Shirley Valentine actress Pauline Collins dies aged 85

Actress Pauline Collins, who starred in Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85, her family has announced.

She died “peacefully at her care home in Highgate this week, having endured Parkinson’s for several years”.

A statement to the PA news agency said: “We are heartbroken to announce that Pauline Collins died peacefully at her care home in Highgate this week, having endured Parkinson’s for several years.

“She was surrounded by her family.”

She starred in the first series of sitcom The Liver Birds but did not become a household name until getting a regular role in Upstairs Downstairs in 1971.

She married fellow actor John Alderton in 1969.

Her role in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine, playing the lead character of the bored Liverpudlian housewife, earned her an Oscar nomination.

She had first played the role in the 1988 West End production at the Vaudeville Theatre, winning an Olivier Award for best actress.

The statement continued: “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.”

It added: “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’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years.”

The statement ended saying: “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.”

Husband Alderton said: “Pauline Collins was a remarkable star. I had the great good fortune to have worked with her more than any other actor in our many TV series, films and West End stage shows together, and watched her genius at close quarters.

“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’. 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.”

Dame Joanna Lumley, who acted alongside Collins in Shirley Valentine, also paid tribute to the “unforgettable” actress.

She said: “We only shared one afternoon, filming a scene for Shirley Valentine: but in that short time I could see at once why she became a blazing star.

“The blend of truthfulness and soulful naivety with impeccable comic timing and mischief made her unforgettable.”

Born in Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near Liverpool and began her career as a teacher.

But after taking up acting part-time, she landed her first television role as a nurse in the series Emergency Ward 10.

Collins also won great acclaim for her role in 1997 film Paradise Road, which tells the story of a group of women in a Japanese prisoner of war camp who defy their captors by founding an orchestra.

The film also starred Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Frances McDormand.

The actress appeared alongside Patrick Swayze in 1992’s City Of Joy and starred in Dustin Hoffman’s 2012 comedy Quartet alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Billy Connolly.

Her final film role was alongside Dame Joan Collins in 2017’s The Time Of Their Lives, which follows a retired actress and her friend as they travel from London to France for an ex-lover’s funeral.

In 2001 Collins was made an OBE for her services to drama.

The actress’s family said that anyone wishing to donate in her memory can make a donation to Parkinson’s UK at https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate.