The 3 Roles That Defined Shirley MacLaine's Career

Shirley MacLaine has had a lifetime of honors and accolades as an actress. Early on in her career she earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960), and has continued to be a star. Here are the three roles that defined MacLaine’s career, putting her on the map to success.

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1. Fran Kubelik, "The Apartment" (1960)
MacLaine starred alongside Jack Lemmon in the 1960 comedy “The Apartment.”

In the film, MacLaine plays Fran Kubelik, a young woman who is juggling two men, one being a boss and the other his employee. The office politics that ensued earned the film six Academy Awards. MacLaine’s honors included a Golden Globe for Best Actress, a Golden Laurel and a Volpi Cup from the Venice Film Festival.

2. Irma la Douce, “Irma la Douce” (1963)
The title role in “Irma la Douce” brought MacLaine back to the big screen alongside Lemmon again in 1963. In this romantic comedy, MacLaine plays a prosperous prostitute in Paris while Lemmon is a local policeman who falls in love with her. The obvious conflict of interest made for a great storyline.

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MacLaine won several accolades for her work in this film, including a Golden Laurel for Top Female Comedy Performance, a Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress, and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress.

3. Aurora Greenway, "Terms of Endearment" (1983)
Though MacLaine's career spans decades, she is most well known as Aurora Greenway in “Terms of Endearment.” Greenway’s stressful relationship with her daughter (Debra Winger) is the core of the film, as the pair face life’s challenges. MacLaine’s work won her an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

The movie was so successful that Greenway’s character was brought back in 1996 for the sequel, “The Evening Star.” The sequel to “Terms of Endearment” was not met with as many rave reviews and some even called it a flop. But MacLaine’s performance did earn her an honor for her work. The Lone Star Film & Television Awards honored MacLaine as Best Actress for the film.

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