Pauline Collins: A Tribute to the Shirley Valentine Star
Veteran British actress Pauline Collins passed away at the age of 85 in London. Collins, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Shirley Valentine, had been battling Parkinson's disease for several years.
According to the BBC, Collins died "peacefully" at her London care home, surrounded by her family.
Career Highlights
Pauline Collins is best remembered for her iconic performance as the fiery housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert’s film Shirley Valentine, which was adapted from Willy Russell’s acclaimed stage play. Although she did not win the Oscar, Collins earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA for the same role.
Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool, Collins initially trained as a teacher before pursuing acting in the late 1950s. Her screen debut was a small part as a nurse in the British medical drama Emergency Ward 10 (1957).
Building a Career on Stage and Screen
She took on notable roles in films such as Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966), where she portrayed a dancer in a London striptease club. Collins gained widespread recognition through television shows like The Liver Birds and Upstairs, Downstairs, establishing her as a familiar face in the UK.
Her international breakthrough came with Shirley Valentine, a role she first performed on stage at London’s Vaudeville Theatre in 1988.
Legacy
Pauline Collins leaves behind a rich legacy as one of Britain's cherished actresses, celebrated for her compelling and memorable performances.
"Collins died peacefully at her London care home, surrounded by her family."
Author’s summary: Pauline Collins, the celebrated British actress best known for Shirley Valentine, died at 85 after a long battle with Parkinson’s, leaving a lasting impact on stage and screen.