Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at Eighty-Five Years Old
Pauline Collins, widely recognized for her performance in the film Shirley Valentine, has died at the eighty-five years old.
She died peacefully in her London residence, surrounded by her loved ones after battling Parkinson's disease for several years, as stated by her family.
Collins will be best remembered for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in the director's acclaimed film, adapted from the acclaimed theatrical production by playwright Willy Russell.
Her praised acting won her the Golden Globe for outstanding actress as well as a Bafta.
'Witty Presence'
Her relatives released a statement saying: "Pauline was so many things to so many people, portraying diverse characters in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on stage and screen. Her illustrious career 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 were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in every single role."
The statement continued she was their "devoted mother, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma", and actor John Alderton's "eternal partner"
"Kind, humorous, giving, considerate, intelligent, she was always there for us," they expressed, 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 allow us privacy to contemplate a life without her"
New York Theater
Collins first played the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier Award for outstanding actress.
A year later she returned to the character on the New York stage, where she picked up numerous prizes including a esteemed Tony Award.
The film of the same name was launched shortly after.
Additional movie roles included 1991's City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, shot in Kolkata, which gained her international fame globally.
A native of Exmouth in 1940, she grew up near Liverpool and started out her career as a educator.
Her passion for theater inspired her to pursue acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a medical attendant in the Emergency Ward 10.
She featured in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, playing a fictional dancer in a London adult entertainment venue, the Windmill Theater.
After a number of stage roles, she employed her regional dialect to secure a part on The Liver Birds.
It was through acting that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They wed in 1969 and had a family of three, their sons and daughter.
Alderton and Collins starred together in a number of television and film roles, such as Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in ITV's popular series.
