Original photo by Pictorial Press Ltd/ Alamy Stock Photo
During her brief yet storied acting career, Shirley Temple, one of the most famous and successful child stars in cinematic history, left an indelible mark on the world of film and paved the way for many young actors to follow. But there was much more to her life than just being a performer, including her later ventures into the world of politics and serving as the namesake of one of the world’s most popular mocktails, an honor few have achieved. Let’s take a look at five fascinating facts about Shirley Temple.
She Began Acting at 3 Years Old
In 1931, at just 3 years old, Temple earned her first acting contract with Educational Pictures. The studio signed her to appear in a series of low-budget shorts titled Baby Burlesks, which Temple later criticized for being “a cynical exploitation of our childish innocence.” While this project may have been problematic, it nonetheless helped jettison Temple into the limelight. She received her first speaking role in 1932’s War Babies, and later earned her first leading role in the 1934 film Little Miss Marker.
By 1940, at just 11 years old, Temple had already appeared in 43 films. However, she found it difficult to book new roles as she continued to grow older, and she appeared in her final films in 1949, thus ending her Hollywood career less than two decades after it began. Temple went on to make several sporadic appearances on various TV shows throughout the 1950s and 1960s, though she stopped performing altogether after that.
She’s the Youngest-Ever Oscar Recipient
The young Shirley Temple experienced a breakout year in 1934, as she appeared in a plethora of films that included such hits as Bright Eyes and Baby Take a Bow. Her impressive rise to fame was undeniable, which is why the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to create a new Academy Juvenile Award to honor her at the 1935 Oscars.
This honorary trophy was around 7 inches high, about half the size of a standard Oscar statuette. Upon earning this accolade, the then-6-year-old Temple became the youngest-ever Oscar recipient — a record she’s continued to hold for nine decades. (The youngest winner of a competitive Oscar is 10-year-old Tatum O’Neal, who won Best Supporting Actress for her work in the 1973 film Paper Moon.)
She Received 135,000 Presents on Her Ninth Birthday
According to biographer Robert Windeler, Temple had quite the memorable birthday in 1937. That year marked Temple’s ninth birthday, though not if you asked 20th Century Fox, her movie studio, who lied that it was her eighth birthday to keep her young in the eyes of the public. Temple’s immense stardom at the time meant that her birthday attracted the attention of fans around the globe. Those fans collectively sent Temple a whopping 135,000 presents, ranging from a baby kangaroo sent by an Australian fan to a prize calf gifted to her by a group of students in Oregon. This global outpouring of admiration just goes to show how popular Temple was at the peak of her fame.
She Disliked Her Namesake Drink
A Shirley Temple is a popular mocktail made using ginger ale, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry. There’s some debate over the drink’s exact origins, but one popular story is it was originally concocted to satisfy a “whining” Shirley Temple at dinner. During the meal, Temple supposedly lamented the fact that her parents were drinking Old Fashioneds — a cocktail featuring a maraschino cherry — and so the bartender cleverly whipped up a nonalcoholic version to placate the young star.
Despite the beverage’s enduring popularity, Temple was never a big fan of the drink. During a 1986 interview with NPR, she commented, “I hate them. Too sweet.” Despite her aversion to the sugary mocktail, however, she fought hard to protect the drink’s name. In 1988, Temple sued several soft drink manufacturers who attempted to trademark and mass-produce “Shirley T” sodas, a bottled version of the mocktail, promoting it as “The Shirley Temple SoftDrink” without the former actress’ permission. She pushed back against the attempt, saying, “All a celebrity has is their name.”
She Served as U.S. Ambassador to Two Different Countries
Long after her acting career came to an end, Shirley Temple Black — as she was known after marrying Charles Black in 1950 — carved out a new career as a political diplomat. Her active involvement in politics began in 1967, when she ran for Congress to represent California’s 11th district, albeit unsuccessfully. Two years later, President Richard Nixon appointed her as the U.S. delegate to the United Nations, and she went on to deliver an impassioned speech to the U.N. General Assembly about environmental issues.
During the subsequent administration of Gerald Ford, Black was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, a role she held from 1974 to 1976. She later became the first woman to serve as chief of protocol at the U.S. State Department, a post she held until Ford left office in 1977. From 1989 to 1992, Black played a pivotal diplomatic role once again, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (now Czechia and Slovakia) under President George H.W. Bush. During her time in this role, she helped establish diplomatic relations with the newly elected Czech government in the wake of 1989’s Velvet Revolution.
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Optimism Media, and previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers." Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
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