🔗 Share this article The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress 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 died at the eighty-five years old. She died peacefully in her London residence, in the company of her loved ones after living with Parkinson's for several years, as stated by her relatives. Collins will be best remembered for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's award-winning motion picture, based on the acclaimed stage play by playwright Willy Russell. Her critically acclaimed performance also earned her the Golden Globe Award for best actress along with a Bafta. 'Charming and Witty' Collins starred opposite her spouse John Alderton in Upstairs Downstairs, appearing from 1971 to 1973 Her relatives said in a statement: "She was a multifaceted person to so many people, portraying diverse characters in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on stage and screen. Her distinguished work saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty." "She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her charm was embedded 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 always there for us," they said, thanking her caregivers, who cared for her with "respect, empathy, and above all affection" "She experienced 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 reflect on life in her absence" New York Theater Collins first played the title role 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 Broadway, New York, where she earned several awards including a prestigious Tony award. The film of the same name was released later that year. Her other films included 1991's City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, shot in Kolkata, which brought her wider recognition globally. A native of Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near the city of Liverpool and started out her career 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 nurse 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. Following several theater parts, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on The Liver Birds. It was through acting that she met her husband John Alderton. They married 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 the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in ITV's popular series.