She died peacefully in her London care home, surrounded by her family, having had Parkinson’s disease for several years, her family said.
Collins was born on September 3, 1940 in Exmouth, Devon.
She is best remembered for her Oscar-nominated role portraying disgruntled housewife Shirley in Lewis Gilbert’s award-winning film in 1989.
It was based on the acclaimed stage play by Willy Russell.
Her critically acclaimed performance also won her the Golden Globe Award for best actress, along with a Bafta.
RIP Pauline Collins.
She was magnificent in Upstairs Downstairs as the fiesty yet vulnerable Sarah, done wrong by that Master James and tragically losing her baby on the night the King came for dinner. Wonderful memories…💔 pic.twitter.com/BD2LKINhV6— Marjorie Minge Superstar (@MingeyMarje) November 6, 2025
Collins rose to prominence with early career roles as a maid in the British drama Upstairs, Downstairs.
The character appeared regularly throughout the first two series of the drama.
Collins was born on the first anniversary of Britain’s entry into the Second World War. Her mother was a schoolteacher called Mary Honora while her father was a headmaster named William Henry Collins.
She grew up near Liverpool, later moving to London. Although she would later become best known for playing working-class characters as a youth she was sometimes teased for having a “posh” accent.
Collins was nominated for the Oscar as Best Actress for her role in Shirley Valentine and took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
The play and the movie famously broke the fourth wall with the character Shirley Valentine directly addressing the audience throughout the story.
Collins married actor John Alderton in 1969 and lived out her life in Hampstead, London with her husband.
She is survived by the pairs three children Nicholas, Kate, and Richard.
She also has an older daughter, Louise, with actor Tony Rohr. Collins but made the “heart-breaking” decision to give Louise up for adoption in 1964.
They were reunited when Louise was 21 years old with Collins penning a book, Letter To Louise, documenting the saga.
Author Martin Knight posted on X: “R. I.P. Pauline Collins. Talented actress with integrity who I remember best in Upstairs Downstairs & Shirley Valentine. Long time married to Please Sir! actor John Alderton. She died from Parkinson’s related complications, aged 85.”
