Joan Collins facts for kids
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Joan Collins
OBE
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Joan Collins in 2010
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| Born | 23 May 1933 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actress, author, columnist |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Spouse(s) | Maxwell Reed (m. 1952–1956, divorced) Anthony Newley (m. 1963–1971, divorced) Ronald S. Kass (m. 1972–1983, divorced) Peter Holm (m. 1985–1987, divorced) Percy Gibson (m. 2002–present) |
| Children | Tara Cynara Newley Alexander Anthony Newley Katyana Kennedy Kass |
| Relatives | Jackie Collins (sister, deceased) |
Dame Joan Henrietta Collins, DBE (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author and columnist. Born in London, Collins grew up during the Second World War. After making her stage debut in the Henrik Ibsen play A Doll's House at the age of nine, she trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. She then signed an exclusive contract with the Rank Organisation and appeared in various British films.
In 1981, she landed the role of Alexis Colby, the vengeful and scheming ex-wife of John Forsythe's character, in the 1980s soap opera Dynasty, winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 1982; she is credited with the success of Dynasty, which was the most-watched television series in the United States during the 1984-85 broadcast season. Collins also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 for career achievement.
In 2015, Collins was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to charity. Since the late 1970s, Collins has written several books (including beauty and autobiographical books). In 1988, she published her first novel, Prime Time, and she has continued to publish various kinds of writing. A member of the Conservative Party, Collins was invited to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in April 2013.
Beginnings
Collins was born in Paddington, London, and brought up in Maida Vale, the daughter of Elsa Collins (née Bessant), a dance teacher and nightclub hostess, and Joseph William Collins an agent whose clients would later include Shirley Bassey, the Beatles, and Tom Jones. Her father, a native of South Africa, was Jewish, and her British mother was Anglican. She had two younger siblings, Jackie (1937–2015), a novelist, and Bill, a property agent. She was educated at the Francis Holland School, an independent day school for girls in London and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Personal life
Collins has been married five times. The first time was to Irish actor Maxwell Reed. They married on 24 May 1952 and divorced in 1956.
Collins married award-winning singer, actor and movie composer Anthony Newley on 27 May 1963. She and Newley had two children, a daughter Tara Cynara Newley and a son, Alexander Anthony "Sacha" Newley. Collins and Newley divorced in 1970.
In March 1972, Collins married her third husband Ron Kass. He was the president of Apple Records during the time of the Beatles. During their marriage Collins had her third and final child, a daughter, Katyana Kennedy Kass. Collins's marriage to Kass ended in divorce in 1983.
On 3 November 1985, Collins married Swedish singer Peter Holm in a ceremony in Las Vegas. They were divorced on 25 August 1987.
In 2001 Collins met theatrical company manager Percy Gibson, 32 years her junior. They married on 17 February 2002 at Claridge's Hotel in London. They renewed their vows in 2009. The pair were contestants on the Christmas Day edition of the ITV game show All Star Mr. & Mrs. in 2009.
Collins has homes in London, Los Angeles, New York and the South of France, describing her life as being "that of a gypsy".
As of 2013, Collins has three grandchildren.
Collins maintains residences in London, Los Angeles, New York City, and France, describing her life in 2010 as being "that of a gypsy".
Collins's younger sister was Jackie Collins, a pioneer of romantic novels, who died in September 2015. Collins was told only two weeks before her sister's death of the breast cancer she'd had for over six years.
Charitable work
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Collins has publicly supported several charities for several decades. In 1982, Collins spoke before the U.S. Congress about increasing funding for neurological research. In 1983, she was named a patron of the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, earning the foundation's highest honour in 1988 for her continuing support. Additionally, 1988 also had the opening of the Joan Collins Wing of the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. In 1990, she was made an honorary founding member of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
In 1994, Collins was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the Association of Breast Cancer Studies in Great Britain for her contribution to breast cancer awareness in the UK. Collins is patron of Fight for Sight; in 2003, she became a patron of the Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice in Great Britain, while continuing to support several foster children in India, something she has done for the past 25 years. Collins serves her former school, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, as the Honorary President of the RADA Associates.
