Pauline Collins, Oscar-nominated star of Shirley Valentine, dies aged 85 surrounded by familyMadeline CoveThe NightlyFri, 7 November 2025 7:34AMCommentsComments
Pauline Collins, the beloved British actress best known for her iconic role in Shirley Valentine, has died aged 85.
Her family confirmed she passed away “peacefully” in a London care home, surrounded by loved ones, after living with Parkinson’s disease for several years.
Collins’ career spanned more than six decades, but it was her portrayal of Shirley, a Liverpool housewife who rediscovers herself on a Greek island holiday, that made her a household name. The performance earned her an Academy Award nomination in 1990, along with a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for Best Actress.
“Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen,” her family said in a statement.
“She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine, a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them.”
They described her as “our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma,” and the “life-long love” of fellow actor John Alderton, BBC shared.
“Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us,” they said, extending thanks to her carers for their “dignity, compassion, and most of all love.”
“She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember 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.”
Alderton, who appeared alongside Collins in Upstairs, Downstairs and Thomas & Sarah, called his late wife “a remarkable star.”
“What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with,” he said.
“She wanted everyone to be special and she did this by never saying ‘Look at me’. It’s no wonder that she was voted the nation’s sweetheart in the 1970s.”
He added that Collins’ portrayal of Shirley Valentine would forever define her career, not just for the Oscar nomination, but for her unprecedented success on Broadway, where she won all seven major theatre awards for the one-woman stage version of the story.
As Shirley Valentine, Collins captured the spirit of a woman craving more from life, a disillusioned housewife who finds freedom and passion in Greece with a local tavern owner, played by Tom Conti.
The role struck a chord with audiences around the world and remains one of Britain’s most enduring screen performances.
Tributes flowed across the entertainment industry following news of her death.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who worked with Collins in 2006, said it had been “such an honour to have her on set.”
“Oh, she was salty and wonderful, and the finest of actors,” Davies said.
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