Ally Sheedy

 Ally Sheedy was a New York City native born to Charlotte (Baum), an agent and writer, as well as John J. Sheedy, Jr., a senior advertising executive. She's of Russian Jewish (mother) and Irish and German (father) heritage. Twelve-year-old Ally Sheedy, a student at New York's Bank Street School wrote about the legend of a meeting with queen Elizabeth I (mother) and mice that were curious (father). The result, "She Was Nice to Mice" was published by McGraw-Hill and became an instant bestseller. Though it served as a launchpad to an acting career, Sheedy's most vivid memories of her childhood remain those of "dancing and doing plays". Sheedy danced from six to fourteen with the American Ballet Theatre. During the summer months on Fire Island, she would "get a lot of kids together and stage plays on porches or back lawns." When she discovered that dancing meant that she had to adhere to starvation diets, she shifted her attention on acting to help others. The book was contacted by various publications. The Village Voice wanted her to write reviews of films, and the New York Times wanted her review books for children. Ms. Magazine asked her to write an article on her mom. She agreed to the task. Sheedy was asked to appear on "The Mike Douglas Show (1961)," in promotion of her book.