Awards
Collins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1997 New Year Honours for services to drama, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to charity.
- 1956: Most Promising Young Actress.
- 1957: Star of Tomorrow.
- 1957: Motion Picture Magazine Award, Most Promising New Star.
- 1978: Saturn Award nomination, Best Actress in a Science Fiction film, Empire of the Ants.
- 1982: Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1982: Hollywood Women's Press Club, Female Star of 1982.
- 1982: Golden Apple Award, Female Star of the Year.
- 1983: Emmy Award nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1983: Golden Globe, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1983: Cable ACE Award nomination, Best Actress in a Drama Series, Faerie Tale Theatre's Hansel and Gretel.
- 1983: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Career Achievement.
- 1984: People's Choice Award, Favorite female television performer, Dynasty.
- 1984: Soap Opera Digest Award, Outstanding Villainess in a Primetime Drama Series, Dynasty.
- 1984: Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1985: Madam Tussaud's waxwork unveiled in London (second model in Las Vegas).
- 1985: People's Choice Award, nomination Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Dynasty.
- 1985: Soap Opera Digest Award, Outstanding Villainess in a Primetime Drama Series, Dynasty.
- 1985: Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1986: Soap Opera Digest Award nomination, Outstanding Villainess in a Primetime Drama Series and Outstanding Actress in a Comic Relief Role in a Primetime Drama Series, Dynasty.
- 1986: Telegatto award to joan Collins. American TV shows and personalities.
- 1986: People's Choice Award, nomination favourite female television performer, Dynasty.
- 1986: Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1987: Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama), Dynasty.
- 1988: Soap Opera Digest Award nomination, Outstanding Villainess in a Primetime Drama Series, Dynasty.
- 1996: OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to the arts and ongoing charity work.
- 1999: Millennium Award of Achievement, Golden Camera Film Council.
- 2001: Golden Nymph, Outstanding Female Actor, Monte Carlo Television Festival.
- 2002: Icon Award, Maxim Magazine, UK.
- 2003: TV Land Awards, nomination, Hippest Fashion Plate - Female.
- 2005: Lifetime Achievement Award, San Diego International Film Festival.
- 2008: Legend Award, Los Angeles Italia-Film, Fashion and Arts Festival.
- 2010: New York City International Film Festival, Best Actress.
- 2010: Beverly Hills Film, TV and New Media Festival, Best Actress.
- 2011: Cosmetic Executive Women (UK) Lifetime Achievement Award.
Credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Facts and Fancies | Short film | |
| 1951 | Lady Godiva Rides Again | Beauty Queen Contestant | Uncredited |
| 1952 | The Woman's Angle | Marina | |
| 1952 | Judgment Deferred | Lil Carter | |
| 1952 | I Believe in You | Norma Hart | |
| 1953 | Decameron Nights | Pampinea / Maria | |
| 1953 | Cosh Boy | Rene Collins | |
| 1953 | Turn the Key Softly | Stella Jarvis | |
| 1953 | The Square Ring | Frankie | |
| 1953 | Our Girl Friday | Sadie Patch | |
| 1954 | The Good Die Young | Mary Halsey / Mary | |
| 1955 | Land of the Pharaohs | Princess Nellifer | |
| 1955 | The Virgin Queen | Beth Throckmorton | |
| 1955 | The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing | Evelyn Nesbit Thaw | |
| 1956 | The Opposite Sex | Crystal | |
| 1957 | Sea Wife | Sea Wife | |
| 1957 | The Wayward Bus | Alice Chicoy | |
| 1957 | Island in the Sun | Jocelyn Fleury | |
| 1957 | Stopover Tokyo | Tina Llewellyn | |
| 1958 | The Bravados | Josefa Velarde | |
| 1958 | Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! | Angela Hoffa | |
