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Actress who became overnight star opposite Laurence Olivier dies aged 87

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Pals have remembered her
Pals have remembered her 'unbreakable spirit'

ACTRESS Shirley Anne Field, who starred in The Entertainer and Alfie, has died at the age of 87.

The stage and screen star was brought to prominence in the 1960s following her role in The Entertainer opposite the late Laurence Olivier.

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Shirley Anne Field has died aged 87Credit: Leon Neal
Shirley Anne Field in bed with Laurence Olivier in a scene from the film The Entertainer
Shirley Anne Field in bed with Laurence Olivier in a scene from the film The EntertainerCredit: Getty
She made her name in The Entertainer and Alfie
She made her name in The Entertainer and Alfie
The iconic actress was born in Essex
The iconic actress was born in EssexCredit: PA

She went on to feature in films including Alfie and Saturday Night And Sunday Morning.

A statement from Shirley Anne Field's family said: "It is with great sadness that we are sharing the news that Shirley Anne Field passed away peacefully on Sunday December 10 2023, surrounded by her family and friends.

"Shirley Anne will be greatly missed and remembered for her unbreakable spirit and her amazing legacy spanning more than five decades on stage and screen."

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Tributes have flooded in for the star since her tragic passing broke.

One fan wrote on X: "Sad to hear of the death of Shirley Anne Field a fine actress, a familiar figure in North London and a loyal supporter of the National Children's Home."

Another said: "Such a shame, she was a great actress," while a third added: "Wonderful actress."

The iconic actress - born in Essex - was the third of four children.

But by the time she was just six-years-old, she was placed in a children's home near Bolton.

When she was a teen, she was living at a children's home hostel in London, before going on to train as a typist.

Shirley Anne first established herself as a model in the 1950s before branching out in the acting world.

In 1956, she featured in the comedy Loser Takes All and the musical film It's A Wonderful World.

Her first big role was in 1959's Horrors of the Black Museum as well as Peeping Tom.

She then had her breakthrough - playing Tina Lapford in The Entertainer by the side of Laurence Olivier.

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Shirley Anne married racing driver Charles Crichton-Stuart in 1967 and they had a daughter Nicola together.

The pair later divorced and Crichton-Stuart died in 2001.

Shirley Anne at the film premiere for Alfie
Shirley Anne at the film premiere for AlfieCredit: PA
Shirley Anne alongside Michael Caine in the film Alfie
Shirley Anne alongside Michael Caine in the film AlfieCredit: Alamy
Pals said she would be greatly missed
Pals said she would be greatly missedCredit: Getty
Shirley Anne trained as a typist before becoming an actress
Shirley Anne trained as a typist before becoming an actress
She rose to prominence overnight
She rose to prominence overnightCredit: Getty

Brittany Vonow

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