Hollywood star Shirley Temple dies

BBC News 11 February 2014 Last updated at 11:16 GMT

Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85.

The actress found fame as a young girl in the 1930s in films like Bright Eyes, Stand Up and Cheer and Curly Top.

After retiring from films in 1950 at the age of 21, Temple returned to the public eye as a Republican candidate for Congress and as a US diplomat.

She died on Monday at home in Woodside, California, from natural causes. "She was surrounded by her family and caregivers," a statement said.

The family statement continued: "We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and adored wife for 55 years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black."
Shirley Temple Black The star accepted the Screen Actors Guild Awards life achievement award in 2006

Born in 1928, the sweet-faced, curly-haired Temple was one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood history, getting her first film role at the age of three.

Her singing, dancing and acting won over fans worldwide. She was given a special juvenile Oscar in 1935, when she was just six years old. To this day, she is still the youngest person to receive an Academy Award.

With the nickname "America's little darling", she was ranked as Hollywood's biggest draw for four years running from 1935 to '38 in an annual poll of US cinema owners.

She was credited with cheering the nation during the Great Depression and helping save 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy.

Temple starred in a total of 43 feature films - but found it difficult to sustain her career in adulthood and retired from Hollywood in 1950.

A remarkable life, with many achievements - I am sure Shirley's loved ones will remember her with pride.

I loved watching her.  Yes, she was quite a lady who gave back and then some.