3 Sep 1940 - 5 Nov 2025 (85 years)

Pauline Collins was an acclaimed English actress whose career has spanned theatre, film, and television with remarkable distinction.

She first won national affection as the spirited title character in Shirley Valentine, a role that earned her a Tony Award and an Academy Award nomination. Collins has also been widely admired for her work on stage and screen, including Upstairs, Downstairs and numerous classical theatre performances. Known for her warmth, emotional depth, and quiet authority, she was a much-respected figure in British acting, celebrated for bringing intelligence and humanity to every role she undertakes.

Collins married actor John Alderton in 1969; they and their three children lived in Hampstead, London. With actor Tony Rohr, Collins had a daughter, Louise, whom she placed for adoption in 1964. She and Louise were reunited 21 years later. Collins's book, Letter to Louise, documents these events.

Later in life, Collins was afflicted with Parkinson's disease. She died at a care home in Highgate, London, aged 85.