Pauline Collins, the acclaimed British actress best known for her role in Shirley Valentine, has died “peacefully” at the age of 85, her family has confirmed.
She passed away surrounded by loved ones, following several years living with Parkinson’s disease.
Collins rose to prominence in the first series of the sitcom The Liver Birds and later became a household name in the hit drama Upstairs Downstairs.
Her portrayal of the title character in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine – a bored Liverpool housewife who discovers a new sense of freedom abroad – earned her an Academy Award nomination.
In a statement, her family described Collins as “so many things to so many people,” praising her talent and warmth both on and off screen.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Collins married actor John Alderton in 1969. He paid tribute to her legacy and personal impact, calling her a “remarkable star”.
He said he had “watched her genius at close quarters” throughout their frequent collaborations across television, film and the West End.
“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’,” he said.
“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.”
Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool, Collins initially trained as a teacher before taking up acting part-time.
Her first television role was as a nurse in Emergency Ward 10, laying the foundation for a career that spanned more than six decades.
She earned further praise for her performance in the 1997 film Paradise Road, about women imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. The cast included Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Frances McDormand.
In 2001, Collins was appointed an OBE in recognition of her services to drama.
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