• Faith: Spirituality
• Career: Actress
• Birthday:  April 24, 1934

Shirley MacLaine is an actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and six Golden Globe Awards.

MacLaine, born Shirley MacLean Beaty on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia, embarked on a journey that would see her become one of Hollywood's most celebrated actresses. Raised in a well-off family, her father, Ira Owens Beaty, was a psychology professor, and her mother, Kathlyn Corinne, was a drama teacher. Shirley was the older sister to future actor and director Warren Beatty. Growing up, she developed an early passion for performing arts, particularly ballet. However, a fortuitous event when she was a young girl set her on a different path: an ankle injury pushed her to focus more on acting rather than dance. This shift ultimately led to her illustrious career in film and stage.

Shirley MacLaine's career began in the world of Broadway before she transitioned to the silver screen. Her big break came unexpectedly when she was cast as an understudy for Carol Haney in the Broadway musical "The Pajama Game." When Haney broke her ankle, MacLaine stepped in, and her performance caught the eye of Hollywood producer Hal Wallis, who signed her to a film contract.

Her film debut came in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble with Harry" (1955), which earned her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. Over the next several decades, MacLaine showcased her versatility as an actress, appearing in films such as "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), "Some Came Running" (1958), "The Apartment" (1960), "Irma la Douce" (1963), and "Sweet Charity" (1969). Her role in "Terms of Endearment" (1983) earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, cementing her status as one of the industry's finest talents.

Throughout her career, MacLaine received numerous accolades, including six Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe Awards. Her work spans over six decades, reflecting her adaptability and enduring appeal. Her filmography is marked by a blend of comedic and dramatic roles, each performance highlighting her unique ability to capture the depth and complexity of her characters.

Shirley MacLaine married Steve Parker, a businessman-producer, in 1954. Their marriage was unconventional, marked by periods of separation and individual pursuits. Despite the geographical and emotional distances, their marriage lasted for nearly three decades before they divorced in 1982. MacLaine has often spoken openly about their relationship, revealing that they had an open marriage, which allowed both to have extramarital relationships without the constraints of traditional marital expectations. This arrangement, while unconventional, was something that both MacLaine and Parker agreed upon and maintained throughout their years together.

The couple had one daughter, Sachi Parker, born in 1956. Sachi spent much of her childhood in Japan with her father while MacLaine pursued her career in Hollywood. The mother-daughter relationship has been complex and, at times, strained. In 2013, Sachi published a memoir titled "Lucky Me: My Life With – and Without – My Mom, Shirley MacLaine," which detailed her unique upbringing and the challenges of growing up with a famous mother. MacLaine, known for her candor, responded to the memoir with her characteristic openness, acknowledging the difficulties and differences in their relationship while maintaining her perspective on her choices as a mother.

Shirley MacLaine's Religious Beliefs

Beyond her acting career, Shirley MacLaine is renowned for her spiritual explorations and advocacy of New Age beliefs. Her interest in spirituality began in the late 1960s and 1970s, a period during which she embarked on a journey of self-discovery. This journey led her to explore various aspects of New Age spirituality, including reincarnation, extraterrestrial life, and the metaphysical.

MacLaine's most famous book on these topics, "Out on a Limb" (1983), became a bestseller and was later adapted into a television miniseries. In the book, she candidly discusses her beliefs in reincarnation and her experiences with spiritual guides. She asserts that she has lived past lives and that these experiences have shaped her current life's journey. Her other books, such as "Dancing in the Light" (1985) and "The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit" (2000), further delve into her spiritual beliefs and personal experiences.

Her New Age beliefs have often been a topic of public fascination and skepticism. However, MacLaine remains unapologetic and steadfast in her convictions, frequently lecturing and writing about her spiritual journey. Her openness about her beliefs has inspired many to explore their spiritual paths, making her a prominent figure in the New Age movement.