Pauline Collins Passes Away at 85
The illustrious British actress Pauline Collins, renowned for her award-winning portrayal in Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85.
Collins succumbed to Parkinson’s disease after a prolonged battle, passing away at her residence in London. Her demise was confirmed by her family this Thursday, according to The London Times.
Renowned for “Shirley Valentine”
Collins gained widespread acclaim for her depiction of Shirley Valentine, a character she brought to life both on stage and screen. She first appeared as the disenchanted middle-aged housewife in Willy Russell’s one-woman play at the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End in 1988. Her performance won her the Olivier Award for Best Actress.
Following her success in London, Collins took the role to Broadway, performing at the Booth Theatre in New York for five months in 1989, which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
She reprised her role in the 1989 film adaptation directed by Paramount Pictures, where she starred alongside Tom Conti, who played Costas Dimitriades, a Greek tavern owner and her holiday love interest. Her portrayal in the film brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, though the award went to Jessica Tandy for Driving Miss Daisy.
In her Tony Award acceptance speech, Collins remarked, “What’s marvelous about being here is it’s proof that miracles can happen at any time in our lives, even when you’re getting on a bit. It means there’s hope and you must all continue to dream your dreams, because they’ll come true.”
Early Life and Career
Born on September 3, 1940, in Devon, England, Collins was raised in Liverpool and later attended the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Initially a teacher, she shifted to acting in 1962 with her stage debut in A Gazelle in Park Lane and entered the film scene in 1966 with Secrets of a Windmill Girl.
Collins also received a BAFTA nomination for her role as Sarah Moffatt, a parlor maid in the television series Upstairs, Downstairs. In the show, her character had a romance with Thomas Watkins, a chauffeur played by John Alderton, Collins’ real-life husband and frequent co-star.
Over the years, Collins starred in several notable films including City of Joy (1992) with Patrick Swayze, and Paradise Road (1997) alongside Glenn Close and Frances McDormand. She also appeared in Albert Nobbs (2011) with Close again, and Quartet (2012) with Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, and Tom Courtney.
Her filmography also includes My Mother’s Courage (1995), Mrs. Caldicot’s Cabbage War (2002), and Time of their Lives (2017). Collins’ television credits include No, Honestly; Wodehouse Playhouse; Forever Green; Dickensian; The Ambassador; Bleak House and Mount Pleasant, as well as her 2004 performance in Richard Harris’ Going Straight at Theatre Royal Bath.
In 2001, Collins was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to drama.
Collins leaves behind her husband John Alderton, whom she married in 1969, their daughter Kate, and sons Nicholas and Richard. She is also survived by another daughter, Louise, whom she had placed for adoption.
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