Shelley: Also known as Shirley

by Shelley Winters

The electrifying and outspoken memoirs of an earthy and unusually intelligent actress. In a book as gutsy and spunky as the lady herself, Shelley Winters tells of the street-smart kid from Brooklyn who crashed Hollywood as a harem-girl sexpot. The Blonde Bombshell fought to make it as a serious actress and walked off with two Oscars. With exciting romances along the way - Lawrence Tierney, John Ireland, Errol Flynn, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando, William Holden - ending with her explosive and violent marriage to Italian actor Vittorio Gassman. Shelley sizzles, erupts, and crackles with rich humor - it reads like a novel. This is a courageous and honest book in which one of America's favorite personalities levels with the reader about the content and meaning of her life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Film, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Media Tie In

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Shelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006.

Winters won Academy Awards for her acting in The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue, and is also remembered for her role in The Poseidon Adventure .

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelly was gorgeous, sexy, smart and very talented. The line I loved best in the referred to her "f*** me shoes."

Shelly Winters wrote honestly and did not hesitate to point out her less than perfect side--actions, personality, attitude. But she didn't hesitate to point out the good (and sometimes great) parts of herself and her life.

Very entertaining read.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always thought of Shelley Winters as an annoyingly whiny, unattractive actress and couldn't understand her fame.
Reading this totally changed my opinion of her.She was witty, sassy, and a women's libber long before it was trendy.She came from a poor family so stepped right out as a youngster to make her fortune despite her lack of conventional beauty. Her persistence was heartwarming in the face of some of her rejections.
As she started to get Hollywood roles, she engaged in affairs with some of the top leading men of the day. Brando, Burt Lancaster, William Holden,Tony Franciosa,she doesn't hold back the info.Her memory is amazing.
She was a activist for human rights as early as her teen years.Shelley also was a playwright, and producer on Broadway.Her only child became a doctor.
I reread this every year and always enjoy it anew. Shelley is a true survivor who triumphs. An incredible lady.

[E.d. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars. I learned that Burt Lancaster looked as good with his clothes off as he did with them on.

This was a fun read in parts. I loved reading about how young Shirley forged ahead fueled by nothing more than gumption and self-confidence. I laughed when she told the head of Fox that he hadn't discovered her that she had discovered herself!

Her self image is totally different then you would imagine. She is confident and seems well loved. Why did she always play whiny, annoying characters?

Once she became a star the pace really slowed. Parts seemed stiff and overly formal. Winters managed to make Shirley a great character in the beginning but couldn't write well enough to sustain the reader's interest to the end. The secret of a great star autobiography is a great main character. The memoirist has to make herself into a character as compelling as Oliver Twist or Scarlett O'Hara. Few succeed. Try Tab Hunter, Anthony Quinn, Kirk Douglas or Michael Caine instead.

[Maudoozles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give this book about 2.5 stars. Let me start by saying, this wasn't a very good book. I mean, maybe I came in with too many expectations, I was hoping it would be a scandalous read with a moral running through it so it would be, grounded. Well, this book is literally all about Shelley Winters, no jokes. There are some fun snippets, and then beginning wasn't half bad, but by the time I hit the 300s I just honestly couldn't give a damn about what happened to poor Shelley Winters. It got that bad. I stopped reading. I did read the last page before I put it down for good, and I guess I'm still disappointed that there was no point to the book other than her believing that she should be a movie star.

