Well, here it is August 18. Summer is coming to a close, and we are in the midst of the heat. Here, in this portion of Ohio, it seems like it has been a very hot, wet summer.
But what is the opposite of Summer? You guessed it. Winter.
And guess what else this day is. It is Shelley Winters’ birthday.
And everyone needs a little Shelley Winters in their lives.
First of all, I’m not sure why I like her so much, but I do. For those of you who do not know her, Shelley Winters is an
American actress who appeared in dozens of films. Not only that, she was a big hit on stage and also on television. She acted and acted and acted. Her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006.
But she wasn’t just some two-bit actor. No. She won Academy Awards for “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “A Patch of Blue”
You might also remember her from her roles in “A Place in the Sun” (Oscar-nominated for Best Actress), “The Big Knife”, “Lolita”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Alfie”, and “The Poseidon Adventure” (Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actress).
She was born Shirley Schrift on August 18, 1920, in St. Louis, Missouri, but she grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Winters was known not just for her acting, but also for her bold, outspoken personality that often made as many headlines as her films.
Winters had four marriages (all ending in divorce), but she also had a very open approach to her relationships. She claimed to have had affairs with big names like William Holden, Burt Lancaster, Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, and Sean Connery. She was unapologetic about her sexuality, often saying she enjoyed men and saw no reason to hide it.
But aside from that, she was much more.
Shelley Winters was liberal and outspoken. In the 1960s and 70s, she was involved in civil rights causes and anti-war activism. She marched and lent her voice to left-leaning political movements.
She wasn’t afraid to use her celebrity to support what she believed in, even if it ruffled feathers in Hollywood.
She was also funny in so many ways.
Like this. She famously carried her Oscar in her purse for years and would sometimes pull it out at parties to prove that she had “made it” in a town that typecast her early on.
Winters was known for being loud, funny, and brash. She could steal a talk show with her wit.
There’s a famous anecdote from when she was a guest on The Tonight Show. She interrupted Oliver Reed’s drunken rambling by dumping a drink over his head on live TV. I love it.
https://youtu.be/1bIAonri0PQ?si=CHJPFA3-xJsz3cWO
She reinvented herself throughout her career, moving from glamorous roles to character parts, and she took pride in being unpredictable.
I loved her in the movies. Like The Poseidon Adventure. I watched that a few times when I was a kid, and probably more as an adult.
Winters often said she had “three careers” in Hollywood: first as a blonde bombshell, then as a serious dramatic actress, and finally as a character actress who could do comedy, drama, or even campy horror.
So today, here is a big “Happy Birthday” to a strong woman from the past.
Rock on, Shelley, Rock on.
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“Every now and then, when I’m not sure what I’m doing, I take a deep breath and say to myself: ‘Shelley, you’re an actress, so just act like one.'” — Shelley Winters
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“I kept my Oscar in the bathroom so guests could hold it and make speeches in front of the mirror.” — Shelley Winters
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“I was never very good at being a star. I’m better at being a human being.” — Shelley Winters
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“I think of myself as overweight, but Hollywood always thought of me as fat.” — Shelley Winters
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“A lot of people say, ‘I don’t act—just be yourself.’ Who the hell wants to be me?” — Shelley Winters
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