Actress Pauline Collins has died at the age of 85 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease several years ago.
Her family confirmed she died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by loved ones in her North London care home.
They said in a statement: ‘Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens.
‘She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them.’
Collins was Oscar-nominated for her role as the leading lady in the 1989 romantic comedy, which was the highest-grossing independent British film of that year.
She also appeared as Sarah Moffat in Upstairs, Downstairs, which aired in the early 70s, and its spin-off, Thomas & Sarah.
Her family continued: ‘More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us.
‘And she was John (Alderton)’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years.’
She and Upstairs, Downstairs co-star Alderton married in 1969 and have three children together.
In her book Letter To Louise, Collins revealed she had given up a daughter, Louise, for adoption in 1964, who she had with actor Tony Rohr.
The pair were finally reunited when Louise turned 21, with Collins stating the decision to give her up was ‘heartbreaking’.
The family concluded: ‘We particularly want to thank her carers: angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love. She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye.
‘We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy; and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her.’
Her husband added: ‘Pauline Collins was a remarkable star. I had the great good fortune to have worked with her more than any other actor in our many TV series, films and West End stage shows together, and watched her genius at close quarters.
‘What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with. 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.
‘She will always be remembered for Shirley Valentine, not only for her Oscar nomination or the film itself, but for clean-sweeping all seven awards when she portrayed her on Broadway in the stage play, in which she played every character herself.
‘But her greatest performance was as my wife and mother to our beautiful children.’
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies shared: ‘We had the huge privilege of working with Pauline on Doctor Who – Tooth and Claw, the one with Queen Victoria vs the werewolf, happy days!
‘It was such an honour to have her on set, I was in awe. Though she soon cut that down to size – I remember one night, meeting her in a wet Cardiff car park as she hauled Victoria’s yards of bombazine through the puddles, “This f**king dress is so heavy!” I told her she looked like Giles’s Grandma, and she swore royally. And then roared with laughter!
‘Oh she was salty and wonderful, and the finest of actors. As a kid, I thought Thomas and Sarah was TV magic (an actual spin-off! Good idea!). I loved No Honestly. As for Shirley Valentine, as @mrmatthewtodd says today, “Says more about UK life at that time than any history book ever could.” A true star. And she’d laugh at that ♥️.’
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