🔗 Share this article The Renowned Actress 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 film Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85. Her passing was peaceful in her London care home, surrounded by her family after battling Parkinson's for several years, as stated by her relatives. Her legacy will be defined for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's acclaimed motion picture, adapted from the celebrated stage play by Willy Russell. Her critically acclaimed performance also earned her the Golden Globe Award for outstanding actress as well as a Bafta. 'Sparkling Personality' She appeared with her husband John Alderton in the series Upstairs Downstairs, appearing from 1971 to 1973 Collins' family said in a statement: "Pauline was so many things to countless individuals, playing a variety of roles in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on theater and film. Her distinguished work saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty." "Her memory will endure as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful Shirley Valentine - a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those aspects of her personality because her magic was contained in every single role." The statement continued she was their "devoted mother, our wonderful grandma and great-grandmother", and her husband John Alderton's "life-long love" "Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was constantly supportive," they expressed, thanking her caregivers, who looked after her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love" "She experienced 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 reflect on life in her absence" Stage Success Collins first played the lead part of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier award for best actress. A year later she returned to the character on Broadway, New York, where she earned several awards including a esteemed Tony Award. The film of the same name was released later that year. Additional movie roles included the 1991 film City of Joy with actor Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition globally. A native of Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near the city of Liverpool and began her professional life as a teacher. Her passion for theater led her to take up acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she appeared briefly as a nurse in the Emergency Ward 10. She featured in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, portraying an imaginary performer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theater. Following several theater parts, 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 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 portrayed a servant in ITV's popular series.