đź”— Share this article The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of Shirley Valentine, Dies at 85 The celebrated actress Pauline Collins, widely recognized 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 family after battling Parkinson's for a number of years, as stated by her family. Her legacy will be defined for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's acclaimed motion picture, adapted from the acclaimed theatrical production by Willy Russell. Her praised acting also earned her the Golden Globe Award for best actress along with a Bafta. 'Charming and Witty' Collins starred opposite her husband John Alderton in the series Upstairs Downstairs, appearing from 1971 to 1973 Her relatives said in a statement: "She was a multifaceted person to countless individuals, playing a variety of roles 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 iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a role that she made all her own. We knew all those aspects of her personality because her charm was embedded in each one of them." They added she was their "devoted mother, 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, appreciating her caregivers, who cared for her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love" "She experienced a calmer departure. We ask that you recall her at the peak of her career; radiant and energetic; and give us the space and privacy to reflect on life in her absence" Stage Success Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in London in 1988. She won that year's Olivier Award for best actress. A year later she reprised the role on Broadway, New York, where she picked up numerous prizes including a prestigious Tony award. The movie adaptation 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 educator. Her passion for theater inspired her to pursue 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, playing a fictional dancer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theatre. After a number of stage roles, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on the show The Liver Birds. Her acting career that she met her husband John Alderton. They married in 1969 and had a family of three, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard. The couple performed together in a variety of screen projects, such as the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in the acclaimed ITV program.