Is Shirley Valentine Based on a true story?

Shirley Valentine is a 1989 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert. It was not based on a true story but was based on a script by Willy Russell:

• His 1986 one-character play of the same title, which follows middle-aged Shirley Valentine in an unexpected discovery of herself, and rekindling of her childhood dreams and youthful love of life.

The film opened the Montreal World Film Festival at the Théâtre Maisonneuve on 24 August 1989 and unlike most openers of the festival in French-speaking Quebec, it was shown without French subtitles.

The film opened in the United States and Canada on 30 August, in London on 13 October and in the UK on 27 October 1989.

The film was generally received favourably, and went on to win a number of awards.

There were also criticisms which generally focused on the transition from one-person play to screen.

In the UK, Shirley Valentine was number one for three consecutive weeks and was the highest-grossing independent British film of the year, with a gross of £11.5 million.

In the United States and Canada, it grossed $6.1 million

Worldwide, it grossed $38 million.