Who was Pauline Collins? The Shirley Valentine star passed away at 85

Veteran British actress Pauline Collins has died in London at the age of 85. According to her family’s statement, she passed away peacefully in a care home surrounded by loved ones, following a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Career Highlights

Pauline Collins gained widespread fame for portraying Shirley, a dissatisfied housewife, in Lewis Gilbert’s film Shirley Valentine. Adapted from Willy Russell’s stage play, the role earned her an Oscar nomination and won her both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress.

Early Life and Beginnings

Born in Exmouth in 1940 and raised near Liverpool, Collins initially trained as a teacher before discovering her passion for acting in the late 1950s. She made her screen debut in 1957 with a brief appearance as a nurse in the British medical drama Emergency Ward 10.

Rise to Fame

Her early film credits include Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966), where she portrayed a dancer at a London strip club. Collins became a recognizable face on British television through shows such as The Liver Birds and the acclaimed period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, which established her as a household name.

BBC reported that Collins died "peacefully" at her London care home, surrounded by her family.

Legacy

Pauline Collins’ work on stage and screen continues to influence generations of performers, marking her as one of Britain’s most beloved and versatile actresses.

Author’s Summary: Pauline Collins, a much-loved British actress and star of Shirley Valentine, passed away at 85 after a remarkable career spanning film, television, and theatre.

Mint — 2025-11-07