[Nancy Loe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a rare individual who gains fame and fortune in Hollywood, yet is able to keep their inner selves intact. Shelley Winters is not one of those people.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Shelley: Also Known as Shirley, the autobiography of actress Shelley Winters, when it was originally released in 1980. I remembered enjoying it immensely, so I decided it was time to recapture some of that enjoyment by re-reading the book. I’m older now and have more knowledge of the world and, especially, Hollywood. Because of that, I liked many of her anecdotes even more, for I knew more of the people she was talking about. The book is wonderfully fresh and fun and funny when it tells of her early years. She started in show business at age sixteen, and in fact, was signed to her first film contract before she was eighteen. She was a brash and bold and persuasive young woman, doing things that other older people would never think of doing. Her dealings with the notorious curmudgeon Roy Cohn of Columbia Pictures are priceless—full of wit and spunk. As her career develops and she loses that wide-eyed “Shirley,” the book is still enjoyable but at times, her actions are frustrating. One wonders what happened to Shirley. The last quarter of the book tells of her tumultuous affair with and marriage to Italian actor Vittorio Gassman. Apparently, they loved each other dearly, but their cultural differences and career goals combined to destroy their marriage. I had to wonder how this woman, who’d begun her life and career with so much boldness—and indeed had an early marriage to someone somewhat controlling as Gassman was—would put up with this hot-blooded Italian. She tries to convince us she was in love with him and perhaps blind to it all, but that’s not the way I expected Shirley to handle the situation. The book ends with her divorce, and, indeed, she did publish a sequel that covered the subsequent years of her life. I remember thinking I did not enjoy that one as much as the first. And maybe that was because by then she’d forgotten Shirley and become Shelley, the movie star. As with all autobiographies, one must take the story with a grain of salt. Memories fade and often the writer prefers to embellish. I found it interesting that she relates how she bought two couches at a store in Chicago and “still has them to this very day.” That purchase would have been made when she was so poor she couldn’t have had any money to buy two couches, much less have them shipped to her tiny apartment in New York City. That story alone makes me question the validity of all her tales of bedding assorted male movie stars. Was she really that promiscuous, or was she simply telling what she wanted to remember?

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I had seen only two of the movies that Shelley Winters was in, I found myself immersed in her biography from page one. Friends with Howard Hughes and Marilyn Monroe; wooed by the likes of Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn, and Ronald Coleman; Shelley Winters keeps her readers fascinated--and a not a little disbelieving--from beginning to end. Did Errol Flynn really call the police to help her get more publicity? Did Marilyn Monroe really, at Shelley's suggestion, pretend to break her leg to get out of the clutches of a terrible director? Who knows, but it's great fun to read.

This book taught me a lot about the inner workings of the Hollywood studio system in the early 40s and 50s, and furnished me with a list of classic movies that I must see-- it even satisfied my appetite for classic movie/actor trivia...for now. :)

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometime after seeing Shelley Winters play yet another obnoxious-mom/girlfriend-who-gets-killed (as in The Poseidon Adventure, Lolita, A Place in the Sun, Night of the Hunter, and so on) I began to wonder "What's her deal?" Why is she willing to take so much abuse on screen? Lucky for me, she wrote this book. Now I know that even though she's got this loudmouth matron persona, she also managed to woo some of the coolest guys in Tinseltown. So good for you, Shelley Winters!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

She always seemed more interesting than many Movie Stars. As I read this book I see that she was in fact an interesting person, and one I would have enjoyed knowing. This book feels like I am getting to know her. Better than many "Star" bios for sure.
Like a true show biz pro, she leaves you wanting more. The book ends long before her career. A good read.

[Daniel Krolik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh boy. Shelley fucks everyone, accidentally tries cocaine, marries Italian, plays fast and loose with her age, gets hooked on the method, and makes A Place in the Sun (and maybe some other movies). Is any of this true? Does it matter? A perfect quarantine read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely interesting. Don't know that I believe all her stories though.

[Bobette Giorgi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was bored. There are many more entertaining autobios out there.

[Paul Grose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Great biography for 1980. This is one of the few biographies that I have come across where the author is not backward in naming names, or what she thinks. The narrative is up front, and if she does not come of smelling like a rose so be it. Her nobody is perfect attitude still jumps of the page even after almost forty years after publication. A lot of autobiographies written by so called personalities could learn a lot form this work.

