--- name: "Shelley Winters" canonical: "https://film.one/person/shelley-winters" roles: ["Actor"] born: "18 August 1920" died: "14 January 2006" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-09-20T04:34:50.780754+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Shelley Winters Actor. Born 18 August 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Died 14 January 2006. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 18 August 1920, St. Louis, Missouri, USA - **Died:** 14 January 2006 - **Active:** 1951–1988 - **Also known as:** Shirley Schrift, Shelley Winter, شلی وینترز - **Frequently works with:** [George Stevens](https://film.one/person/george-stevens.md) - **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 2 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 77 (3), 1960s 79 (1), 1980s 84 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 73 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 2, Crime 2, Romance 2, History 1, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $26m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelley_Winters, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202144, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001859/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7632 ## Streaming the US now - **The Criterion Channel:** [*The Night of the Hunter*](https://film.one/film/the-night-of-the-hunter.md) (91) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Shelley Winters > Shelley Winters played women who wanted the wrong thing and knew it: first the girls men use up, later the mothers nobody listens to. Her Willa Harper in *The Night of the Hunter* is the proof, a small part played without a scrap of self-protection. Willa Harper is a widow with a little money hidden somewhere in the house, and a preacher who has come for it. Most actors would play her as the dupe, the woman who cannot see what we can. Shelley Winters plays her as someone who sees it and walks towards it anyway, and the review we published on *The Night of the Hunter* (1955) put it in four words: she lets Willa want to be punished. We found her scenes with Robert Mitchum hard to sit through, not because Mitchum frightens us, though he does, but because Winters makes Willa reach for the harm herself, and there is nothing in the performance to hide behind. That was the middle of a career with two halves. She started in bit parts and chorus work in the early 1940s, and was noticed as the waitress in *A Double Life* (1947), the sort of role that exists to be murdered. *A Place in the Sun* (1951) gave her Alice Tripp, an ordinary woman under pressure, and it is the film to see if you want the first Winters: plain, needy, in the way. Then she went to the Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg, back to Broadway in 1955, and came out the other side a character actress. Petronella Van Daan in *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1959), Charlotte Haze in *Lolita* (1962), Belle Rosen in *The Poseidon Adventure* (1972): the matrons, the mothers, the women who talk too much at the wrong moment. She kept working, in films and on television including *Roseanne*, into the mid-1990s. She was frank about how she did it. "I’m a Method actress, you know. I find feelings of my own to correspond with what’s in the script." You can see the method in the later parts, where the eccentric mother is never only a joke; there is always something underneath that the character would rather we did not notice and that Winters makes sure we do. The complaint that follows her is that directors cast her too readily for pathos, and *The Night of the Hunter* is usually the example. We think the example is badly chosen. A martyr played for our pity is tiresome. Willa is not asking for pity. She is asking for punishment, which is a different and much stranger thing, and Winters is one of the few actors who could have made the difference visible. Charles Laughton directed her once and never directed anyone again, which is a loss on both sides. Start there, with Willa. Then go back to Alice Tripp, and see how much of the wanting was already in place. ## Biography Shelley Winters was an American actor. Born Shirley Schrift in St. Louis, Missouri, on 18 August 1920, she died in Beverly Hills, California, on 14 January 2006. She played Willa Harper in *The Night of the Hunter* (1955). Winters studied at the Actors Studio and appeared on Broadway, including in *A Hatful of Rain*. She received Academy Award nominations for her performances in *A Place in the Sun* (1951) and *The Poseidon Adventure* (1972), and won Best Supporting Actress Oscars for *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1959) and *A Patch of Blue* (1965). Other notable film roles include those in *Lolita* (1962) and *Pete's Dragon* (1977). She had a recurring television role in the sitcom *Roseanne* and wrote three autobiographies. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, nytimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *Roseanne* (1988), Fi1m 84, as Nana Mary — [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md) - *Alfie* (1966), Fi1m 79, as Ruby — [page](https://film.one/film/alfie.md) - *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1959), Fi1m 58, as Petronella Van Daan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-diary-of-anne-frank.md) - *The Night of the Hunter* (1955), Fi1m 91, as Willa Harper — [page](https://film.one/film/the-night-of-the-hunter.md) - *A Place in the Sun* (1951), Fi1m 81, as Alice Tripp — [page](https://film.one/film/a-place-in-the-sun.md) ## Complete filmography (162) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage) - *La bomba* (1999), as Prof. Summers - *Gideon* (1998), as Mrs. Willows - *Valley Girls* (1996), as Lady in Truck - *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), as Mrs. Touchett - *Heavy* (1995), as Dolly Modino - *Raging Angels* (1995), as Grandma Ruth - *Jury Duty* (1995), as Mrs. Collins - *Backfire!* (1995), as The Good Lieutenant - *Mrs. Munck* (1995), as Aunt Monica - *The Silence of the Hams* (1994), as Mrs. Motel (The Mother) - *Politically Incorrect* (1993), series, Actor - *The Pickle* (1993), as Yetta - *Weep No More, My Lady* (1992), as Vivian Morgan - *Stepping Out* (1991), as Mrs. Fraser - *Touch of a Stranger* (1990), as Lily - *An Unremarkable Life* (1989), as Evelyn McEllany - *Skip E. Lowe Looks at Hollywood* (1989), series, Actor - *Purple People Eater* (1988), as Rita - *Roseanne* (1988), series, as Nana Mary — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md) - *Very Close Quarters* (1986), as Galina - *The Delta Force* (1986), as Edie Kaplan - *Witchfire* (1986), as Lydia - *Alice in Wonderland* (1985), series, as Dodo Bird - *Déjà Vu* (1985), as Olga Nabokova - *George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey* (1985), as (archive footage) - *Hawaiian Heat* (1984), series, Actor - *Ellie* (1984), as Cora Jackson - *Over the Brooklyn Bridge* (1984), as Becky - *Fanny Hill* (1983), as Mrs. Cole - *Hotel* (1982), series, as Adele Ellsworth - *S.O.B.* (1981), as Eva Brown - *Looping* (1981), as Carmen - *Russell Harty* (1980), series, Actor - *The French Atlantic Affair* (1979), series, as Helen Wabash - *The Magician of Lublin* (1979), as Elzbieta - *City on Fire* (1979), as Nurse Andrea Harper - *Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July* (1979), as Crystal (voice) - *The Visitor* (1979), as Jane Phillips - *Cher... and Other Fantasies* (1979), as Shelley - *Elvis* (1979), as Gladys Presley - *King of the Gypsies* (1978), as Queen Rachel - *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor - *The Initiation of Sarah* (1978), as Mrs. Erica Hunter - *Black Journal* (1977), as Lea - *Pete's Dragon* (1977), as Lena Gogan - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Teresa Rosselli - *The Hollywood Greats* (1977), series, Actor - *An Average Little Man* (1977), as Amalia Vivaldi - *Tentacles* (1977), as Tillie Turner - *Frosty's Winter Wonderland* (1976), as Crystal - *Mimì Bluette... Flower of My Garden* (1976), as Caterina - *The Tenant* (1976), as Concierge - *Next Stop, Greenwich Village* (1976), as Faye Lapinsky - *Diamonds* (1975), as Zelda Shapiro - *Journey into Fear* (1975), as Mrs. Mathews - *That Lucky Touch* (1975), as Diana Steedeman - *Poor Pretty Eddie* (1975), as Bertha - *The Sex Symbol* (1974), as Agatha Murphy - *Chico and the Man* (1974), series, Actor - *Big Rose* (1974), as Rose Winters - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Evelyn McNeil — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *The Stone Killer* (1973), as Drunk Woman in Police Station (uncredited) - *Cleopatra Jones* (1973), as Mommy - *Blume in Love* (1973), as Mrs. Cramer - *Something to Hide* (1973), as Gabriella Field - *The Devil's Daughter* (1973), as Lilith Malone - *The Poseidon Adventure* (1972), as Belle Rosen - *The Adventures of Nick Carter* (1972), as Bess Tucker - *Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?* (1972), as Mrs. Forrest - *A Death of Innocence* (1971), as Elizabeth Cameron - *Revenge!* (1971), as Amanda Hilton - *What's the Matter with Helen?* (1971), as Helen - *Flap* (1970), as Dorothy Bluebell - *How Do I Love Thee?* (1970), as Lena Mervin - *Bloody Mama* (1970), as 'Ma' Kate Barker - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *Arthur? Arthur!