Pauline Collins, Belovedโค Actress of Stage and โคScreen,โข Dies at 85
Pauline โCollins, renowned for her โroles โin upstairs, Downstairs and Shirley Valentine, has died, her โคfamily announced. She was โ85 โฃyears old.
Collins first gained โฃwidespread recognition in Britain in 1971 for herโ performance in โthe popular seriesโฃ Upstairs, Downstairs, alongside her husband of 56 years, John Alderton, with whom she had four children. Though, she achieved iconic status with her portrayal โฃof a middle-aged woman rediscovering her passions in Willy Russell’s 1986 play Shirley Valentine. Throughoutโ herโ career, Collins captivated audiences with diverse roles, portraying figures ranging โขfrom politicians to queens.
“Pauline was โขso many things to so many people, she played manyโฃ different roles in her โคlife. โA bright,sparkling and โfunny character on stage โขand screen. She played โpoliticians, mothersโฃ and queens โin her career. But most of allโ she โwas our loving mother,our great grandmother and great grandmother.Kind,โ funny, generous, considerate,โค wise, always there for us. And she was the loveโข of John’s life. Partner, collaborator and 56 โคyears wife,” the family stated.
The family โconfirmed Collins died peacefully, surrounded byโ loved ones, and expressed gratitude to her caregivers, calling them “the angelsโค who cared for her withโฃ respect, compassion, and above โฃall, love.” Thayโ added, “She could not have had โขa more peaceful farewell.”