In her life Shelly Winters had a lot of relationships. By her own admission she had affairs with John Ireland, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando, William Holden, Errol Flynn and the King of Hollywood himself Clark Gabel to name a few she mentions in the book. She was a room mate and true friend of Marilyn Monroe. She took no shit and was one of the few in the time who would stand up to Frank Sinatra, she worked with Montgomery Cliff, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, and was friends with Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, and was idolised by Howard Hughes. She married a guy who could not speak English and she could not speak Italian. During all this she was one of hollywoods most sort after actress by the likes of George Stevens, Charles Laughton and George Cukor.

This is a great book by a truly great actress who tells it as it was and at the same time learn about to old hollywood by someone who was there. Sadly missed and always a breath of fresh air no matter what role she played. Highly recommended and a great read. Now to track down the sequel.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars to this rollicking memoir full of energy, emotion and - well - truth? Shelley, no matter what her adventures were or where they took her, grabbed the brass ring and made a point of saying truth to power. Her reminiscences of interactions with people like Howard Hughes and Harry Cohn made me chuckle out loud. She tells us unapologetically of affairs with (among others) William Holden (where were you last Christmas?), Marlon Brando and that heartbreaker Burt Lancaster. She shares her own foibles and faults too, especially around her tempestuous marriage to Vittorio Gassman. She never strays far from her own moral code, deeply implanted by her early years with her family and the first love of her life, the military man. Abounding throughout is a sense of somewhat self-deprecating humour about her own self-image. I love the way she ends the book, just after seeing Giglio at La Fenice, and with her little tease to us about truth and memory.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew! This is a long—ok, overlong, at 500+ pages!—but juicy Hollywood bio, from a woman who was a little nutty to be sure, but completely endearing and full of life. Shelley was also a talented, versatile actress who ended up winning two Oscars, and a passionate political progressive (very important). She also managed to have affairs with some of the sexiest men of 1950s Hollywood, including Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster, John Ireland, William Holden, and Farley Granger (with whom she shared a lifelong friendship). This is very good of its type, but like most of the books in this genre it tends to get a bit repetitive in the home stretch—and its over-length doesn't help. Time to watch/rewatch some old Winters classics (saw A Place in the Sun last week and it def holds up). ***1/2 outta 5

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winters #1
I did not know a lot about Shelly Winters before reading this book, I had seen her in a number of movies, but never really focussed on her.
Reading this was fascinating, with tales of the golden age, and the goings on in her life, from the raw beginnings and the mistakes she made, even thinking about her identity of who she really was as she changes from Shirley Schrift to Shelly Winters, she asked the questions was she still the same person? Where was Shirley?
The book takes us only to 1954, and there is a lot more to tell, and even Shelley recognised this by finishing with To Be Continued and her hope to continue her story.
A book really worth reading.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I remember as a young child seeing Shelley Winters on Johnny Carson talking about this book. She mentioned her roommate Marilyn Monroe! I was fascinated by the stories. Relationships and friendship with so many famous leading men! Jaw-dropping! I know this is an old book but I feel like she has been forgotten. if you love old movies and old Hollywood, you will love this book! 4.5 stars

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. She certainly lived an interesting life when she was young. AND had flings with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. She talks with a candour that is very refreshing and is not afraid to name names, and sometimes she doesn't come off smelling like a rose either. I enjoyed this biography.

[Jack Perugini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I understand why this is considered one of the best autobiographies ever written - at least by a celebrity. What an amazing life Shelly led. As an old movie buff, the stories Shelley shares are pure gold. it reads like a page turner! I could not put it down! If you can find a used copy, grab it! You won’t be disappointed.

[Leon Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing in many areas, particularly in its account of how the, pretty left, Jewish milieu in 1930’s New York were well aware of the holocaust. A lot of the rest must be taken with a pinch of salt - as Winters herself teases, we’ll never know!

[Daniel Krolik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh boy. Shelley fucks everyone, makes terrible movies, tries cocaine, plays fast and loose with her real age, marries Italian, and gets hooked on the Method. What's true? Who can say. The perfect quarantine read. Bring on part 2.