| 1960 | Seven Thieves | Melanie | |
| 1960 | Esther and the King | Esther | |
| 1962 | The Road to Hong Kong | Diane | |
| 1964 | Hard Time for Princes | Jane | |
| 1967 | Warning Shot | Joanie Valens | |
| 1968 | Subterfuge | Anne Langley | |
| 1969 | Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? | Polyester Poontang | |
| 1969 | If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium | Girl on Sidewalk | Cameo appearance |
| 1969 | L'amore breve | Roberta | |
| 1970 | The Executioner | Sarah Booth | |
| 1970 | Up in the Cellar | Pat Camber | |
| 1971 | Revenge | Carol Radford | |
| 1971 | Quest for Love | Ottilie / Tracy Fletcher | |
| 1972 | Tales from the Crypt | Joanne Clayton | Segment: "And All Through The House" |
| 1972 | Fear in the Night | Molly Carmichael | |
| 1973 | Dark Places | Sarah Mandeville | |
| 1973 | Tales That Witness Madness | Bella Thompson | Segment: "Mel" |
| 1974 | L'arbitro | Elena Sperani | |
| 1975 | I Don't Want to Be Born | Lucy Carlesi | |
| 1975 | Il richiamo del lupo | Sonia Kendall | |
| 1976 | Alfie Darling | Fay | |
| 1976 | The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones | Black Bess | |
| 1976 | Il pomicione | ||
| 1977 | Empire of the Ants | Marilyn Fryser | |
| 1978 | Fearless | Brigitte | |
| 1978 | The Big Sleep | Agnes Lozelle | |
| 1978 | Zero to Sixty | Gloria Martine | |
| 1978 | The Stud | Fontaine Khaled | |
| 1979 | Game for Vultures | Nicolle | |
| 1979 | Sunburn | Nera | |
| 1979 | The B*** | Fontaine Khaled | |
| 1982 | Homework | Diane | |
| 1983 | Nutcracker | Laura Carrere | |
| 1994 | Decadence | Helen / Sybil | |
| 1995 | In the Bleak Midwinter | Margaretta D'Arcy | |
| 1996 | The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story | Herself | |
| 1997 | Coronation Street: Viva Las Vegas! | Herself | |
| 1999 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Mrs. Potiphar | |
| 1999 | The Clandestine Marriage | Mrs. Heidelberg | Also associate producer |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Pearl Slaghoople | |
| 2004 | Ellis in Glamourland | Susan | |
| 2006 | Ozzie | Max Happy | |
| 2007 | Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven | Herself | |
| 2008 | Valentino: The Last Emperor | Herself | |
| 2010 | Fetish | Francesca Vonn | Short film |
| 2013 | Saving Santa | Vera Baddington | Voice |
| 2014 | Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism | Nockman's Mother | |
| 2016 | Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie | Joan Collins | |
| 2017 | The Time of Their Lives | Helen Shelly | Also executive producer |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Human Jungle | Liz Kross | Episode: "Struggle for a Mind" |
| 1966 | Run for Your Life | Gilian Wales | Episode: "The Borders of Barbarism" |
| 1966 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Baroness Bibi De Chasseur / Rosy Shlagenheimer | Episode: "The Galatea Affair" |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Lorna Marie Marshall | Episode: "The Lady from Wichita" |
| 1967 | Batman | The Siren (Lorelei Circe) | Episodes: "Ring Around the Riddler" and "The Wail of the Siren" |
| 1967 | The Danny Thomas Hour | Myra | Episode: "The Demon Under the Bed" |
| 1967 | Star Trek | Edith Keeler | Episode: "The City on the Edge of Forever" |
| 1969 | Mission: Impossible | Nicole Vedette | Episode: "Nicole" |
| 1972 | The Persuaders! | Sidonie | Episode: "Five Miles to Midnight" |
| 1972 | The Man Who Came to Dinner | Lorraine Sheldon | TV Movie |
| 1973 | Drive Hard, Drive Fast | Carole Bradley | TV Movie |
| 1973 | Great Mysteries | Jane Blake | Episode: "The Dinner Party" |
| 1974 | Fallen Angels | Jane Banbury | TV pilot |
| 1975 | Ellery Queen | Lady Daisy Frawley | Episode: "The Adventure of Auld Lang Syne" |
| 1975 | Switch | Jackie Simon | Episode: "Stung from Beyond" |
