đź”— Share this article The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Star of the Film Shirley Valentine, Dies at 85 Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the film Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the eighty-five years old. Her passing was peaceful in her London care home, surrounded by her loved ones after living with Parkinson's disease for several years, according to her family. Collins will be best remembered for her depiction of disgruntled housewife Shirley in the director's acclaimed film, based on the acclaimed theatrical production by Willy Russell. Her praised acting also earned her the Golden Globe Award for best actress as well as a BAFTA award. 'Witty Presence' Collins starred opposite her spouse John Alderton in Upstairs Downstairs, featured between 1971 to 1973 Collins' family released a statement saying: "Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on theater and film. Her distinguished work saw her play politicians, mothers and queens." "Her memory will endure as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in every single role." They added she was their "loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma", and actor John Alderton's "eternal partner" "Kind, humorous, giving, considerate, intelligent, she was constantly supportive," they expressed, appreciating 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 peak of her career; so joyful and full of energy; and allow us privacy to reflect on life in her absence" Broadway Role Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre 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 the New York stage, where she earned several awards including a prestigious Tony award. The film of the same name was released later that year. Her other films included 1991's City of Joy with actor Patrick Swayze, filmed in Calcutta, which brought her wider recognition globally. Born in Exmouth in 1940, she grew up near Liverpool and started out her career as a educator. Her passion for theater 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 Theatre. After a number of stage roles, she used her Liverpool accent to secure a part on The Liver Birds. Her acting career that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They married in 1969 and had three children, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard. Alderton and Collins starred alongside each other in a number of television and film roles, such as the series Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she played a maid in the acclaimed ITV program.