“We particularly want to thank her carers: angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love. She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye. 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.”
Pauline was married to actor John Alderton, with whom she frequently appeared on stage and screen.
Actors Pauline Collins and John Alderton in character as Sarah and Thomas on the set of period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, circa 1973. Photo / Getty Images
The pair were one of Britain’s best-known acting couples, performing together in Upstairs, Downstairs and Thomas and Sarah.
They had three children – Nicholas, Kate and Richard.
Born in Devon and raised in Wallasey, Cheshire, Pauline trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama after working briefly as a teacher.
Her early television success came in the BBC sitcom The Liver Birds, before her breakthrough role in Shirley Valentine made her an international star.
The 1989 film, adapted from Willy Russell’s stage play, earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards and a Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
The film followed the life of a Liverpool housewife who rediscovers herself on a trip to Greece – a performance that became one of the defining portrayals of British cinema in the 1980s.
Pauline’s extensive career also included performances in No Sex Please, We’re British, Wodehouse Playhouse, Forever Green and The Time of Their Lives.
Her stage work spanned decades, with roles in London’s West End and regional theatre productions.
She continued acting well into later life, appearing in film and television projects including Albert Nobbs, The Royale Family and The Last Detective.
Pauline is survived by her husband John, their children and grandchildren.