Pauline Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pauline Collins
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Collins in 2012
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| Born | 3 September 1940 Exmouth, Devon, England
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| Died | 6 November 2025 (aged 85) London, England
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| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1962–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
John Alderton
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 4 |
Pauline Angela Collins (born 3 September 1940, died 6 November 2025) was a talented British actress. She became famous for playing Sarah Moffat in the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs and its spin-off Thomas & Sarah. Later, she captivated audiences as the main character in the play and film Shirley Valentine. For this role, she won many important awards, including a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Pauline Collins also wrote a book about her life called Letter to Louise.
Contents
A Star's Journey: Pauline Collins' Early Life
Pauline Angela Collins was born on 3 September 1940 in Exmouth, Devon, England. Her mother, Mary Honora, was a schoolteacher, and her father, William Henry Collins, was a school headmaster. Pauline grew up in Wallasey, Cheshire, and was raised in the Catholic faith.
She attended Sacred Heart High School and later studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Before becoming an actress, she worked as a teacher until 1962. Her first stage performance was in A Gazelle in Park Lane in 1962. She made her debut in London's West End in the musical Passion Flower Hotel in 1965. Around this time, she also made her first film, Secrets of a Windmill Girl, released in 1966.
From Stage to Screen: Famous Roles
Pauline Collins appeared in the popular science fiction show Doctor Who in 1967, playing a character named Samantha Briggs. She was even offered a chance to stay on the show as a new companion for the Doctor, but she decided to explore other roles instead.
Her early television work also included the UK's first medical drama, Emergency Ward 10, in 1960. She also appeared in the pilot episode and first series of The Liver Birds in 1969.
Pauline became widely known for her role as the maid Sarah in the 1970s drama series Upstairs, Downstairs. Her husband, actor John Alderton, also starred in the second series. They later worked together in the spin-off show Thomas & Sarah in 1979. They also appeared in the sitcom No, Honestly and a series of short stories called Wodehouse Playhouse. In 1983, Pauline and John narrated the animated children's TV series Little Miss.
In 1973, Pauline recorded a song called "What Are We Going to Do with Uncle Arthur?" This song was performed by her character, Sarah, several times in Upstairs, Downstairs. She was also featured on the TV show This Is Your Life in April 1972.
Becoming Shirley Valentine
A major highlight of Pauline's career was starring in the one-woman play Shirley Valentine in 1988. She played the role in London, then on Broadway in 1989, and finally in the 1989 film version. The film was a huge success, earning her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She also won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her performance. In both the play and the film, her character, Shirley Valentine, talked directly to the audience. This special technique is called "breaking the fourth wall."
After Shirley Valentine, Pauline and her husband, John Alderton, starred in the popular ITV drama series Forever Green. In this show, their characters moved from the city to the countryside with their children for a new life. The series ran from 1989 to 1992.
Life Beyond the Screen
Pauline Collins appeared in many other films throughout her career. These included City of Joy (1992), Paradise Road (1997), Albert Nobbs (2011), Quartet (2012), and The Time of Their Lives (2017).
She also continued to work in television. In 1999 and 2000, she played Harriet Smith in the BBC drama The Ambassador. Other notable TV roles included Miss Flite in the 2005 BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens's Bleak House. In 2006, she played Queen Victoria in an episode of the new Doctor Who series called "Tooth and Claw". This made her one of the few actors to appear in both the original and new Doctor Who shows. Later, in 2015, she played Mrs. Gamp in the BBC TV series Dickensian.
For her outstanding contributions to drama, Pauline Collins was honored with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001.
Family and Legacy
Pauline Collins married actor John Alderton in 1969. They had three children together and lived in Hampstead, London. Pauline also wrote a book called Letter To Louise. In this book, she shared her personal story about family connections and meeting her daughter later in life.
Later in her life, Pauline suffered from Parkinson's disease. She passed away peacefully at a care home in Highgate, London, on 6 November 2025, at the age of 85. Her work on stage and screen left a lasting impact on British entertainment.
See also
In Spanish: Pauline Collins para niños
