Who Was Pauline Collins?
British actress Pauline Collins, renowned for her role in Shirley Valentine, passed away at the age of 85 in London. She had battled Parkinson's disease for several years.
Career Highlights
Collins gained international recognition for her portrayal of the fiery housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert’s film adaptation of the play by Willy Russell. Although she did not win the Oscar for which she was nominated, Collins earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA for the same role.
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool, she initially trained to be a teacher before pursuing acting in the late 1950s. Her screen debut was a small role as a nurse on the British medical drama Emergency Ward 10 in 1957.
Film and Television Work
- Featured in Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966), playing a dancer in a London strip club.
- Rose to fame on British television through The Liver Birds and Upstairs, Downstairs.
- Performed the role of Shirley Valentine first on stage at London’s Vaudeville Theatre in 1988.
"Pauline Collins died peacefully at her London care home, surrounded by her family." — BBC report
Legacy
Pauline Collins is remembered as a versatile and beloved performer whose work earned critical acclaim and endeared her to audiences worldwide.
Author’s Summary: Pauline Collins, a celebrated British actress best known for Shirley Valentine, passed away at 85 after years battling Parkinson’s disease, leaving a lasting legacy in film and television.