Shirley Temple

Redscale photograph of a young girl over a white background, with white text below. 

Shirley Temple was a child actress who began her career in 1932, at only three years old. By the end of her film career, she had starred in 14 short films, 43 feature films, and over 25 storybook movies. Many of Temple’s films were released during The Great Depression, and the young girl’s bright personality brought positivity to Americans experiencing economic hardship. 

Later in life, Temple left the film industry to pursue a career in politics and diplomacy. After an unsuccessful run for Congress, she was appointed to the U.S. delegation for the United Nations’ General Assembly and went on to serve as an ambassador to Ghana and the former Czechoslovakia.