đź”— Share this article The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of the Film Shirley Valentine, Passes Away at 85 Pauline Collins, widely recognized for her role in the film Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85. Her passing was peaceful in her London residence, surrounded by her family after living with Parkinson's for several years, as stated by her relatives. Collins will be best remembered for her depiction of unhappy homemaker Shirley in the director's award-winning film, adapted from the celebrated stage play by playwright Willy Russell. Her praised acting also earned her the Golden Globe for outstanding actress along with a Bafta. 'Sparkling Personality' She appeared with her spouse John Alderton in the series Upstairs Downstairs, appearing from 1971 to 1973 Her relatives released a statement saying: "She was a multifaceted person to countless individuals, portraying diverse characters in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on theater and film. Her distinguished work saw her play politicians, mothers and queens." "She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We knew all those aspects of her personality because her magic was contained in every single role." 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 always there for us," they said, thanking her carers, who cared for her with "respect, empathy, and above all affection" "She could not have had a calmer departure. We ask that you recall her at the height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy; and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her" Broadway Role She initially performed the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theater in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier award for best actress. The following year she returned to the character on the New York stage, where she picked up numerous prizes including a prestigious Tony award. The movie adaptation was launched shortly after. Additional movie roles included 1991's City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which gained her international fame globally. Born in Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near the city of Liverpool and began her professional life as a teacher. Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a side basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a medical attendant in the TV series Emergency Ward 10. She starred in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, playing a fictional dancer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theater. After a number of stage roles, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on the show The Liver Birds. It was through acting 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 portrayed a servant in ITV's popular series.