hope Valentine in her last musical film,
Sweet Charity (1969) and appeared as the titular nun in the western comedy Two
Mules for Sister Sara (1970).
The following years, MacLaine starred in the sitcom “Shirley’s World”
(1971-1972) and the thriller The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972) before
producing her own special music performance Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See
Me Now (1974, TV). She also tried a hand at off-camera duties as a writer,
producer and co-director in the documentary film The Other Half of the Sky: A
China Memoir (1975, also appeared on screen as herself), which eventually
brought in an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
MacLaine won an Emmy for her self-produced Gypsy in My Soul (1976) and accepted
three other Emmy nominations for The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go
from Here (1977), Shirley MacLaine... ‘Every Little Movement’ (1980) and Shirley
MacLaine at the Lido (1979). Meanwhile, she also gave an Oscar-nominated
performance as Deedee Rodgers in the romantic drama The Turning Point (1977), an
applauded performance as Eve Rand in the drama comedy Being There (1979,
accepted a Golden Globe and a BAFTA nomination) and a dramatic performance as
Karyn Evans in the romantic comedy A Change of Seasons (1980).
The recipient of the 1978 Women in Film Crystal award arrived at the peak of her
career with her moving portrayal of Aurora Greenway in the drama Terms of
Endearment (1983), directed and co-written by James L. Brooks. Before long, she
harvested an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a National Board of Review award, a New York
Film Critics Circle and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association for Best Actress.
She also won a David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress and brought home a
BAFTA nomination. On the other hand, MacLaine was nominated for a Razzie for
Worst Actress after taking the role of Veronica in the little-seen Cannonball
Run II (1984).
Within three years, MacLaine was again praised, this time for her striking
appearance in her autobiographical TV movie Out on a Limb (1987, also wrote,
took a Golden Globe nomination for playing herself). Convincingly starring as
the titular Russian immigrant piano teacher in the musical drama Madame
Sousatzka (1988), the actress brought home a Golden Globe and a Volpi Cup for
Best Actress. It was followed by her applauded performance in such movies as
Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), Used People (1992),
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993), Guarding Tess (1994), The West Side Waltz
(1995, TV) and Mrs. Winterbourne (1996).
Reprising her Oscar-winning role of Aurora Greenway, MacLaine appeared in the
sequel The Evening Star (1996) and won a Lone Star Film & Television award for
Best Actress. She next took a less significant part in A Smile Like Yours (1997,
had an unaccredited appearance as Martha) and Joan of Arc (1999, TV, as Madame
de Beaurevoir), before making her movie-directing debut in the drama comedy
Bruno (2000, also played Helen).
MacLaine, who formerly received a Golden Camera award (1997), a Golden Globe’s
Cecil B. DeMille award (1998) and an Honorary Golden Berlin Bear from the Berlin
International Film Festival (1999), offered another engaging acting performance
in the TV comedy These Old Broads (2001), the drama comedy Hell on Heels: The
Battle of Mary Kay (2002, had a Golden Globe-nominated title turn), the romantic
comedy Carolina (2003) and the adaptation of Jennifer Weiner’s novel, In Her
Shoes (2005, received a Golden Globe nomination for playing grandmother Ella
Hirsch).
The prolific actress will continue her journey in the upcoming drama Closing the
Ring (2007), in which she will star as Ethel, alongside Christopher Plummer,
Mischa Barton and Gregory Smith. She will also play Miss Ellie Ewing in the
Gurinder Chadha-directed drama Dallas (2007).
Awards:
- Berlin International Film Festival: Honorary Golden Berlin Bear, 1999
- Golden Globe: Cecil B. DeMille Award, 1998
- Golden Camera (Germany), for Lifetime Achievement, 1997
- Lone Star Film & Television: Best Actress, The Evening Star, 1997
- Venice Film Festival: Volpi Cup for Best Actress, Madame Sousatzka, 1988
- Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture –
Drama, Madame Sousatzka, 1988
- Oscar: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Terms of Endearment, 1984
- David di Donatello: Best Foreign Actress, Terms of Endearment, 1984
- Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture –
Drama, Terms of Endearment, 1984
- New York Film Critics Circle: Best Actress, Terms of Endearment, 1983
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actress, Terms of Endearment,
1983
- National Board of Review: Best Actress, Terms of Endearment, 1983
- Women in Film Crystal: Crystal Award, 1978
- Emmy: Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music, Gypsy in My Soul,
1976
- Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy, Irma la
Douce, 1964
- Golden Laurel: Top Female Comedy Performance, Irma la Douce, 1964
- Golden Laurel: Female Dramatic Performance, The Children’s Hour, 1962
- Cinema Writers Circle (Spain): Best Foreign Actress, Can-Can, 1962
- Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy, The
Apartment, 1961
- Golden Laurel: Female Dramatic Performance, The Apartment, 1961
- BAFTA: Best Foreign Actress, The Apartment, 1961
- Venice Film Festival: Volpi Cup for Best Actress, The Apartment, 1960
- Golden Laurel: Top Female Musical Performance, Can-Can, 1960
- BAFTA: Best Foreign Actress, Ask Any Girl, 1960
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Berlin Bear for Best Actress,
Ask Any Girl, 1959
- Golden Apple: Most Cooperative Actress, 1959
- Golden Globe: Special Award for Most Versatile Actress, 1959
- Golden Globe: Most Promising Newcomer – Female, 1955
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