Biography

Shirley Jean Abbott's sensational figure and warm personality earned her the title of Miss Bay Beach on September 7, 1953. This was followed by various modeling gigs that included pictorials in "Your Figure by Jack LaLane", "People Today", and "Picture Scope". She was popular among male readers due to her curvaceous figure and appearance that resembled Marilyn Monroe. She got an onscreen role in Silver Lode (1954) as a bridesmaid, a role that was significantly reduced because she wasn't a trained actress.

Continuing with her lucrative modeling career, Shirley appeared in provocative magazines like "Gala", "Chicks and Chuckles", and "Modern Man". She starred in The Astounding She-Monster (1957), which solidified her status as an icon among fans of the sci-fi genre. Filming took four days on a low budget. She and the movie's director, Ronald V. Ashcroft, would often joke about giving her character lines in the script. As the film was halfway through its completion, Shirley's costume tore in the back. She was told to walk backwards in the remainder of her scenes, as the producer couldn't afford another costume. Her co-star Robert Clarke would say years later that "Shirley was big in the behind and big in the bosom. As an actress, she didn't do a lot and she didn't have to. She had all that other stuff going for her." The movie is considered a cult classic among contemporary audiences.
- IMDb mini biography by: Samuel Claesson