At ninety-one years young, Shirley MacLaine continues to captivate not just with her enduring presence in Hollywood, but with a life philosophy that is entirely her own. The Academy Award-winning actress, a fixture on screens for over seven decades, approaches her later years with the same verve and independence that defined her iconic career. She enjoys martinis, dines out in Hollywood, and spends much of her time on her New Mexico ranch, surrounded by nature and her beloved dogs. Her secret to a happy life is simple yet profound: choosing peace over anger and immersing herself in the natural world.
MacLaine’s career is a tapestry of cinematic history. She began on Broadway before captivating audiences worldwide in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry” at just twenty-one. From there, she built an astonishing filmography with over fifty films, including classics like “The Apartment” and “Steel Magnolias.” Her passion for acting remains undimmed, as evidenced by her recent role in the hit series “Only Murders in the Building,” where she reunited with old friends Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Beyond the camera, MacLaine has always been a global citizen. She credits her long career not to a desire for Hollywood fame, but to a need to fund her true passion: travel. She has often stated that she prioritized visiting new countries over socializing in Tinseltown, suggesting that her journeys around the world hold a place in her heart as significant as her filmography. This wanderlust speaks to a deep curiosity about life and different cultures that has defined her personal journey.
Her personal life has been as unconventional and talked-about as her professional one. She was married to producer Steve Parker for nearly three decades, though she has been open about having other relationships during their marriage. This candor extended to her daughter, Sachi, with whom she has experienced a public and painful estrangement following claims in Sachi’s memoir about her paternity. MacLaine has consistently denied these allegations, expressing heartbreak over the situation.
Throughout it all, MacLaine has maintained a refreshing and often provocative honesty. She has spoken openly about her views on relationships and sexuality, once revealing in an interview that she had been intimate with two prime ministers. While these claims remain unverified, they are emblematic of a woman who has lived life on her own terms, without apology. Shirley MacLaine’s story is not just one of Hollywood success, but of a relentless and spirited exploration of life itself.
