Pauline Collins

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Pauline Angela Collins (3 September 1940 – 5 November 2025) was a British actress who first rose to fame portraying Sarah Moffat in Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1973) and its spin-off Thomas & Sarah (1979). In 1992, she published her autobiography, Letter to Louise.

Collins played the title role in the play Shirley Valentine for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She reprised the role in the 1989 film adaptation of the play, winning a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, an Evening Standard British Film Award, and nominations for both an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for the Best Performance by an Actress - Motion Picture. Collins also starred in the television dramas Forever Green (1989–1992) and The Ambassador (1998–1999). Her other film appearances include City of Joy (1992) and Paradise Road (1997).

Early life and career

Pauline Angela Collins was born on 3 September 1940 in Exmouth, Devon,<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref> the daughter of Mary Honora (née Callanan), a schoolteacher, and William Henry Collins, a school headmaster.<ref name="filmref">Template:Cite web</ref> She was of Irish extraction, and was brought up as a Catholic in Wallasey, Cheshire.<ref>Pauline, Collins. (28 March 1999). "Pauline Collins – My secret for a good marriage? Give", Interviewed by Sharon Feinstein, Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 13 May 2010. "But I was very worried about taking it on because I'm not Jewish. I'm a Liverpool Irish Catholic and this role was such a responsibility because it involved a huge and emotive part of the history of the Jewish race."</ref> Her great-uncle was the Irish poet Jeremiah Joseph Callanan.<ref name="telegraph"/>

Collins was educated at Sacred Heart High School in London and later studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama also in London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Before turning to acting, she worked as a teacher until 1962. She made her stage debut in A Gazelle in Park Lane in 1962 in Windsor, Berkshire,<ref name=":1" /> and her West End debut in Passion Flower Hotel in 1965. During the play's run, she made her first film, Secrets of a Windmill Girl, released in 1966. More stage roles followed.<ref name="telegraph" />

Collins played Samantha Briggs in the 1967 Doctor Who serial The Faceless Ones and was offered the chance to continue in the series as a new companion for the Doctor, but declined the role.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Collins's other early television credits include the UK's first medical soap, Emergency Ward 10 (1960), and the pilot episode and first series of The Liver Birds, both in 1969.<ref name=":1" />

Collins first became well known for her role as the maid Sarah Moffat in the 1970s drama series Upstairs, Downstairs.<ref name=":1" /> The character appeared regularly throughout the first two series, the second of which starred her actor husband John Alderton, with whom she later starred in the spin-off Thomas & Sarah (1979),<ref name=":1" /> the sitcom No, Honestly and a series of short-story adaptations titled Wodehouse Playhouse (1975–1976).<ref name=":1" /> She co-narrated the animated British children's television series Little Miss with Alderton in 1983.<ref name=":1" />

In connection with her role on Upstairs, Downstairs, Collins recorded the 1973 single "What Are We Going to Do with Uncle Arthur?" (performed by her character several times during the series) backed with "With Every Passing Day" (a vocal version of the show's theme).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She was a subject of the television programme This Is Your Life in April 1972 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shirley Valentine and later years

In 1988, Collins starred in the one-woman play Shirley Valentine in London, reprising the role on Broadway in 1989 and in the 1989 film version.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The film won a number of awards and nominations; Collins was nominated for both an Oscar as Best Actress,<ref name=":4" /> as well as for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.<ref name=":5" /> Both the play and the feature film used the technique known as breaking the fourth wall as the character Shirley Valentine directly addresses the audience throughout the story.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After Shirley Valentine, Collins starred with her husband in the popular ITV drama series Forever Green.<ref name=":4" />

Collins was voted sexiest woman in Britain in 1990.<ref name="telegraph" />

Collins's film credits included 1992's City of Joy, 1995's Template:Ill, 1997's Paradise Road, and 2002's Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War, which also featured Alderton. In 1999 and 2000, Collins starred as Harriet Smith in the BBC television drama Ambassador. Her other later television career credits include The Saint, The Wednesday Play, Armchair Theatre, Play for Today, Tales of the Unexpected, Country Matters, and The Black Tower.

In 2002, she appeared in Man and Boy, a television adaptation based on Tony Parsons' bestselling novel. In 2005, she appeared as Miss Flite in the BBC production of Charles Dickens's Bleak House.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2006, she became the third actor to have been in both the original and new series of Doctor Who, appearing in the episode "Tooth and Claw" as Queen Victoria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later in 2006, she appeared in Extinct, a programme where eight celebrities campaigned on behalf of an animal to save it from extinction.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In December 2007, she appeared as the fairy godmother in the pantomime Cinderella at the Old Vic in London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, she was cast as part of the comedy-drama Mount Pleasant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In late 2015, she appeared as Mrs Gamp in the BBC TV series Dickensian.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

Collins was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 Birthday Honours for services to drama.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and death

