Joan Collins facts for kids

Joan Collins
Joan Collins ; OBE
	Joan Collins in 2010
Born	23 May 1933 (age 86); Paddington, London, England, UK
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

Joan Collins 1956

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.

Joan Collins

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.

Joan Collins - Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2012

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

Ivana Trump wearing Lloyd Klein with Joan Collins

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.

Ben Gazzara as Paul Bryan and Joan Collins from the television program Run For Your Life

Joan Collins Farley Granger, The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing 1956

Joan Collins Drive Hard, Drive Fast 1973

Joan Collins and Ray Milland The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing 1956

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 Bitch	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

Collins in I Believe in You (1952)
Joan Collins with Dynasty co-stars Stephanie Beacham and Emma Samms in London, 2009
Collins at 2010 The Heart Truth