The entertainment world is in mourning following the peaceful passing of Pauline Collins, the celebrated British actress best known for her iconic role in Shirley Valentine. She was 85 years old.
Her family confirmed she died surrounded by her loved ones, after living with Parkinson's disease for several years. In a moving statement, they expressed their profound gratitude to her carers, whom they described as "angels" who provided dignity, compassion, and love.
A Life in the Spotlight
Collins enjoyed a remarkably diverse and illustrious career that spanned decades. She first found fame on television, starring in the inaugural series of the sitcom The Liver Birds and becoming a household name through the popular series Upstairs Downstairs.
Her career-defining moment came in 1989 when she took on the lead role in the film Shirley Valentine. Her portrayal of the bored Liverpudlian housewife was so powerful it earned her an Academy Award nomination. The family's statement highlighted this role, remembering her as the "iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a role that she made all her own."
A Personal and Professional Partnership
Collins was married to fellow actor John Alderton for 56 years, after they wed in 1969. Alderton paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, calling her a "remarkable star" and his "life-long love".
He revealed he had collaborated with her more than any other actor across television, film, and West End stage productions, giving him a unique view of her "genius". "What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with," he said. He noted she was once voted the "nation's sweetheart" in the 1970s.
While her film performance garnered an Oscar nod, her stage portrayal of Shirley Valentine was a tour de force, where she clean-swept all seven major awards for her Broadway performance, in which she played every character herself.
From Teacher to Acclaimed Actress
Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool, Collins initially pursued a career in teaching. Her path changed when she began acting part-time, landing her first television role as a nurse in Emergency Ward 10.
Her talent shone in numerous other productions, including the 1997 film Paradise Road, where she starred alongside Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett, and Frances McDormand, playing a woman in a Japanese prisoner of war camp who helps form an orchestra.
In recognition of her immense contribution to drama, Pauline Collins was made an OBE in 2001 by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
Her family's final request was for the public to remember her "at the height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy," while they grieve the loss of a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and wife.
