Pauline Collins, Star of "Shirley Valentine," Dies at 85
Pauline Collins, the beloved actress known for her iconic role in "Shirley Valentine," passed away peacefully at the age of 85, surrounded by her family on Thursday, 6 November 2025.
Career Highlights
- Collins first gained recognition in the sitcom The Liver Birds.
- She rose to greater fame through her role in Upstairs Downstairs.
- Her portrayal of a bored Liverpudlian housewife in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine earned her an Oscar nomination.
Personal Struggles and Legacy
She battled Parkinson's disease for several years but continued to leave a lasting impact on stage and screen.
"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. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens.
She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a role that she made all her own.
We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them."
The family expressed gratitude to her carers, saying, "she could not have had a more peaceful goodbye."
Pauline Collins's work continues to inspire generations, embodying strength, wit, and warmth on screen and stage.
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