Shirley Bassey
Born
January 8, 1937 (88 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
Known For
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Self (archive footage)
2025
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
Self
2024
60 Songs: BBC Two at 60
Self (archive footage)
2024
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
self
2022
The Sound of 007
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Art of Dissent
Self - Subject (archive footage)
2021
St David's Day at the BBC
Self
2021
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey
2016
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On
Self - Performer
2014
Everything or Nothing
Self (archive footage)
2012
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
Self - Performer
2012
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
2012
Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2011
…Sings Neil Diamond
Self (archive footage)
2010
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
Self
2009
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
self
2009
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2007
Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
2006
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
Self
2002
An Audience with Des O'Connor
2001
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
Herself
2000
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
Self
2000
Parkinson
Self · (2 episodes)
1998
La Passione
Herself
1996
The World of James Bond
1995
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
Self
1995
Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
Shirley Bassey
1985
Bei Bio
Self · (1 episode)
1983
Summertime Special
(1 episode)
1981
Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady
Self
1980
An Audience with...
Self · (4 episodes)
1978
Auf los geht's los
Self · (1 episode)
1977
Shirley Bassey
(13 episodes)
1976
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Ein Kessel Buntes
Self - Musician · (1 episode)
1972
Le Grand Échiquier
Self - Main Guest · (1 episode)
1972
Disco
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Wünsch dir was
Self · (1 episode)
1969
Night-Club
Self · (1 episode)
1968
Europarty
Self · (1 episode)
1967
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1963
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Hostess · (1 episode)
1961
Morecambe & Wise
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1948