Pauline Collins, the luminous star of the Oscar-nominated film Shirley Valentine (1990), has passed away at the age of 85. She departed "peacefully" in her London care home, surrounded by her family, after years of living with Parkinson's disease, as her family shared in a heartfelt statement.
Collins will forever be etched in the annals of cinema for her unforgettable portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's acclaimed film adaptation of Willy Russell's stage play. Her critically acclaimed performance not only won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress but also a Bafta.
Her family referred to her as "a bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen," with a career that spanned from playing politicians to queens and everything in between. "She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious, and wise Shirley Valentine," they said, adding that she was their "loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma," and actor John Alderton's "life-long love."
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise—she was always there for us," they continued, expressing gratitude to her caregivers who looked after her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love." They hoped that she would be remembered at the height of her powers, "so joyful and full of energy."
Her husband Alderton also issued a statement, describing his wife as "a remarkable star" who worked with him more than any other actor. "What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all the people she worked with," he said. "She wanted everyone to be special and she did this by never saying 'Look at me.' It's no wonder that she was voted the nation's sweetheart in the 1970s."
Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in London in 1988, winning that year's Olivier Award for Best Actress. The following year, she reprised the role on Broadway, New York, where she picked up numerous prizes including a prestigious Tony Award. The film of the same name was released later that year.
Her other films include 1991's City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her global recognition. Born in Exmouth, Devon, in 1940, Collins grew up near Liverpool and started her career as a teacher. Her love of the stage led her to take up acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a nurse in the Emergency Ward 10 TV series. Her film debut came in 1966's Secrets of a Windmill Girl, playing a fictional dancer in a London striptease nightclub.
After a number of stage roles, she used her Liverpool accent to land a leading role on The Liver Birds in 1969. She starred as Dawn in five episodes before leaving to be replaced by Nerys Hughes. She also starred in five episodes of Doctor Who but told The Guardian in 2012 that after appearing in the show as Samantha Briggs in 1967, she was offered another 39 episodes but turned them down. "I thought it was like a prison sentence," she said. "Maybe it would have given me a profile early in my career, but then I would have missed so many things."
It was through acting that she met her husband John Alderton. They married in 1969 and had three children: Nicholas
