Pauline Collins, star of Shirley Valentine, dies aged 85

Pauline Collins, the star of the movie Shirley Valentine, for which she was Oscar nominated in 1990, has died on the age of 85.

She died “peacefully” in her London care house surrounded by her household having had Parkinson’s illness for a number of years, her household stated.

Collins will probably be greatest remembered for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert’s award-winning movie, based mostly on the acclaimed stage play by Willy Russell.

Her critically acclaimed efficiency additionally received her the Golden Globe Award for greatest actress together with a Bafta.

Collins’ household stated in a press release: “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 all the time be remembered as the long-lasting, strong-willed, vivacious and smart Shirley Valentine – a task that she made all her personal. We had been conversant in all these elements of her as a result of her magic was contained in every certainly one of them.”

They added she was their “loving mum, our fantastic grandma and great-grandma”, and actor John Alderton’s “life-long love”.

“Warm, humorous, beneficiant, considerate, smart, she was all the time there for us,” they said, thanking her carers, who looked after her with “dignity, compassion, and most of all love”.

“She couldn’t have had a extra peaceable goodbye. We hope you’ll keep in mind her on the peak of her powers; so joyful and stuffed with vitality; and provides us the house and privateness to ponder a life with out her.”

Her husband Alderton also issued a separate statement, describing his wife as “a exceptional star”, having worked with her more than any other actor.

“What I noticed was not solely her good vary of numerous characters however her magic of bringing out the very best in all the individuals she labored with,” he stated.

“She needed everybody to be particular and she or he did this by by no means saying ‘Look at me’. It’s no surprise that she was voted the nation’s sweetheart within the Seventies.”

He added she would always be remembered for Shirley Valentine, “not just for her Oscar nomination or the movie itself, however for clean-sweeping all seven awards when she portrayed her on Broadway within the stage play, through which she performed each character herself”.

Shirley Valentine is a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who is tired of her insensitive husband, played by Bernard Hill, and her suburban existence.

But her life changes when her best friend wins a holiday for two to Greece. Shirley goes, and falls for a local tavern owner – played by Tom Conti – who she goes on to have a passionate holiday fling with, reinvigorating her lust for life.

Russell T Davies, who labored with the actress on a 2006 Doctor Who episode, Tooth and Claw, posted on Instagram: “It was such an honour to have her on set, I used to be in awe… Oh she was salty and fantastic, and the best of actors.

“As for Shirley Valentine, as writer Matthew Todd says today, ’[It] says more about UK life at that time than any history book ever could.’ A true star. And she’d laugh at that.”

Collins first performed the title function of Shirley Valentine on the Vaudeville Theatre in London in 1988. She received that yr’s Olivier award for greatest actress.

The following yr she reprised the function on Broadway, New York, the place she picked up quite a few prizes together with a prestigious Tony award.

The movie of the identical title was launched later that yr.

Her different movies included 1991’s City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which introduced her wider recognition globally.

Born in Exmouth, Devon, in 1940, Collins was raised close to Liverpool and began out her profession as a trainer.

Her love of the stage led her to take up appearing on a part-time foundation, and in 1957 she had a cameo function as a nurse within the Emergency Ward 10 TV sequence.

Her movie debut got here in Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, enjoying a fictional dancer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theatre.

After a variety of stage roles, she used her Liverpool accent to land a number one function on The Liver Birds in 1969.

She starred as Dawn in 5 episodes earlier than she left to get replaced by Nerys Hughes, who performed the function of Sandra.

She additionally starred in 5 episodes of Doctor Who, however told The Guardian in 2012 that after showing within the present as Samantha Briggs in 1967, she was provided one other 39 episodes however turned them down.

“I thought it was like a prison sentence. Maybe it would have given me a profile early in my career, but then I would have missed so many things,” she stated.

It was by way of appearing that she met her husband John Alderton. They married in 1969 and had three youngsters, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard.

Alderton and Collins starred alongside one another in a variety of tv and movie roles, equivalent to ITV’s well-liked sequence Upstairs, Downstairs, through which she performed a maid.

Her later credit included a 2005 TV adaptation of Bleak House and 2015’s Dickensian.

She additionally performed Cissy Robson in 2012 movie Quartet alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Sheridan Smith.