The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Dies at 85
Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the movie Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85.
She died peacefully in her London care home, in the company of her family after living with Parkinson's disease for a number of years, according to her family.
Her legacy will be defined for her portrayal of unhappy homemaker Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's award-winning film, adapted from the celebrated stage play by Willy Russell.
Her praised acting also earned her the Golden Globe Award for outstanding actress along with a BAFTA award.
'Witty Presence'
Her relatives released a statement saying: "She was a multifaceted person to countless individuals, portraying diverse characters in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens."
"Her memory will endure as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We were familiar with all those aspects of her personality because her charm was embedded in every single role."
They added she was their "loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma", and her husband John Alderton's "life-long love"
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was constantly supportive," they expressed, appreciating her caregivers, who cared for her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love"
"She experienced a more peaceful goodbye. We ask that you recall her at the peak of her career; so joyful and full of energy; and allow us privacy to contemplate a life without her"
Stage Success
Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier award for outstanding actress.
The following year she reprised the role on Broadway, New York, where she earned several awards including a prestigious Tony award.
The film of the same name was launched shortly after.
Additional movie roles included 1991's City of Joy with actor Patrick Swayze, shot in Kolkata, which gained her international fame worldwide.
A native of Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near Liverpool and started out her career as a teacher.
Her passion for theater inspired her to pursue acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a nurse in the TV series Emergency Ward 10.
She featured in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, playing a fictional dancer in a London adult entertainment venue, the Windmill Theater.
Following several theater parts, she employed her regional dialect to secure a part on the show The Liver Birds.
Her acting career that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They wed in 1969 and had a family of three, their sons and daughter.
The couple performed together in a variety of screen projects, such as the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she portrayed a servant in ITV's popular series.
