Who Was Pauline Collins?
Veteran British actor Pauline Collins passed away in London at the age of 85 after battling Parkinson's disease for several years. Her family issued a statement confirming her death.
Career Highlights
Pauline Collins is best remembered for her iconic role as the angry housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's Shirley Valentine, a film adaptation of Willy Russell’s acclaimed stage play. Although she was nominated for an Oscar, she did not win, but earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA Award for the performance.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
- Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool.
- Initially trained as a teacher before pursuing acting in the late 1950s.
- Made her screen debut in a small role as a nurse in the British medical drama Emergency Ward 10 (1957).
- Acted in films such as Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966), portraying a dancer in a London striptease club.
Television Fame
Collins gained widespread popularity on television, starring in series like The Liver Birds and Upstairs, Downstairs, which made her a familiar face in British households.
International Recognition
Her role in Shirley Valentine brought her international acclaim. She first took on the role on stage at London’s Vaudeville Theatre in 1988.
Pauline Collins died “peacefully” at her London care home, surrounded by her family.
Author’s summary: Pauline Collins, celebrated British actress best known for Shirley Valentine, passed away at 85 after a long fight with Parkinson’s, leaving a legacy of memorable stage and screen performances.