đź”— Share this article The Renowned Actress Pauline Collins, Lead Actress of Shirley Valentine, Dies at the Age of 85 Pauline Collins, best known for her role in the film Shirley Valentine, has passed away at the eighty-five years old. Her passing was peaceful in her London care home, surrounded by her loved ones after battling Parkinson's for a number of years, as stated by her family. Her legacy will be defined for her portrayal of unhappy homemaker Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's acclaimed motion picture, based on the acclaimed theatrical production by playwright Willy Russell. Her critically acclaimed performance also earned her the Golden Globe Award for outstanding actress as well as a BAFTA award. 'Witty Presence' She appeared with her husband John Alderton in Upstairs Downstairs, featured between 1971 to 1973 Her relatives said in a statement: "She was a multifaceted person to so many people, portraying diverse characters in her career. An intelligent, lively, and humorous figure on stage and screen. Her distinguished work saw her portray leaders, parents, and royalty." "Her memory will endure as the legendary, determined, lively, and insightful Shirley Valentine - a part she completely owned. We were familiar with all those aspects of her personality because her charm was embedded in every single role." The statement continued she was their "devoted mother, our wonderful grandma and great-grandmother", and actor John Alderton's "eternal partner" "Kind, humorous, giving, considerate, intelligent, she was constantly supportive," they said, thanking her caregivers, who cared for her with "dignity, compassion, and most of all love" "She could not have had a calmer departure. 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" Broadway Role Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in the UK capital in 1988. She received that year's Olivier Award for best actress. A year later she reprised the role on the New York stage, where she earned several awards including a esteemed Tony Award. The movie adaptation was launched shortly after. Her other films included the 1991 film City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, shot in Kolkata, which gained her international fame globally. A native of Exmouth in 1940, Collins was raised near the city of Liverpool and started out her career as a educator. Her love of the stage inspired her to pursue acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she appeared briefly as a nurse in the Emergency Ward 10. She starred in the film Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, portraying an imaginary performer in a London striptease nightclub, the Windmill Theater. After a number of stage roles, she employed her regional dialect to land a role on The Liver Birds. It was through acting that she encountered her spouse John Alderton. They wed in 1969 and had three children, Nicholas, Kate, and Richard. The couple performed alongside each other in a number of television and film roles, such as Upstairs, Downstairs, in which she portrayed a servant in the acclaimed ITV program.