Unapologetic Facts About Shirley MacLaine, The Eccentric Powerhouse
From acting to dancing—singing to activism—Shirley MacLaine has done it all and then some. With a career that spans over eight decades, her struggles and triumphs pepper her unapologetic life.
Even now, her wild eccentricities and controversial comments keep making headlines. Grab some popcorn and settle down, because this story is one heck of a page-turner.
1. She Had A Calling
Shirley Maclaine Beaty was born in 1934, in Richmond, Virginia. Her love for performing was in her blood: Her father had once harbored dreams of running away to the circus and her mother was a passionate drama teacher. They must have had high hopes for their firstborn because they chose to name her after the famous actress, Shirley Temple. But MacLaine wasn't the only superstar in her family.
2. She Had A Talented Housemate
When she was only three, MacClaine gained a new sibling—a little brother named Warren Beatty. Clearly, there was no dearth of talent in this family. The siblings were very close as kids; “He was my kid brother and we were friends, in fact, allies.” She does admit though, that on some subconscious level, they competed for their parent’s attention.
Still, through her early years, sibling rivalry was the least of her worries.
3. She Had A Huge Problem
MacLaine was only three when her mother made an agonizing discovery: Her toddler had “weak ankles” which meant Shirley was constantly falling over.
Determined to correct this issue before it got any bigger, her mom put her in ballet class right away. MacLaine loved the classes and never missed a single one. In fact, she enjoyed them so much that she got slightly carried away while performing.
4. She Was A Trooper
Teachers often selected MacLaine for the boys’ roles because of her height, and because of the lack of actual boys in the classes. Once though, she got the part of Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. But just before the performance began, disaster struck: MacLaine broke her ankle while warming up for the role. Did our girl cry? Goodness no, she simply tightened her shoe ribbons and danced through the pain.
She only called an ambulance once the play was over. Of course, her onstage resilience didn't end there.