Collins married actor John Alderton in 1969; they and their three children lived in Hampstead, London.<ref name="filmref" /> With actor Tony Rohr, Collins had a daughter, Louise, whom she placed for adoption in 1964. She and Louise were reunited 21 years later.<ref name="The Guardian">Template:Cite news</ref> Collins's book, Letter to Louise, documents these events.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Later in life, Collins was afflicted with Parkinson's disease. She died on 5 November 2025 at a care home in Highgate, London, aged 85.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1966 Secrets of a Windmill Girl Pat Lord <ref name=":3" />
1989 Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw <ref name=":1" />
1992 City of Joy Joan Bethel <ref name=":1" />
1995 My Mother's Courage Elsa Tabori <ref name=":1" />
1997 Paradise Road Daisy 'Margaret' Drummond <ref name=":1" />
2000 One Life Stand Karaoke Crowd
2002 Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War Thelma Caldicot <ref name=":1" />
2009 From Time to Time Mrs. Tweedie <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Cristal <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2011 Albert Nobbs Margaret 'Madge' Baker <ref name=":1" />
2012 Quartet Cissy Robson <ref name=":1" />
2015 Dough Joanna <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2017 The Time of Their Lives Priscilla <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Byrd and the Bees Beatrice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1957 Emergency – Ward 10 Nurse Elliott 1 episode<ref name=":3" />
1966 The Marriage Lines Jean Episode: "Big Business"
Pardon the Expression Miss Wainwright / Val 3 episodes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Saint Marie-Therese Episode: "The Better Mousetrap"<ref name=":2" />
Blackmail Freida Straker Episode: "Please Do Not Disturb"
1967 The Avengers Miss Peadbody (voice, uncredited)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Episode: "Dead Man's Treasure"
Doctor Who Samantha Briggs Serial: "The Faceless Ones"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1968 Armchair Theatre Betty / Mary Murtagh 2 episodes<ref name=":2" />
1969 The Old Campaigner Winnie Haldane Episode: "French Farce"
Comedy Playhouse Dawn / Marjorie 2 episodes
The Liver Birds Dawn 5 episodes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1972 Country Matters Ruby Episode: "Crippled Bloom"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1971–1973 Upstairs, Downstairs Sarah Moffat 13 episodes<ref name=":6" />
1974 No, Honestly Clara Burrell-Danby 13 episodes<ref name="The Guardian" />
1975 BBC Play of the Month Lady Teazle Episode: "The School for Scandal"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1975–1976 Wodehouse Playhouse various characters 13 episodes<ref name=":1" />
1979 Thomas & Sarah Sarah Moffat
Play for Today Eileen Episode: "Long Distance Information"<ref name=":2" />
1980 Tales of the Unexpected Pat Lewis Episode: "A Girl Can't Always Have Everything"<ref name=":2" />
1984 Knockback Sylvia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> TV movie
1985 The Black Tower Maggie Hewson 5 episodes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1988 Tales of the Unexpected Eve Peregrine Episode: "The Colonel's Lady"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1989–1992 Forever Green Harriet Boult 18 episodes<ref name=":6" />
1996 Flowers of the Forest Aileen Matthews TV movie<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1998–1999 The Ambassador Harriet Smith 13 Episodes<ref name=":6" />
2000 Little Grey Rabbit TV series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2002 Man and Boy Betty Silver TV movie<ref name=":6" />
2003 Sparkling Cyanide Dr. Catherine Kendall
2005 Bleak House Miss Flite 10 episodes<ref name=":6" />
2006 Doctor Who Queen Victoria Episode: "Tooth and Claw"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
What We Did on Our Holiday Lil Taylor TV movie<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Thyrza Grey Episode: "The Pale Horse"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Merlin Alice Episode: "Love in the Time of Dragons"<ref name=":6" />
2011–2012 Mount Pleasant Sue 14 episodes<ref name=":6" />
2015–2016 Dickensian Mrs Gamp 20 episodes<ref name=":6" />

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1962 A Gazelle in Park Lane Sabiha, an Arab maid-servant Theatre Royal, Windsor<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref>
1965-1966 Passion Flower Hotel Lady Janet Wigton Prince of Wales Theatre<ref name=":7" />
1968 The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Cardew Theatre Royal, Haymarket <ref name=":7" />
1969 The Night I Chased the Women with an Eel Brenda Cooper Comedy Theatre, London, Chester Gateway Theatre, and other locations<ref name=":7" />
1970 The Happy Apple Nancy Gray Apollo Theatre, Theatre Royal, Brighton, and other locations<ref name=":7" />
Come As You Are New Theatre, London and Strand Theatre, London <ref name=":7" />
1974 Judies Judy Comedy Theatre<ref name=":7" />
1975 Engaged Minnie Symperson The Old Vic, London<ref name=":7" />
1975–1976 Confusions Theatre Royal, Bath<ref name=":7" />
1976–1977 Lucy / Paula / Polly / Milly / Beryl Apollo Theatre<ref name=":7" />
1980–1981 Rattle of a Simple Man Cyrenne Savoy Theatre, Theatre Royal, Windsor, and other locations<ref name=":7" />
1983 Romantic Comedy Phoebe Craddock Apollo Theatre<ref name=":7" />
1986–1987 Woman in Mind Susan (replacement) Vaudeville Theatre and Richmond Theatre <ref name=":7" />
1988-89 Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine Vaudeville Theatre
Booth Theatre<ref name=":7" />
1992 Shades Pearl Albery Theatre, Richmond Theatre, London, and other locations<ref name=":7" />
2007–2008 Cinderella Fairy Godmother The Old Vic, London<ref name=":7" />

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Nominated works Results Ref.
1973 British Academy Television Awards Best Actress Upstairs, Downstairs / Country Matters / Crippled Bloom Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1976 Laurence Olivier Awards Actress of the Year in a New Play Engaged Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1987 CableACE Awards Best Actress in a Theatrical or Dramatic Special Knockback Template:Nom <ref name=":6" />
1988 Laurence Olivier Awards Actress of the Year in a New Play Shirley Valentine Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1989 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Template:Won <ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Award Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Play Template:Won <ref name=":0" />
Theatre World Award Best Actress Template:Won <ref name=":0" />
Golden Apple Award Female Discovery Of The Year Template:Won <ref name=":6" />
Tony Awards Best Actress in a Play Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1990 Academy Awards Best Actress Shirley Valentine Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress Template:Won <ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Template:Nom <ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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