The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at 85
Pauline Collins, best known for her performance in the movie Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85.
She died peacefully in her London residence, in the company of her loved ones after living with Parkinson's disease for several years, as stated by her relatives.
Collins will be best remembered for her portrayal of unhappy homemaker Shirley in the director's award-winning motion picture, based on the celebrated theatrical production by Willy Russell.
Her critically acclaimed performance won her the Golden Globe for outstanding actress along with a BAFTA award.
'Charming and Witty'
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 play politicians, mothers and queens."
"She will always be remembered as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful 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 "loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma", and her husband John Alderton's "eternal partner"
"Kind, humorous, giving, considerate, intelligent, she was always there for us," they expressed, thanking her caregivers, who cared for her with "respect, empathy, and above all affection"
"She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers; radiant and energetic; and allow us privacy to reflect on life in her absence"
New York Theater
Collins first played the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in the UK capital in 1988. She won that year's Olivier Award for outstanding actress.
A year later 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 the 1991 film City of Joy with actor Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition worldwide.
Born in Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near the city of Liverpool and started out her career as a teacher.
Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she appeared briefly as a medical attendant in the Emergency Ward 10.
She featured in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, portraying an imaginary performer in a London adult entertainment venue, the Windmill Theater.
After a number of stage roles, she used her Liverpool accent to secure a part on the show The Liver Birds.
It was through acting that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They wed in 1969 and had a family of three, their sons and daughter.
Alderton and Collins starred together in a variety of screen projects, such as the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she portrayed a servant in ITV's popular series.
