Movie actress and diplomatic official, was on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California. Precociously talented, she was "discovered' at a dancing school and at age three and a half was appearing in a series of short films. In 1934 she made nine movies, leaping to stardom with Little Miss Marker, and winning a special Academy Award for her "outstanding contributions to screen entertainment' that year.

When Shirley Started working at Fox, Her birth Certificate was set back a year to make her appear younger longer to the public, At Age 11, around hee 12th Birthday, Shirley found out that She was really turning 13.

In 1935 She recived a Special Oscar for Her Work in 1934 and Her Hit “The Little Colonel”.Shirley was MGM’s favorite choice for Dorthy in there next film, “The Wizard of OZ”, so the deal was that MGM would trade Clark Gable and Jean Harlow for Shirley, but Jean Harlow died, so the deal was off.

After “Young People”, She got off of her Contract at Fox and went to a Private School. Later she made “Kathleen” at MGM to get rid of Her Baby image, it seemed to work! Later She was voted “America’s Girlfriend”.

As she moved into her teens, her appeal and career faltered and she effectively retired from the movies in 1950; attempts to revive her career on television in 1958 and in 1960 also failed. She Married Jack Agar and Later divorced. Married to business executive Charles Black in 1950, as Shirley Temple Black she unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for US representative and senator from California.

Embracing the happiness of show biz, Shirley won the heart of the working man and with her firmly held views, inspired confidence in the values of the 1930’s, which helped bring America out of the great depression. She became known as “America’s Princess” after a film titled “The Little Princess”, and continuing public duty and service

Shirley remarried and while raising a family fought a personal battle with cancer. Not to be beaten, she set about working for Business, Charity, the Republican Party, the United Nations and wrote her autobiography “Child Star”. She was appointed US Ambassador of Ghana, US Chief of Protocol and later US Ambassador for Czechoslovakia. Shirley is still active today and writing a second part of her autobiography. Her contribution to the United States of America remains most significant over almost an entire lifetime

In some ways this is the sad story of a little Princess who gave so much, but who was forced to live in the shadow of her former self as a child. The other side of this, is that Shirley has lived usefully while the little Princess goes on, giving happiness to Mum’s or Dad’s who would love such a Daughter, and to generations of Kids who discover her for the first time. Her legacy is not only the wonderful films and music with solid family values, but the huge number of studio stills, dolls and collectibles from many countries.

Tag: Shirley Jane Temple