Shirley
Synopsis
Shirley is the youngest of eight children from a mixed race marriage. By the time she is a toddler the family have moved to the all white area of Splott and by the time she is 12 Shirley has discovered she has an extraordinary voice and can earn money singing in pubs around the docks after her father if jailed for sexual crimes. As a young teenager she begins singing and dancing in 'coloured review shows'. But it is a chance meeting with struggling agent Mike Sullivan that changes her life forever. He promises to make her a star, but has no idea of the personal sacrifice that will mean for the teenaged Shirley.
Top Cast
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Ruth Negga
Shirley Bassey
Amira Arish
Shirley Bassey (Aged 9)
Lesley Sharp
Eliza Bassey
Charlie Creed-Miles
Mike Sullivan
Jeany Spark
Juhni Sullivan
Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Kenneth Hume
Danny Sapani
Bobo
Babou Ceesay
Henry Bassey
Isaiah Cai Forrest
Henry Bassey Jr
Divine Faith Utonga
Sharon Bassey
Larissa Wilson
Iris Bassey
Matthew Marsh
Jack Hylton
Di Botcher
Mrs Morrison
Colin Mace
Agent
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Colin Teague
- Screenplay & Story
- Shelagh Stephenson
- Original Score
- Ben Foster
- Original Title
- Shirley
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
- Production Studios
- Prospect Cymru
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Colin Teague
Shelagh Stephenson
Ben Foster
Ole Bratt Birkeland
Fiona Colbeck
Katherine Lannon, Eleanor Moran
Department Leadership Roster
Colin Teague
Director
Shelagh Stephenson
Writer
Katherine Lannon
Producer
Charlotte Holdich
Costume Design
Ben Foster
Original Music Composer
Ole Bratt Birkeland
Director of Photography
Fiona Colbeck
Editor
Madelaine Leech
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shirley.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shirley.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shirley
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shirley about?
Shirley is the youngest of eight children from a mixed race marriage. By the time she is a toddler the family have moved to the all white area of Splott and by the time she is 12 Shirley has discovered she has an extraordinary voice and can earn money singing in pubs around the docks after her father if jailed for sexual crimes. As a young teenager she begins singing and dancing in 'coloured review shows'. But it is a chance meeting with struggling agent Mike Sullivan that changes her life forever. He promises to make her a star, but has no idea of the personal sacrifice that will mean for the teenaged Shirley.
Who directed Shirley?
Shirley was directed by Colin Teague.
Who stars in Shirley?
The principal cast of Shirley includes Ruth Negga, Amira Arish, Lesley Sharp, Charlie Creed-Miles, Jeany Spark.
When was Shirley released and how long is it?
Shirley was released in 2011 with a total runtime of 1h 10m.
Who composed the musical score for Shirley?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shirley was composed by Ben Foster.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shirley?
Shirley holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).