| 1975 | Space: 1999 | Kara | Episode: "Mission of the Darians" |
| 1976 | Baretta | Lynn Stiles | Episode: "Pay or Die" |
| 1976 | Police Woman | Lorelei Frank / Prudence Clark | Episodes: "The Pawn Shop" and "The Trick Book" |
| 1976 | Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers | Avril Devereaux | TV Mini-Series |
| 1976 | Gibbsville | Andrea | Episode: "Andrea" |
| 1977 | The Fantastic Journey | Queen Halyana | Episode: "Turnabout" |
| 1977 | Future Cop | Eve Di Falco | Episode: "The Kansas City Kid" |
| 1977 | Starsky and Hutch | Janice | Episode: "Starsky and Hutch on Playboy Island" |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpected | Lady Natalia Turton | Episode: "Neck" |
| 1980 | Tales of the Unexpected | Clare Duckworth/Julia Roach | Episode: "Georgy Porgy" |
| 1980 | Tales of the Unexpected | Suzy Starr | Episode "A Girl Can't Always Have Everything" |
| 1980 | Fantasy Island | Lucy Atwell | Episode: "My Fair Pharaoh/The Power" |
| 1981–1989 | Dynasty | Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan | Series regular (Season 2-8), Recurring (Season 9) 195 episodes |
| 1982 | Tattletales | Herself | TV Game Show |
| 1982 | Paper Dolls | Racine | TV Movie |
| 1982 | The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch | Annie McCulloch | TV Movie |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Janine Adams | Episode: "The Captain's Crush/Out of My Hair/Off-Course Romance" |
| 1983 | Making of a Male Model | Kay Dillon | TV Movie |
| 1983 | Hansel and Gretel | Stepmother / Witch | TV Movie |
| 1984 | Her Life as a Man | Pam Dugan | TV Movie |
| 1984 | The Cartier Affair | Cartier Rand / Marilyn Hallifax | TV Movie |
| 1986 | Sins | Helene Junot | TV Mini-Series, also executive producer |
| 1986 | Monte Carlo | Katrina Petrovna | TV Movie, also executive producer |
| 1991 | Red Peppers | Lily Pepper | TV Movie, also executive producer |
| 1991 | Tonight at 8.30 | Various | Series regular, 8 episodes, also executive producer |
| 1991 | Dynasty: The Reunion | Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan | TV Movie |
| 1993 | Roseanne | Ronnie | Episode: "First Cousin, Twice Removed" |
| 1993 | Mama's Back | Tamara Hamilton | TV pilot |
| 1993 | Egoli: Place of Gold | Catherine Sinclair | Special Guest Star |
| 1995 | Annie: A Royal Adventure! | Lady Edwina Hogbottom | TV Movie |
| 1995 | Hart to Hart: Two Harts in 3/4 Time | Lady Camilla | TV Movie |
| 1996 | The Nanny | Joan Sheffield | Episode: "Me and Mrs. Joan" |
| 1997 | Pacific Palisades | Christina Hobson | 7 episodes |
| 1998 | Sweet Deception | Arianna | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Will & Grace | Helena Barnes | Episode: "My Best Friend's Tush" |
| 2001 | These Old Broads | Addie Holden | TV Movie |
| 2002 | Guiding Light | Alexandra 'Alex' Spaulding von Halkein Thorpe | Special guest star |
| 2005 | Slavery and the Making of America | Reenactor | Episode: "Seeds of Destruction" |
| 2006 | Hotel Babylon | Lady Imogen Patton | Episode: "1.7" |
| 2006 | Footballers' Wives | Eva De Wolffe | Episodes: "5.5" and "5.6" |
| 2009 | Agatha Christie Marple: They Do It with Mirrors | Ruth Van Rydock | TV Movie |
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement | Bunny Dunbar | Episode: "Les-bro" |
| 2012–2013 | Happily Divorced | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | Benidorm | Crystal Hennessy-Vass | Recurring |
| 2015–present | The Royals | Alexandra, Grand Duchess of Oxford | Recurring |
| 2018 | American Horror Story | TBA | Season 8 |
Images for kids
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Collins in I Believe in You (1952)
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Joan Collins with Dynasty co-stars Stephanie Beacham and Emma Samms in London, 2009
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Collins at 2010 The Heart Truth
