Joan Collins Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Dame Joan Collins DBE
Collins in 2010
Born	Joan Henrietta Collins (1933-05-23) 23 May 1933 (age 92) Paddington, London, England
Occupation	Actress author columnist
Years active	1951–present
Spouse(s)	Maxwell Reed Anthony Newley Ronald S. Kass Peter Holm Percy Gibson
Children	3, including Tara and Alexander
Relatives	Jackie Collins (sister)
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Dame Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is a famous English actress, author, and columnist. She has won many awards for her work, including a Golden Globe Award and a People's Choice Award. For her long and successful career, she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.

Joan is also known for her charity work, especially for helping children. In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame for her work with charities. This is a very high honour in Great Britain.

She started acting after studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She first appeared in British films in the early 1950s. In 1955, she moved to Hollywood and signed a contract with the movie studio 20th Century Fox. She starred in big movies like Land of the Pharaohs (1955) and The Virgin Queen (1955).

From 1981 to 1989, she played the role of Alexis Colby in the popular TV soap opera Dynasty. This role made her a huge international star and won her a Golden Globe Award. She continues to act in movies and TV shows, including The Royals (2014–2018) and American Horror Story: Apocalypse (2018).

Early life
Acting Career
Writing and Charity Work
Personal Life
Honours
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Early life

Joan Collins was born in Paddington, London, on 23 May 1933. Her mother, Elsa, was a dance teacher, and her father, Joseph, was a talent agent. A talent agent is someone who helps find jobs for performers like actors and singers. Her father's clients included famous stars like the Beatles and Tom Jones.

She has two younger siblings, Jackie and Bill. Her sister, Jackie Collins, became a famous novelist. Joan went to the Francis Holland School in London. She loved acting from a young age and made her first appearance on stage when she was nine years old. When she was 16, she began training at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

Acting Career

A Star in the 1950s

Collins in 1954

After signing a contract with a British film studio, Joan began appearing in movies. Her first role was a small part in Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951). She soon got bigger roles and became known for playing a "bad girl" character in the movie I Believe in You (1952).

In 1954, the American director Howard Hawks chose her to star in the big-budget movie Land of the Pharaohs. She played the clever and sneaky Princess Nellifer. Her performance impressed the head of the movie studio 20th Century Fox, who offered her a seven-year contract in Hollywood.

Her first Hollywood movie was The Virgin Queen (1955), where she starred alongside the famous actress Bette Davis. She also starred in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955). Throughout the 1950s, she appeared in many successful films, including Island in the Sun (1957) and The Bravados (1958) with Gregory Peck.

TV and Film in the 1960s and 70s

In the 1960s, Joan Collins started to work more in television. She appeared as a guest star in many popular American TV shows. She played the villain "The Siren" in Batman and also had a memorable role in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" (1967). Many fans think this is one of the best Star Trek episodes ever made.

During the 1970s, she returned to Britain and starred in several movies, including the science-fiction romance Quest for Love (1971) and the horror film Tales from the Crypt (1972).

In 1978, she starred in the movie The Stud, which was based on a popular novel written by her sister, Jackie Collins. The film was a huge success and made Joan a major star in the UK again. A successful sequel was released the next year.

Becoming a Superstar in Dynasty

With Dynasty co-stars Stephanie Beacham and Emma Samms in 2009

In 1981, Joan Collins took on the role that would make her famous all over the world. She was cast as Alexis Colby in the American TV soap opera Dynasty. Alexis was the smart, stylish, and vengeful ex-wife of the show's main character, Blake Carrington.

The show was struggling in the ratings, but Joan's character made it incredibly popular. By 1985, Dynasty was the number-one show in the United States. For her role as Alexis, Joan was nominated for a Golden Globe Award six times, winning in 1983. The show's producer, Aaron Spelling, said that Joan was perfect for the part and made the character a huge success.

Career from the 1990s to Today

After Dynasty ended in 1989, Joan continued to act on stage and in movies. In 1991, she returned for a special TV movie called Dynasty: The Reunion to give the show a final ending.

In 2000, she played Pearl Slaghoople, the mother of Wilma Flintstone, in the movie The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. The next year, she starred with other legendary actresses like Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds in the TV movie These Old Broads.

She has remained busy in recent years. She had a recurring role in the British comedy series Benidorm and played the Queen's mother in the drama series The Royals. In 2018, she joined the cast of American Horror Story: Apocalypse, showing she can play a wide variety of characters.

Writing and Charity Work

Besides acting, Joan Collins is also a successful author. She has written several novels, lifestyle books, and memoirs about her life. Her books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. She has also written columns for many newspapers and magazines.

Joan has spent a lot of time supporting charities. In 1983, she became a patron for a foundation that helps children with learning disabilities. She is also a patron of the Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice in Great Britain, which helps care for very sick children and their families. She believes in giving back and has supported many causes throughout her career.

Personal Life

Joan Collins has been married five times. Her current husband is Percy Gibson, whom she married in 2002. She has three children from her previous marriages: Tara, Alexander, and Katyana. She also has four grandchildren.

Her younger sister was the bestselling author Jackie Collins, who passed away in 2015. Joan has homes in London, Los Angeles, and France. She is a supporter of the British monarchy and was a fan of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Honours

In 1997, Joan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to drama. In 2015, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to charity. Being made a Dame is one of the highest honours a person can receive in the United Kingdom.

She also received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 to celebrate her achievements in the entertainment industry.