Shirley Anne Field (real name Shirley Broomfield) was born in Bolton, Lancashire. She and her brother were brought up in the Edgworth Children's Home and Orphanage because their mother was unable to care for them. Initially, she modelled in glamour photographs for magazines, including Reveille and Titbits.
Her first appearance in a film was as an extra in Simon and Laura 1955. She was chosen by Lawrence Olivier to play the prime female role in The Entertainer, 1960. During the 1970s she spent some time on the stage before returning to films and many TV appearances in the 1980s & 1990s.
She has written a biography entitled A Time for Love.
Field was involved romantically for a period with the author, John Mortimer.
