Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband's chips and egg. When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
northern england
greece
liverpool, england
based on play or musical
bored housewife
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.6 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Pauline Collins
Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw
Tom Conti
Costas Demitriadis
Julia McKenzie
Gillian
Alison Steadman
Jane
Joanna Lumley
Marjorie Majors
Sylvia Syms
Headmistress
Bernard Hill
Joe Bradshaw
George Costigan
Dougie
Tracie Bennett
Millandra
Gillian Kearney
Young Shirley
Cardew Robinson
Londoner
Crew
Lewis Gilbert
Director
Willy Russell
Screenplay
Willy Russell
Original Music Composer
Alan Hume
Director of Photography
Lewis Gilbert
Producer
Harry Rabinowitz
Music Supervisor
Lois Burwell
Makeup Artist
Marvin Hamlisch
Songs
Alan Bergman
Lyricist
Marilyn Bergman
Lyricist
Drew Struzan
Art Designer
Popular Reviews
24 reviews
Emily
10.0★ · 03/08/26
shirley valentine i love you oh so much. didn’t expect to cry so much, just such a beautiful film about loving yourself. need everyone to watch this. and happy international woman’s day to you my queen 🫶🏻
shirley valentine i love you oh so much. didn’t expect to cry so much, just such a beautiful film about loving yourself. need everyone to watch this. and happy international woman’s day to you my queen 🫶🏻
brunettegsundae
8.0★ · 01/16/26
I have allowed myself to lead this little life, when inside me there was so much more. And it's all gone unused. And now it never will be. Why do we get all this life if we don't ever use it? Why do we get all these feelings and dreams and hopes if we don't ever use them?
I could quote like half of Shirley Valentine’s phrases, so meaningful It was never about the man, Greece, or going on vacation, but about Shirley learning how to love herself again, how to take care of herself, and that’s lovely. For me, she will forever be Shirley Valentine
I have allowed myself to lead this little life, when inside me there was so much more. And it's all gone unused. And now it never will be. Why do we get all this life if we don't ever use it? Why do we get all these feelings and dreams and hopes if we don't ever use them?
I could quote like half of Shirley Valentine’s phrases, so meaningful It was never about the man, Greece, or going on vacation, but about Shirley learning how to love herself again, how to take care of herself, and that’s lovely. For me, she will forever be Shirley Valentine
Daisy Appleton
7.0★ · 01/04/26
Costas’ lines would work on me unfortunately. I would let him “make fuck with” me.
Costas’ lines would work on me unfortunately. I would let him “make fuck with” me.