And her autobiography makes that abundantly clear, although she says it took the passing of years for to bring such candor.
All in good fun: Shirley appeared to be in a jovial mood as Katie asked her whether she had been involved in a threesome relationship before The star was promoting her new book which recounts her early life and dazzling career that included working with two musical theater masters, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, as well as many of Hollywood's top actors, including Marlon Brando, Jimmy Stewart and Richard Widmark.
And her autobiography makes that abundantly clear, although she says it took the passing of years for to bring such candor.
In 1953, on a post-high school graduation trip to New York with her parents, a friend introduced her to an agent who, immediately impressed, told her to attend an open audition with John Fearnley, the casting director for the songwriting team of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
She overturned her squeaky-clean image once before with her Oscar-winning portrayal of a vengeful prostitute in Elmer Gantry 1960 opposite Burt Lancaster, and the role that she considers her most important.
Some of her most known roles were in Oklahoma! Sex keeps you young no matter what.