[Lynne Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very interesting spicy book full of nuances of Holly wood and Miss Winters life.
I must say Shelley lead a very interesting life.
I also might add I felt Shelley was a highly intelligent person from her decisions and how she related to situations and what to do.

[Emily Intravia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute joy to read. Great old Hollywood stories, juicy romantic dalliances with major movie stars, an artist figuring out her worth and possibility, but most importantly, that glorious Shelley Winters wit. What a treasure.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

#64 of 120 books pledged to read during 2018

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 love Shelley as a storyteller but some it kinda dragged on.

[Harold Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So refreshing and honest. Loved it.

[Ilena Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic reading. Shelley blabs all.

[E.H. Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While most people think of Shelley Winters as an actress who always played dumpy, frumpy parts like in The Diary of Anne Frank, A Place in the Sun, and The Poseidon Adventure, I always think of her as the fun, frisky playgirl in Alfie. You might be surprised to read the juicy adventures in Shelley’s two tell-all memoirs, but I wasn’t. I was expecting tons of trash, gossip, love affairs, parties, theatrical outbursts, egocentric puff-ups – and I wasn’t disappointed.

Vacillating between being very self-aware and totally deluded, Shelley’s detailed history comes with a disclaimer: she knows that her memories are skewed, and she knows that some of what she’s written has been altered in favor of “wishful thinking”. Most of the time you can sense where she’s embellished, so it’s not that big of a deal.

From early childhood, we see a born actress emerging. She always was a diva, self-focused and wanting to win no matter the cost. In a beauty pageant, she cheated by bringing in dozens of folks from her neighborhood to cheer her on. She bribed a doorman with a bottle of booze to tell other actresses wrong information about an audition. As the old saying goes, the only people who make it in show business are the ones willing to kill their own babies.
​
I absolutely loved reading Shelley’s first memoir as it tracked her childhood, training as an actress, and ascent to stardom. She chronicled countless affairs, and while some of them were merely amusing (like Errol Flynn), others made me see the men in a different light. Burt Lancaster set her up in a love nest while he was married. William Holden slept with her at a Christmas party and afterwards asked, “By the way, what’s your name?” Marlon Brando had her over for dinner in his rat-trap apartment with no heating, no electricity, and a caged pet raccoon in the corner. His pick-up line that worked: “My body generates a lot of heat,” as he crawled into bed. He and Shelley did enjoy a long friendship afterwards, though, and he treated her very kindly during her hours of need.

For anyone who likes kiss-and-tell memoirs, especially set in Old Hollywood, Shelley is a must-read. It’s funny, melodramatic, and shares fascinating backstage stories about all her movies. You’ll also learn a lot about Marilyn Monroe, George Stevens, Farley Granger, Charles Laughton, and the Strasbergs. Next up, check out the Ava Gardner biography Love Is Nothing for more juicy scandals.

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[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

For those who only know Ms. Winters as the frumpy punchline in "The Poseidon Adventure", this somewhat uneven book will be more of a happy surprise. "Shelley" certainly has its moments - It's fun to learn of her clashes with Columbia studio head Harry Cohn, her work with Lee Strasburg, and her encounters with a wide array of top-tier Hollywood stars. Unfortunately, the photo section promises more than the book delivers - it abruptly stops with the shooting of Robert Bresson's "Mambo" and the collapse of her second marriage. There is a second volume (published nine years later in 1989), so interested readers might be better off getting both books if they want to learn about working with Anthony Mann or Stanley Kubrick.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who has always loved old movies and is addicted to the TCM network, this is a treasure trove of Broadway and Hollywood name dropping. It was amazing to me to realize that Shelley's persona as "Nana Mary" on Roseanne was TRUE! All the pictures shown in her character's home of herself as a young starlet and all the famous actors she had known had to be HERS! She led an amazing life and I can't wait to read Shelley II. Thank goodness she wrote it all down before she passed.