Shirley MacLaine

Born April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia, Shirley MacLean Beaty, was born into an acting family. Her mother, Kathlyn, originally from Canada, was a drama teacher who instilled a love for the craft in her children, Shirley and older brother, Warren. Her father, Ira Owens Beaty, was an educator who influenced her greatly with his knowledge of psychology and philosophy. Upon graduating from Washington-Lee High School, she headed to New York to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.

MacLaine made her acting debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble With Harry, in 1955, which won her the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year – Actress. Her expansive film repertoire includes working with some of Hollywood’s biggest talent, including Dean Martin, Meryl Streep, John Forsythe, Jack Nicholson, Jerry Lewis, Julia Roberts and Sally Field.

In 1983, she won her first Oscar for Terms of Endearment after being nominated five times previously for her respective roles in Some Came Running (1959), The Apartment (1961), Irma La Douce (1964), The Other Half of the Sky (1976), The Turning Point (1978) and Steel Magnolias (1989). Her long list of achievements throughout her years in the industry includes one Emmy Award and four nominations, and seven Golden Globe Awards and 13 nominations (including the Cecil B. Demille award for outstanding contribution to the entertainment field in 1998). She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Some of MacLaine’s recent films include Rumour Has It (2005) with Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner and Mark Ruffalo; In Her Shoes (2005) with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette; Bewitched (2005) with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell; and COCO CHANNEL (2008), a movie about one of the most famous and influential designers of the 20th century.

MacLaine is not only an accomplished actress, but she has penned several books throughout the years. In the 1980s, she became known for her faith in reincarnation, angels, the power of crystals and other unorthodox New Age beliefs addressing these topics at length in her books Out On a Limb (1983) and Dancing in the Light (1986). Her most recent book, Sage-ing while Age-ing, looks back on the remarkable professional and personal milestones she has experienced so far.

With a commanding on-screen presence, the acclaimed actress lends her talents to the new ANNE prequel, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING. Portraying strong-minded businesswoman, Amelia Thomas, MacLaine’s legendary acting skills are on display, bringing both comedy and pathos to the Anne’s life when Anne becomes caught in the coils of this aristocratic woman’s downfall.

In a recent interview regarding the film, MacLaine recounted both Sullivan’s tragic-comic screenplay and the fact that her mother being Canadian from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, were both determining factors in her decision to accept the role. MacLaine spent childhood summers in Nova Scotia and had fond memories of the original Anne novel.

Amelia thomas