* (1969), as Hester Green - *The Mad Room* (1969), as Mrs. Armstrong - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Barbara Bennet - *Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell* (1968), as Shirley Newman - *That's Life* (1968), series, Actor - *Here's Lucy* (1968), series, as Shelley Summers - *Wild in the Streets* (1968), as Mrs. Max Flatow (Frost) - *The Scalphunters* (1968), as Kate - *Enter Laughing* (1967), as Emma Kolowitz - *Easier in the Dark* (1967), as Frances - *The Legend of Marilyn Monroe* (1966), Actor - *Alfie* (1966), as Ruby — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/alfie.md) - *Harper* (1966), as Fay Estabrook - *Batman* (1966), series, as Ma Parker - *The Three Sisters* (1966), as Natalya - *A Patch of Blue* (1965), as Rose-Ann D'Arcey - *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Mrs. Bixby - *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965), as Woman who is healed - *Time of Indifference* (1964), as Lisa - *A House Is Not a Home* (1964), as Polly Adler - *Wives and Lovers* (1963), as Fran Cabrell - *The Balcony* (1963), as Madame Irma - *The Chapman Report* (1962), as Sarah Garnell - *Lolita* (1962), as Charlotte Haze - *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, Actor - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *The Young Savages* (1961), as Mary diPace - *Let No Man Write My Epitaph* (1960), as Nellie Romano - *Odds Against Tomorrow* (1959), as Lorry - *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1959), as Petronella Van Daan — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-diary-of-anne-frank.md) - *DuPont Show of the Month* (1957), series, as Louisa Burt - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ruth Owens - *The Perry Como Show* (1956), series, Actor - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Frances - *I Died a Thousand Times* (1955), as Marie Garson - *The Big Knife* (1955), as Dixie Evans - *The Treasure of Pancho Villa* (1955), as Ruth Harris - *The Alcoa Hour* (1955), series, Actor - *The Night of the Hunter* (1955), as Willa Harper — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-night-of-the-hunter.md) - *I Am a Camera* (1955), as Natalia Landauer - *To Dorothy, a Son* (1954), as Myrtle La Mar - *Producers' Showcase* (1954), series, as Crystal Allen - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Leona Stevenson, Margaret Corey / Ethel / Lillian / Ann, Carol - *Mambo* (1954), as Toni Salerno - *Executive Suite* (1954), as Eva Bardeman - *Playgirl* (1954), as Fran - *Saskatchewan* (1954), as Grace Markey - *Tennessee Champ* (1954), as Sarah Wurble - *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, Actor - *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Sally Marland - *My Man and I* (1952), as Nancy - *Untamed Frontier* (1952), as Jane Stevens - *Meet Danny Wilson* (1952), as Joy Carroll - *Phone Call from a Stranger* (1952), as Binky Gay - *The Raging Tide* (1951), as Connie Thatcher - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Mildred Corrigan - *The Re-Inforcer* (1951), Actor - *Behave Yourself!* (1951), as Katherine "Kate" Denny - *He Ran All the Way* (1951), as Peggy Dobbs - *A Place in the Sun* (1951), as Alice Tripp — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/a-place-in-the-sun.md) - *Frenchie* (1950), as Frenchie Fontaine - *South Sea Sinner* (1950), as Coral - *Winchester '73* (1950), as Lola Manners - *Take One False Step* (1949), as Catherine Sykes - *The Great Gatsby* (1949), as Myrtle Wilson - *Johnny Stool Pigeon* (1949), as Terry - *Cry of the City* (1948), as Brenda Martingale - *Red River* (1948), as Wagon Train Member (uncredited) - *Larceny* (1948), as Tory - *A Double Life* (1947), as Pat Kroll - *Killer McCoy* (1947), as Waitress / Autograph Hound (uncredited) - *The Gangster* (1947), as Hazel (uncredited) - *Living in a Big Way* (1947), as Junior League Girl (uncredited) - *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, as Helen - *New Orleans* (1947), as Mrs. Holmbright - *Susie Steps Out* (1946), as Band Singer - *A Thousand and One Nights* (1945), as Handmaiden - *Escape in the Fog* (1945), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) - *Tonight and Every Night* (1945), as Bubbles (uncredited) - *Together Again* (1944), as Young Woman Fleeing Nightclub Raid (uncredited) - *She's a Soldier Too* (1944), as 'Silver' Rankin (uncredited) - *Knickerbocker Holiday* (1944), as Ulda Tienhoven - *Sailor's Holiday* (1944), as Gloria Flynn - *What a Woman* (1943), as Secretary (uncredited) - *There's Something About a Soldier* (1943), as Norma ## Gallery - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-d5de073acf1d.jpg) Shelley Winters — Unknown authorUnknown author studio photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Studio_publicity_Shelley_Winters.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-3f78c5765aaa.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-79fc80983f96.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-f789bd22cdf6.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-490c281e9d21.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-991a99d289d3.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB - ![Shelley Winters](https://film.one/media/person/95264/gallery-2b77f9b55698.jpg) Shelley Winters — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 2 won, 2 nominated - 1973: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Poseidon Adventure* - 1966: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *A Patch of Blue* - 1960: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *The Diary of Anne Frank* - 1952: Best Actress (nominated), for *A Place in the Sun* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1964: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/shelley-winters