Legendary Actress Shirley MacLaine To Be Honored with KCET Cinema Series Lumière Award at Screening of 'The Last Word' on Feb. 28
KCET announced today that legendary Academy Award® winning actress Shirley MacLaine (The Apartment, Terms of Endearment, The Turning Point) is set to receive the KCET Cinema Series Lumière Award at a special screening event for her new feature film "The Last Word" on Tuesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. Pacific Time at the ArcLight Cinemas in Sherman Oaks. Following the screening, KCET Cinema Series Host and Deadline.com Chief Film Critic Pete Hammond will join MacLaine on stage for a Q&A. The spring KCET Cinema Series is sponsored by the E. Hofert Dailey Trust.
In addition, the station will broadcast "Hollywood Idols Shirley MacLaine: Kicking Up Her Heels" that features acclaimed directors and actors, including the late Jack Lemmon, discussing their experiences working with MacLaine on Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. PT on KCET.
“We are pleased to join The E. Hofert Dailey Trust in honoring legendary actress Shirley MacLaine with the KCET Cinema Series Lumière Award as we present her most recent film "The Last Word" at the KCET Cinema Series,” said Michael Riley, President and CEO of KCETLink Media Group. “Like so many people, I’ve always loved her work. From her starring roles in "The Apartment" and "Terms of Endearment" to "Steel Magnolias," the characters she has created are some of the most indelible in American cinema. Quite simply, there’s no other actress like her.”
The Lumière Award recognizes excellence, artistry, and innovation by an actor or filmmaker for their outstanding contribution to film. Past recipients include Kevin Costner (2014), Gary Oldman (2011), Dame Judi Dench (2005), and Sir Ian McKellen (2003). The Lumière award is presented as part of the KCET Cinema Series, a quarterly film series that celebrates the most anticipated independent and studio films prior to their theatrical release with a lively Q&A with the film’s talent and filmmakers following each screening. Films from this winter’s Cinema Series season have included the critically acclaimed "Loving," "Nocturnal Animals," "Lion," "La La Land," and "Hidden Figures."
"The Last Word," distributed by Bleecker Street, stars Shirley MacLaine as Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishments, she’s suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life’s story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet’s high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond, which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future. "The Last Word" opens in theaters on Friday, March 3.
“I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of the KCET Cinema Series Lumière Award,” commented honoree Shirley MacLaine. “The Last Word is written mostly from the point of view of a woman born in the 1930s, when women were not considered a force in business,” observes the award-winning actress. “If she wanted to be successful, she had to throw her weight around. That’s what this character does, but she’s funny at the same time. She knows that she has irritated a lot of people during her lifetime, but she wants to be remembered well. It’s also about two women who reveal things that they never would have even dared to look at before. And it’s because of their prodding of one another they are able to do that. Each learns how to know herself.”
Shirley MacLaine’s illustrious career comprises more than 50 feature films highlighted by an Academy Award® win and six nominations, six Emmy® Award nominations, seven Golden Globe® Awards — including the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement — and the title of international best-selling author. MacLaine was honored with the prestigious American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in June of 2012. In the fall of 2011, she received France’s most prestigious cultural award, the Legion of Honor, presented by France’s Minister of Culture and Communication at the French Cinematheque.
MacLaine recently starred in Elsa & Fred (2014) and Bernie (2011). She also recently appeared in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (2013). Her recent television appearances include season five of the Golden Globe Award-winning series Glee, where she played performer June Dolloway, and season three of the Primetime Emmy® Award-winning series "Downton Abbey" and the Lifetime made-for-TV movie "Coco Chanel," for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe® and SAG Award®.
MacLaine made her professional debut dancing in a Broadway revival of "Oklahoma!" in the 1950s. Her first film appearance was in Alfred Hitchcock’s "The Trouble with Harry," earning her a Golden Globe Award for “New Star of the Year – Actress” in 1955. At the same time, she starred in "Some Came Running" (1958), which led to her first Academy Award nomination and an additional Golden Globe nomination. She also starred in "The Children’s Hour" (1961), based on a play by Lillian Hellman. MacLaine received a second Oscar nomination for her work in the award winning film "The Apartment" (1960), co-starring Jack Lemmon and directed by Billy Wilder. She reunited with Lemmon and Wilder for "Irma La Douce" in 1963, earning yet another Academy Award® nomination.
In 1975, MacLaine received her fourth Oscar® nomination, this time for Best Documentary as a producer and star of "The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir." Two years later, she was once again nominated for her starring role in "The Turning Point." In 1983, MacLaine finally won an Oscar® for her work in "Terms of Endearment." Later, she also received a Golden Globe Award for her 1988 performance in "Madame Sousatzka." MacLaine was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998.
MacLaine’s additional credits include notable films such as "Steel Magnolias" (1989), "Postcards from the Edge" (1990), "In Her Shoes" (2005), and "Rumor Has It…" (2005).
To learn more about the KCET Cinema Series and to register to attend the film screenings, please visit KCET Cinema Series. Join the conversation on social media using #KCETCinemaSeries
About KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a part of the KCETLink Media Group.
About the Lumière Award
The Lumière Award presented by the KCET Cinema Series, recognizes excellence, artistry and innovation by an actor or filmmaker for their outstanding contribution to television or motion pictures. Lumière, meaning "light" in French, is also in homage to brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiére, who were the first filmmakers in history dating back to 1894. Previous recipients of the KCET Cinema Series Lumière Award include Kevin Costner, Dame Judi Dench, Gary Oldman and Sir Ian McKellen.
