Shirley Bassey
Actor
Biography
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.
Filmography
The Sound of 007
as Self (archive footage) 2022
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
as Self 2002
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
as Self 2000
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
as self 2022
The World of James Bond
as Self 1995
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
as Self - Performer 2012
La Passione
as Shirley Bassey 1997
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
as Self 2000
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
as self 2009
…Sings Musicals
as Self (archive footage) 2012
Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
as Self 1985
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self 1961
60 Songs: BBC Two at 60
as Self (archive footage) 2024
St David's Day at the BBC
as Self 2021
The Art of Dissent
as Self - Subject (archive footage) 2021
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
as Self 1995