Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at the Age of 85
The celebrated actress Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the movie Shirley Valentine, has died at the eighty-five years old.
Her passing was peaceful in her London care home, in the company of her loved ones after living with 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 the director's award-winning motion picture, based on the acclaimed theatrical production by playwright Willy Russell.
Her praised acting won her the Golden Globe Award for outstanding actress along with a Bafta.
'Witty Presence'
Her relatives said in a statement: "She was a multifaceted person to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her career. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her distinguished work saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty."
"She will always be remembered as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful Shirley Valentine - a role that she made all her own. We knew all those parts of her because her magic was contained in every single role."
The statement continued she was their "devoted mother, our beloved grandmother and great-grandma", and actor John Alderton's "life-long love"
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was constantly supportive," they said, appreciating her caregivers, who looked after her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love"
"She experienced a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember her at the peak of her career; radiant and energetic; and give us the space and privacy to reflect on life in her absence"
Stage Success
She initially performed the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier Award for outstanding actress.
The following year she reprised the role on the New York stage, where she picked up numerous prizes including a esteemed Tony Award.
The movie adaptation was launched shortly after.
Her other films included the 1991 film City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, shot in Kolkata, which gained her international fame worldwide.
A native of Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near Liverpool and started out her career as a teacher.
Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a side basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a nurse 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.
Following several theater parts, she used her Liverpool accent to secure a part 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, their sons and daughter.
Alderton and Collins starred alongside each other in a number of television and film roles, such as Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in ITV's popular series.
