Shirley Temple

Hello! My name is Shirley Temple. I was born on April 23rd, 1928, in a sunny part of California. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to sing and dance. My mom would style my hair into exactly 56 bouncy curls, and I would tap my feet to any music I heard. It was so much fun! I started taking dance lessons when I was only three years old to learn all the right steps.

Soon, I was acting in movies! The 1930s were a difficult time for many people called the Great Depression, and I was told my job was to make everyone smile. I sang songs like 'On the Good Ship Lollipop' in my movie 'Bright Eyes' and tap-danced with famous actors. It made me so happy to see people laughing and enjoying the films. In 1935, I even received a special, tiny Academy Award, just for me! It was so exciting to bring joy to people all over the world with my movies.

As I grew up, I decided I wanted to help people in a different way. In 1950, when I was 22, I stopped making movies and started a new adventure. I began working for my country, the United States. I traveled to faraway places and served as an ambassador, which is like being a helper and a friend to other countries. I was the ambassador to a country called Ghana in Africa in 1974. Later, in 1989, I served as the ambassador to another country called Czechoslovakia.

I lived a very full life and was 85 years old when my story came to a peaceful end. People remember me for the cheerful movies I made as a little girl and for my work helping my country as a grown-up. You might have even tried the sweet, bubbly drink named after me—the Shirley Temple! I hope my story reminds you that you can do many different things in your life to make the world a brighter place.