Anne Shirley (actress)

Anne Shirley (1918-1993) was an American actress. Born Dawn Evelyeen Paris in New York City, she began her career as a child actress under the name Dawn O'Day. She achieved significant recognition and ultimately adopted the name Anne Shirley for her leading role in the 1934 film adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.

Shirley starred in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, often playing wholesome and sympathetic characters. Notable performances include roles in Steamboat Round the Bend (1935), Stella Dallas (1937), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and Murder My Sweet (1944), a film noir classic.

She retired from acting in 1944 and pursued other interests, including interior design. Anne Shirley was married three times. She passed away in Los Angeles in 1993. Her portrayal of Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables remains a defining role in her career and is fondly remembered by audiences.