Shirley Temple

Hello! My name is Shirley Temple, and you might know me as the little girl with big, bouncy curls who sang and danced in movies a long time ago. I was born on April 23rd, 1928, in a sunny city called Santa Monica, California. Even when I was a tiny girl, I just couldn't stop moving my feet. I loved to dance and sing more than anything. My mother, Gertrude, was very proud of my long, blonde hair. Every single night, she would carefully set my hair into 56 perfect pin curls so they would be bouncy for the next day. One day in 1932, something incredible happened. I was at my dance class when a movie director saw me. He thought I had something special, and that moment was the start of an amazing journey I never could have imagined.

Before I knew it, I was working in Hollywood, making movies! It was an exciting and busy time. In 1934, I signed a contract with a big movie studio called Fox Film Corporation. My first big hit with them was a movie called 'Stand Up and Cheer!'. I got to star in many famous movies after that. You might have heard of 'Bright Eyes,' which is the movie where I sang my famous song, 'On the Good Ship Lollipop.' Another one I loved making was 'The Little Princess.' It felt like a dream come true. From 1935 to 1938, I was the most popular movie star in America. It was hard to believe! In 1935, I was given a very special award. It was a miniature Academy Award, made just for child actors like me, and I was so proud to receive it. What made me happiest was knowing that my movies were making people smile. They came out during a very difficult time in America called the Great Depression, when many families didn't have much money. I was glad my singing and dancing could bring a little bit of joy and hope to people when they needed it most.

Of course, I couldn't be a little girl forever. As I grew into a teenager and then a young woman, my time as a child star came to a natural end. I had been working nearly my whole life, and I was ready for something new. In 1950, when I was 22 years old, I decided to stop making movies. This change gave me the time to focus on my personal life. I married my wonderful husband, Charles Black, and together we raised our children. It was a different kind of happiness, and I loved being a wife and mother. Even though I wasn't acting in movies anymore, the feeling that I wanted to help people never went away. I knew I had to find a new way to contribute to the world and make it a better place for everyone.

I discovered an exciting second career in public service as a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country to other nations, working to build friendship and understanding. In 1969, I was chosen to represent the United States at a very important meeting place for countries all over the world, called the United Nations. My work took me to faraway places. From 1974 to 1976, I served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, a country in Africa. Later, from 1989 to 1992, I was the Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. This was a very important time in history, as the country was peacefully changing its government, and I was proud to be there. I also believed in being brave and honest in my own life. In 1972, I learned I had breast cancer. Back then, many people were afraid to talk about this illness. I decided to share my story publicly to help other women feel less alone and encourage them to talk about their health with their doctors.

I lived a very full and happy life and was 85 years old when it came to a peaceful end in 2014. People remember me for my cheerful movies that brought smiles to so many faces, and also for my work serving my country. I hope my story shows you that you can have more than one big dream in your life!