Shirley Bassey
b. 1937 (age 89)
Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Actress
Composer
Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer known for both her powerful operatic voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films 'Goldfinger' (1964); 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971) and 'Moonraker' (1979). Born on Bute Street in Butetown (also known as 'Tiger Bay') in the docklands area of Cardiff, she was was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey, from Nigeria, and Eliza Jane Start, from the north-east of England, but grew up in the adjacent community of Splott. After leaving Splott Secondary Modern School at the age of 14, Bassey found work at the local Curran Steels factory, while singing in public houses and clubs in the evenings and on weekends. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract and went on to work for the impresario Jack Hylton. She recorded her first single in 1956.
Known For
Filmography
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Shirley Bassey at the BBC: Volume Two
2024 Actress
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★ 5.2
2022 EE BAFTA Film Awards
2022 Self
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Ball and Boe: A Very Merry Christmas
2019 Self
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★ 6.7
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
2018 Self
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★ 7.6
Sir Bruce: A Celebration
2018 Self
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NHS Heroes Awards with Paul O Grady
2018 Self
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★ 5.9
The Missing Crown Jewels
2017 Actress
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★ 7.7
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
2016 Self
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The Laurence Olivier Awards
2016 Self
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The London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2015
2015 Self
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★ 7.4
The Royal Variety Performance 2014
2014 Self
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National Movie Awards 2011
2011 Self
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★ 6.2
Brit Awards 2010
2010 Self
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Sings the Great American Songbook
2010 Self
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★ 5.3
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
2009 Self
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★ 7.3
Glastonbury 2007
2007 Self
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★ 7.5
BBC Electric Proms
2006 Self
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Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
2006 Self
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All Time Greatest Movie Songs
2006 Self
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★ 6.6
Avenue of the Stars: 50 Years of ITV
2005 Self
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The Royal Variety Performance 2005
2005 Self
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★ 4.1
The National Music Awards 2003
2003 Self
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★ 7.8
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
2002 Self
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★ 6.8
James Bond: A BAFTA Tribute
2002 Self
Actress
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★ 6.7
The Jubilee Girl
2002 Self
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★ 5.5
An Audience with Des O'Connor
2001 Self
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80 Years: A Royal Celebration
2001 Self
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The Royal Variety Performance 2000
2000 Self
Actress
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This Is My Life
1998 Self
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Viva Diva!
1998 Self
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V.I.P.
1997 Self
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★ 8.1
La Passione
1996 Actress
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★ 9.0
Happy Birthday Shirley
1996 Self
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A Royal Gala
1996 Self
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The 11th American Cinema Awards
1996 Self
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★ 8.9
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
1995 Self
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For Your Ears Only
1995 Self
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The Royal Variety Performance
1994 Self
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Shirley Bassey: I Am What I Am
1994 Self
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★ 7.4
The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards
1992 Self
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The British Video Awards
1992 Self
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La ronda
1991 Self
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After Ten with Tarbuck
1988 Self
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Royal Variety Performance 1987
1987 Self
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Fashion Aid
1985 Self
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★ 6.7
Mike Yarwood in Persons
1982 Self
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★ 7.7
An Audience with Dudley Moore
1981 Self
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★ 8.6
A Special Lady
1980 Self
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★ 5.7
Des O'Connor Tonight
1977 Self
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★ 7.3
Shirley
1976 Self
Actress
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The Royal Variety Performance 1976
1976 Self
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The Grand Prix Night of the Stars
1976 Self
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Sunday Special
1975 Self
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Shirley Bassey at the Royal Albert Hall
1974 Self
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Shirley
1974 Self
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The British Academy Award
1973 Self
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All about Shirley
1972 Self
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TV-Wunderland
1971 Self
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The Royal Variety Performance 1971
1971 Self
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The Young Generation Meet Shirley Bassey
1970 Self
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Pauls Silvesterparty
1970 Self
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The Spring Thing
1969 Self
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Bassey at Chequers
1968 Self
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★ 6.6
The Heart of Show Business
1967 Self
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Center Stage
1967 Self
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Shirley Bassey Special
1966 Self
Actress
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The Royal Variety Performance 1965
1965 Self
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Zomercaroussel
1964 Self
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Eurovision 10ème anniversaire
1964 Self
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★ 7.5
Sound of Music
1963 Self
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Wide World of Entertainment
1963 Self
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This Is Sinatra!
1962 Self
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★ 7.0
Amigos del martes
1961 Self
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★ 8.0
The Bing Crosby Show
1961 Self
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The Royal Variety Performance 1961
1961 Self
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The Tin Pan Alley Show
1960 Self
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Merry with Medwin
1959 Self
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★ 5.5
After Hours
1958 Self
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Say It with Music
1957 Self
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Centre Stage: The Dominic Ferris Story
Self