Pauline Collins, Star of the Film Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at Eighty-Five Years Old
Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the movie Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the age of 85.
She died peacefully in her London residence, in the company of her loved ones after living with Parkinson's disease for several years, as stated by her family.
Her legacy will be defined for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in the director's acclaimed film, adapted from the celebrated stage play by playwright Willy Russell.
Her critically acclaimed performance also earned her the Golden Globe for outstanding actress along with a BAFTA award.
'Witty Presence'
Her relatives said in a statement: "She was a multifaceted person to countless individuals, portraying diverse characters in her career. A bright, sparky, witty presence on theater and film. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens."
"Her memory will endure as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We were familiar with all those aspects of her personality because her magic was contained in each one of them."
They added she was their "loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandmother", and her husband John Alderton's "eternal partner"
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was constantly supportive," they said, thanking her caregivers, who looked after her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love"
"She could not have had a calmer departure. We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers; radiant and energetic; and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her"
New York Theater
She initially performed the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in the UK capital in 1988. She won that year's Olivier award for outstanding actress.
A year later she returned to the character on the New York stage, where she earned several awards including a prestigious Tony award.
The movie adaptation was launched shortly after.
Additional movie roles included 1991's City of Joy with actor Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition worldwide.
A native of 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 TV series Emergency Ward 10.
She starred in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, portraying an imaginary performer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theater.
After a number of stage roles, she used her Liverpool accent to land a role on the show 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.
The couple performed 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.
