Shirley Bassey

Acting

Shirley Bassey

Born 1937-01-08 · Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer known for both her powerful operatic voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films 'Goldfinger' (1964); 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971) and 'Moonraker' (1979). Born on Bute Street in Butetown (also known as 'Tiger Bay') in the docklands area of Cardiff, she was was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey, from Nigeria, and Eliza Jane Start, from the north-east of England, but grew up in the adjacent community of Splott. After leaving Splott Secondary Modern School at the age of 14, Bassey found work at the local Curran Steels factory, while singing in public houses and clubs in the evenings and on weekends. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract and went on to work for the impresario Jack Hylton. She recorded her first single in 1956.

Acting credits

The Sound of 007 poster
7.3

Pull back the curtain on the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, from Sean Connery’s Dr No through to Daniel Craig’s final outing in No Time to Die.

The Sound of 007

2022

Everything or Nothing poster
7.2

The story of three men with a shared dream: James Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and Bond creator and author Ian Fleming. It’s the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history, which began in 1962.

Everything or Nothing

2012

No artwork available
7.0

All the little sketches that appeared during 'Saturday Night Takeaway' tacked together and broadcast over the Christmas period.

Saturday Knight Takeaway

2018

The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall poster
5.8

Celebrates 60 years of the Bond film franchise. The concert is curated by the legendary Bond composer David Arnold and will feature special guest artists all putting their own interpretation on classic theme songs, backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The date marks the anniversary of the premiere of the first 007 film, Dr. No.

The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall

2022

The World of James Bond poster
6.7

Elizabeth Hurley hosts a one hour documentary on the history of the James Bond film series to tie in with the seventeenth Bond film, GoldenEye.

The World of James Bond

1995

No artwork available
7.0

Someone's stolen the crown jewels. And it was on Ant and Dec's watch! You had one job, boys...

The Missing Crown Jewels

2017

60 Songs: BBC Two at 60 poster
9.0

A celebration of some of the biggest names in music, offering an epic compilation of 60 songs performed over the past 60 years to celebrate BBC Two's diamond anniversary. All the performances featured originated on BBC Two and have formed an important part of the channel's output over its 60-year history. Featuring such musicians as Joni Mitchell, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Kylie Minogue, Bob Marley, Blondie and Queen.

60 Songs: BBC Two at 60

2024

Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace poster
6.4

Well known performers accompanied by 12,000 selected members of the public on the lawn of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace

2002

St David's Day at the BBC poster
8.0

To celebrate St David’s Day, this trip through the BBC’s music archives features a selection of tracks from some of the most important and innovative Welsh artists of the past few decades. The programme includes performances by Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Marina and the Diamonds, Stereophonics, Feeder, Shakin’ Stevens, Bonnie Tyler, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones.

St David's Day at the BBC

2021

The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012 poster
8.2

In the presence of HM the Queen and the royal family, an array of stars from the last sixty years of rock, pop and classical music perform on a spectacular stage built around the Queen Victoria Memorial, right in front of Buckingham Palace. Hit songs and show-stopping performances are promised, with hosts including Rob Brydon, Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry and Lee Mack. Proceedings conclude with HM the Queen lighting the National Beacon.

The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

2012

Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever poster
8.0

A full concert film featuring Shirley Bassey on stage in Antwerp, Belgium during the 'Diamond Awards Festival', including some of her greatest hits, interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

2000

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall poster
NR

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall is a charity music concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 12 November 2009. The concert was organised by Take That singer Gary Barlow as one of a series of events to raise money for Children in Need 2009. The huge success of the concert inspired Barlow to organise Children in Need Rocks Manchester at the Manchester Arena, Manchester in 2011.

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

2009

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes poster
NR

A history of the British television comedy double act Morecambe & Wise to coincide with the BBC drama about their early lives.

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

2011

I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story poster
NR

An aspiring singer is tasked with promoting the music catalogue of his great-grandfather, the famous songwriter Jimmy McHugh, recorded by everyone from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. While licensing these songs for movies, commercials, TV and Broadway shows, the singer journeys through the magic of his great-grandfather's stellar career.

I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story

2024

…Sings Neil Diamond poster
NR

A compilation from the BBC archive of performances featuring songs written by, or associated with, Neil Diamond. Featuring Lulu, UB40, Vince Hill, Robert Wyatt, Gladys Knight, Urge Overkill, Lena Zavaroni, The Hollies and a duet by Neil Diamond and Shirley Bassey.

…Sings Neil Diamond

2010

No artwork available
9.5

For one young boy, a passion can be more than just a dream.

La Passione

1997

An Audience with Shirley Bassey poster
7.0

Showbiz legend Dame Shirley Bassey delights a celebrity audience by singing songs and answering light-hearted questions. Enjoy renditions including Born to Sing and George Harrison's Something from the sequin-gowned Welsh songstress.

An Audience with Shirley Bassey

1995

…Sings Musicals poster
7.0

BBC archive performances from musicals, including Ella Fitzgerald singing Mack the Knife, Captain Sensible performing a classic from South Pacific and Jay Z taking on Annie.

…Sings Musicals

2012

More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On poster
NR

More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On features previously banned songs by the BBC including "Lola" by the Kinks, "Jackie" by Scott Walker and "(We Don't Need this) Fascist Groove Thang" by Heaven 17.

More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

2014

The Bond Sound: The Music of 007 poster
6.8

Documentary discussing the many songs featured in the James Bond films

The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

2000

Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady poster
9.0

Recorded and broadcast by British TV (Thames Television) in 1980 with special guests Robert Goulet and Richard Clayderman

Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

1980

The Bing Crosby Show poster
4.5

Bing Crosby performs with special guests Bob Hope, Marion Ryan, Dave King, Terry-Thomas, and Shirley Bassey.

The Bing Crosby Show

1961

The Art of Dissent poster
NR

"The Art of Dissent" celebrates the resilience and power of artistic engagement in Czechoslovakia before and after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. The documentary's main protagonists - Václav Havel, banned singer Marta Kubisová, and the underground rock group the Plastic People of the Universe (PPU) - became the most recognizable dissidents during the 1970-80s. Havel bridged the disparate clusters of individuals and fused the literary, musical, political, and philosophical nonviolent elements into a hybrid network that eventually toppled the totalitarian regime in 1989.

The Art of Dissent

2021

Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet poster
8.5

In 1985 Dame Shirley Bassey gave a performance to help raise money for the 1986 Commonwealth games that were held in Edinburgh in Scotland. Dame Shirley sang four songs: Nobody does it like me, Arthur's theme, You ain't heard nothing yet and This is my life.

Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

1985