The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Dies at 85
Pauline Collins, widely recognized for her performance in the movie Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85.
She died peacefully in her London residence, in the company of her family after battling Parkinson's disease for a number of years, according to her family.
Her legacy will be defined for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's acclaimed film, based on the celebrated stage play by Willy Russell.
Her praised acting won her the Golden Globe for outstanding actress as well as a BAFTA award.
'Witty Presence'
Collins' family released a statement saying: "She was a multifaceted person to countless individuals, playing a variety of roles in her career. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty."
"Her memory will endure as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We knew 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-grandmother", and her husband John Alderton's "eternal partner"
"Kind, humorous, giving, considerate, intelligent, she was constantly supportive," they said, thanking her carers, who looked after her with "respect, empathy, and above all affection"
"She could not have had 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 reflect on life in her absence"
Broadway Role
She initially performed the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in London in 1988. She received that year's Olivier award for outstanding actress.
The following year she returned to the character on Broadway, New York, where she earned several awards including a esteemed Tony Award.
The movie adaptation was released later that year.
Additional movie roles included the 1991 film City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which gained her international fame globally.
Born in Exmouth in 1940, she grew up near Liverpool and began her professional life as a educator.
Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a side basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a medical attendant in the Emergency Ward 10.
She starred in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, portraying an imaginary performer in a London adult entertainment venue, the Windmill Theatre.
After a number of stage roles, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on the show The Liver Birds.
It was through acting that she met her husband John Alderton. They married in 1969 and had three children, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard.
The couple performed alongside each other in a number of television and film roles, such as Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she portrayed a servant in the acclaimed ITV program.
