Shirley MacLaine, 92, made a rare appearance this week in a video message for the Southampton Playhouse, honoring the 1969 musical comedy "Sweet Charity." The screening was scheduled for August 25.
In the clip, MacLaine, wearing spectacles, a blue shirt, and a red vest, expressed a desire to see the film again. "Remember how hard we worked," she said, adding with a touch of humor, "Between you and me, it didn’t do very well, so I hope you guys like it." She concluded by sending her love to fans.
In "Sweet Charity," MacLaine starred as Charity Hope Valentine, an optimistic dance-hall hostess in New York City whose quest for true romance and a better life led her through numerous setbacks. The film, directed by Bob Fosse, also featured John McMartin and Chita Rivera but did not achieve significant box office success.
MacLaine, who is the older sister of actor Warren Beatty, 89, has previously attributed her vitality to her lifelong dedication to dance. She began ballet training at the age of three and continued until she was 67. "It taught me discipline, loving music, working with people and dealing with pain," she told People magazine last year, emphasizing her gratitude for being able to "keep working" and her good health.
Her career began in 1955 with a lead role in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble With Harry," for which she received the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. That same year, she also appeared in the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy "Artists And Models." Despite a series of successful films in the 1950s and 1960s, including "The Apartment" and "Irma la Douce," MacLaine earned her sole Academy Award for Best Actress in 1983 for her role in "Terms Of Endearment." That film also garnered Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson.
In recent years, MacLaine has continued to take on roles, with performances in "Bernie" (2011) and "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" (2013) among her later credits. Last year, she was reportedly seeking an assistant to share evening cocktails and discuss her extensive filmography.