Pauline Collins, the celebrated actress best known for her iconic, Oscar-nominated performance in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85. The actress died “peacefully” in her London care home, surrounded by her family, after having lived with Parkinson’s disease for several years. Collins gained widespread fame for her portrayal of the restless Liverpool housewife in Lewis Gilbert’s award-winning cinematic adaptation of Willy Russell’s acclaimed stage play. This critically praised role also secured her the Golden Globe Award for best actress and a Bafta award, reports The WP Times with reference to ВВС.
In a heartfelt statement, Collins’ family emphasized the actress's diverse legacy, noting, "Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen." They highlighted that her distinguished career included portraying queens, politicians, and mothers. The family stressed that she would forever be remembered for the character of Shirley Valentine, who was "iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise," a role which she had fully made her own. They added that her magic was contained in every part she played.
Beyond her professional achievements, the family remembered her as their “loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma,” and the “life-long love” of her husband, actor John Alderton. They described her as warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, and wise, expressing gratitude to the carers who looked after her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love," ensuring a peaceful final goodbye. They requested privacy, asking the public to remember her at the "height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy."
Her husband, Alderton, issued a separate tribute, calling his wife "a remarkable star." Having worked with Collins more than any other actor, he witnessed not only her "brilliant range of diverse characters" but also her "magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with." Alderton, with whom Collins starred in the popular ITV series Upstairs Downstairs between 1971 and 1973, said it was "no wonder that she was voted the nation's sweetheart in the 1970s." He also recalled her success with the one-woman Shirley Valentine stage play on Broadway, where she swept all seven available awards, including a prestigious Tony Award.
The narrative of Shirley Valentine centers on a middle-aged Liverpool homemaker, played by Collins, who feels constrained by her suburban life and her insensitive husband, portrayed by Bernard Hill. Her life takes a decisive turn when she accepts a spontaneous trip to Greece, where she enters a passionate holiday fling with a local tavern owner, Tom Conti, rejuvenating her zest for life. The actress first brought the character to life at the Vaudeville Theatre in London in 1988, earning an Olivier Award for best actress before her successful Broadway run.
Among her later film and television work were the 1991 movie City of Joy alongside Patrick Swayze, the 2005 TV adaptation of Bleak House, the 2015 series Dickensian, and the 2012 film Quartet. Her last known credit was the road trip comedy The Time of Their Lives in 2017, co-starring Joan Collins. Before achieving global recognition, Collins, who was born in Exmouth, Devon, in 1940 but raised near Liverpool, started her career as a teacher. She began acting part-time, getting an early cameo in the Emergency Ward 10 TV series in 1957. Although she appeared in five episodes of Doctor Who in 1967, she famously turned down an offer for an additional 39 episodes, viewing the commitment as "a prison sentence." She met John Alderton through acting, and they married in 1969, having three children.
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