Virginia Film Festival

A Richmond native, Shirley MacLaine is a distinguished film, television, theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author. Soon after high school graduation, MacLaine packed her bags and headed for New York. She became an understudy to actress Carol Haney in The Pajama Game and when Haney broke her ankle, MacLaine replaced her. Fortunately for MacLaine, film producer Hal B. Wallis saw her performance and signed her to work for Paramount Pictures. MacLaine’s career took off after her debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry, for which she won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. She then took roles in Hot Spell and Around the World in Eighty Days. In the past 50 years, MacLaine has since premiered in 72 films, won 44 awards, including an Oscar, and received 69 nominations. MacLaine will discuss her legendary film career and will take questions from the audience. Introduction by Bob Gazzale (American Film Institute), discussion with Shirley MacLaine moderated by Mitch Levine.

Presented by Virginia National Bank

Supported by Amtrak, and Michael and Ellen Geismar