LONDON – Pauline Collins, the acclaimed British actress whose portrayal of a Liverpool housewife seeking liberation in the 1989 film *Shirley Valentine* earned her global recognition, has died at the age of 85. Her family announced on Thursday, November 6, 2025, that she passed away peacefully in a care home in Highgate, north London, following a years-long battle with Parkinson's disease.

In a statement, her family remembered her as a “bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen.” “She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own,” the statement read. Collins was married to fellow actor John Alderton for 56 years, who described her as a “remarkable star.”

An Iconic Role

While Collins' career spanned six decades, her role as the titular character in *Shirley Valentine* became her most defining performance. The film, adapted from Willy Russell's one-woman stage play, saw Collins play a middle-aged woman in a stagnant marriage who rediscovers herself on a solo holiday to Greece. The performance secured her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, alongside nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Prior to the film, Collins had already won a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award for the same role on the London and Broadway stages, respectively.

A Household Name

Long before her international film success, Collins was a familiar face in British households. She rose to prominence in the 1970s playing the spirited maid Sarah Moffat in the hugely popular ITV drama *Upstairs, Downstairs*. The series, which chronicled the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants, was a cultural phenomenon and brought both Collins and her husband, John Alderton, who also starred in the show, widespread fame. The on-screen chemistry between Collins and Alderton led to a spin-off series, *Thomas & Sarah*, in 1979.

Her extensive television credits also include the sitcom *The Liver Birds*, an early role in *Doctor Who* in 1967, and the drama series *Forever Green* (1989-1992), where she again starred alongside her husband. In 2001, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to drama.

A Versatile Career

Born in Exmouth, Devon, on September 3, 1940, Collins initially trained as a teacher before pursuing acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Her film career included roles in *City of Joy* (1992) with Patrick Swayze, *Paradise Road* (1997), and *Quartet* (2012), directed by Dustin Hoffman.

In their statement, her family paid tribute not only to her professional achievements but also to her personal warmth. “More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us,” they said. The family also expressed gratitude to her carers, whom they called “angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all, love.”

Pauline Collins is survived by her husband John Alderton and their three children, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard, as well as a daughter, Louise, from a previous relationship with whom she was later reunited.