Pauline Collins, who has passed away at 85, will forever be linked with the spirited, life-affirming character of Shirley Valentine. The 1989 film adaptation of Willy Russell’s celebrated stage play provided the actor with a role that perfectly harnessed her unique blend of warmth, wit, and intelligence, creating a cinematic landmark for mature female-led stories.
Long before her big-screen breakthrough, Collins had already won over audiences on television. She became a household name on both sides of the Atlantic through the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, where she played Sarah, a spirited parlour maid. Her on-screen chemistry with co-star and real-life husband John Alderton was a hit with viewers, leading to several spin-off series.
Yet it was the transition to the lead role in Shirley Valentine that cemented her status. The film follows a Liverpool housewife, feeling trapped and invisible in her middle age, who seizes a chance for a holiday in Greece. There, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, breaking free from her mundane life and even engaging in a liberating romance with a local taverna owner, played by Tom Conti.
A key part of the film’s charm was its direct address to the audience. Collins’s Shirley frequently broke the fourth wall to share her wry, unfiltered observations, creating an intimate bond with viewers. Her cheeky asides, particularly about love and life, resonated deeply and drew laughter from cinemas nationwide.
While Collins maintained a vibrant presence on stage and television in the following decades—with notable appearances in series like Doctor Who—the film industry seldom offered her another part of such substance. She appeared in a number of later-life ensemble pieces, but these roles rarely matched the complexity and star power she commanded as Shirley Valentine.
Ultimately, Shirley Valentine stands as a high point, not just in Pauline Collins’s filmography, but in cinema itself. It presented a joyful, unapologetic story about a woman reclaiming her identity, a role Collins embraced with style, humour, and profound humanity.
