The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at the Age of 85
Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the film Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85.
She died peacefully in her London care home, surrounded by her loved ones after living with Parkinson's disease for several years, as stated by her family.
Collins will be best remembered for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in the director's acclaimed film, based on the acclaimed theatrical production by Willy Russell.
Her praised acting also earned her the Golden Globe Award for best actress as well as a Bafta.
'Sparkling Personality'
Collins' family said in a statement: "Pauline was so many things to so many people, portraying diverse characters in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty."
"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."
They added she was their "devoted mother, our wonderful grandma and great-grandmother", and her husband John Alderton's "eternal partner"
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was constantly supportive," they said, appreciating her caregivers, who cared for her with "respect, empathy, and above all affection"
"She experienced a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers; radiant and energetic; and give us the space and privacy to reflect on life in her absence"
Stage Success
She initially performed the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in the UK capital in 1988. She won that year's Olivier Award for best actress.
A year later she returned to the character on the New York stage, where she picked up numerous prizes including a prestigious Tony award.
The movie adaptation was launched shortly after.
Additional movie roles included the 1991 film City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition globally.
A native of Exmouth in 1940, she grew up near the city of Liverpool and began her professional life as a educator.
Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she appeared briefly as a nurse in the Emergency Ward 10.
She featured in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, playing a fictional dancer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theater.
Following several theater parts, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on the show The Liver Birds.
Her acting career that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They wed in 1969 and had three children, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard.
The couple performed together in a number of television and film roles, such as the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in ITV's popular series.
