Pauline Collins, celebrated for her iconic role in the film *Shirley Valentine* and a distinguished career spanning stage and screen, has died at the age of 85. Her family announced she passed away peacefully in a care home in Highgate, north London, after a several-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Collins’ portrayal of the titular character in the 1989 film *Shirley Valentine* earned her an Academy Award nomination and cemented her status as a beloved actress. However, her career began decades earlier, with early television appearances in series like the first run of the BBC sitcom *The Liver Birds* in the 1970s, followed by a prominent role in the period drama *Upstairs, Downstairs* in 1971.
Born in 1938, Collins demonstrated versatility throughout her career, taking on roles ranging from politicians to mothers and queens. She was widely recognized for her radiant, sparky, and witty presence, both on and off screen.
Her family released a statement praising her as “the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own,” adding, “We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them.”
Beyond her professional achievements, Collins was remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, described as “warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise,” and always present for her family. She shared a 56-year marriage with fellow actor John Alderton, described by her family as her “lifelong love, a partner, work collaborator, and wife.”
The family also expressed gratitude to Collins’ carers, calling them “angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and moast of all love,” ensuring she had “a more peaceful goodbye.” They requested privacy as they grieve, hoping the public will remember Collins “at the height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy.”
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