Acting

Helen Shapiro

Born 1946-09-28 · Bethnal Green, London, England

Helen Kate Shapiro (born 28 September 1946) is a British pop and jazz singer and actress. While still a teenager in the early 1960s, she was one of Britain's most successful female singers. With a voice described by AllMusic as possessing "the maturity and sensibilities of someone far beyond their teen years", Shapiro recorded two 1961 UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness", when she was just 14 years old. Shapiro first achieved prominence in 1961 when her debut single, "Don't Treat Me Like a Child", reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. After the two million-sellers, her success continued in 1962 with further hits including "Tell Me What He Said" and film appearances in Play It Cool and It's Trad, Dad! In 1963, Shapiro toured with the Beatles, who were her supporting act. Since the 1970s, she has branched out as a performer in musical theatre and jazz; she appeared in the West End and toured extensively with the British jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and his band.

Acting credits

John Lennon: A Journey in the Life poster
NR

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of John Lennon's murder. Journey in the Life chronicles the life of the musician, making use of dramatizations, fantasy-like images, and commentary. The material for the special is drawn from Lennon's writings and songs, along with stills, interviews, and documentary footage of the famous Beatle and dramatic recreations of his life.

John Lennon: A Journey in the Life

1985

Play It Cool poster
6.1

A struggling singer and his band befriend an heiress who, against the wishes of her father, is searching for the lover who she has been forbidden to see and with whom she is hoping to elope.

Play It Cool

1962

It's Trad, Dad! poster
5.7

The hero and heroine want to popularize trad jazz in their town. Some older people feel displeased about trad jazz, and prevent their trying. The hero and heroine go to a London television studio to ask trad jazz musicians to perform in concert.

It's Trad, Dad!

1962

A Little Of What You Fancy poster
8.0

Documentary following the history of British Music Hall, its stars and architecture, interspersed with revivals of old favourites by todays performers.

A Little Of What You Fancy

1968

The Beach Boys: Making Pet Sounds poster
7.6

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of ‘Pet Sounds,' Brian Wilson and surviving members of The Beach Boys (Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks) revisit the writing and recording of the landmark record that is consistently voted one of the top three influential albums of all time. Featuring exclusive interviews, classic archive and rare studio outtakes from the recording sessions.

The Beach Boys: Making Pet Sounds

2017

No artwork available
NR

A behind the scenes look at the record industry, with glimpses of the finished disc and how they are produced, with a focus on Helen Shapiro's 'Walkin' Back to Happiness' single.

Look at Life: For the Record

1961