Shirley MacLaine has had a long and storied career in Hollywood, brushing shoulders with some of the industry’s elite actors. As charming as she is, it’s no surprise that she’s had her fair share of romantic relationships within this group. However, you may be surprised to learn that not everyone accepted her advances.
In her new book, MacLaine reveals one of the men who actually turned her down: Morgan Freeman.
Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood’s greatest actors
Shirley MacLaine has been a celebrated actress ever since her career began in the 1950s. Starting out on Broadway in the 1954 show The Pyjama Game, she quickly transitioned into film, where she gained considerable popularity. Her role in Some Came Running (1958) earned her the first of numerous Academy Award nominations, and she remained a big name in Hollywood all throughout the 1960s and beyond.
In 1984, MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Terms of Endearment (1983), which further cemented her legacy in film, proving she’s both a talented and versatile actress.
Outside of acting, MacLaine’s known for her spiritual beliefs and passion for writing. Her memoirs and books on metaphysical topics, including Out on a Limb, have resonated with readers fascinated by her introspective journey.
Morgan Freeman turned down Shirley MacLaine
Another thing Shirley MacLaine is remembered for is her unique approach to romance.
Once married to businessman Steve Parker, their unconventional marriage lasted nearly three decades, until their separation in 1982. She openly admitted that they had an open relationship, allowing both to pursue romantic interests outside of their union.
Aside from Parker, MacLaine has been linked to several high-profile figures, including politicians, actors and directors. However, it seems she was unable to charm every A-list celebrity in her pursuit of romance. In her book, The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime, the actor explains how she once propositioned Morgan Freeman. However, it didn’t go the way she’d hoped. “I propositioned him and he turned me down,” she wrote.
In an interview with PEOPLE, MacLaine was asked to elaborate on what had happened. She responded, “Oh, I really liked him right away. I thought his acting was brilliant. I barely said anything, and he just shook his head. Isn’t that interesting?”
Shirley MacLaine had many run-ins with famous actors
While she had many flings with high-profile people, there are a few notable names Shirley MacLaine didn’t pursue.
Firstly, she never had a romantic relationship with Jack Lemmon. They starred The Apartment (1960) and Irma La Douce (1963) together, but remained friends. She said he was “a darling guy,” but that he “was like a sister to me.”
Nothing ever came from her time co-starring alongside Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment, either. “He just made me laugh all the time. He was one of my favorite people,” she said, adding that, when it came to their chemistry, “I don’t think he would’ve been my type to have an affair with anyway. I would laugh too much.”
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MacLaine even had a run-in with Elvis Presley, but that was it – a run-in. The two worked for Paramount Pictures at the same time, and she gave him some sound advice. “His dressing room was two doors down, and he didn’t know how to behave as he needed to on the set,” the actor revealed. “I just told him to be nice to people and kind, because he was a huge star then. But we didn’t hang out, I didn’t know him that well.”