Pauline Collins, Star of ‘Shirley Valentine’ on Stage and Screen, Dies at 85
Pauline Collins, the acclaimed British actress celebrated for her Oscar-nominated and Olivier- and Tony-winning performance in Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85. Her death at her London home was confirmed by her family; she had been living with Parkinson’s disease for several years.
Career Highlights
Collins gained wide recognition for her role as Sarah Moffatt, the cheerful yet mischievous parlor maid in the first two seasons of Upstairs, Downstairs. This character's romantic storyline with chauffeur Thomas Watkins was notable, with Watkins portrayed by Collins’ husband and frequent co-star John Alderton.
She appeared in diverse roles across film and television, including:
- The Irish nurse in Roland Joffé’s City of Joy (1992), who persuades a doctor (Patrick Swayze) to help her run a clinic in India.
- A missionary organizing a women’s vocal orchestra in a Japanese World War II POW camp in Bruce Beresford’s Paradise Road (1997), alongside Glenn Close and Frances McDormand.
- The hotel owner in Rodrigo García’s Albert Nobbs (2011), reuniting with Glenn Close.
- A retired opera singer facing dementia in Quartet (2012), directed by Dustin Hoffman, with Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, and Tom Courtenay.
“Pauline Collins inspired women — and men, too — to change unhappy lives with her performances,” her legacy notes.
Legacy
Pauline Collins remains remembered not only for her award-winning roles but also for her warmth and ability to connect with audiences, making her an enduring figure in British theatre and film.
Summary: Pauline Collins, renowned for her powerful and inspiring roles in theatre and film, died at 85 after battling Parkinson’s, leaving a lasting legacy in British acting.