Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Dame Joan Henrietta Collins, DBEis an English actress, author and columnist. Born in Paddington, west London, and brought up in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. After making her stage debut in A Doll's House at the age of nine, she trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Artin London. She then signed an exclusive contract with the Rank Organisation and appeared in various British films...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActress
Date of Birth23 May 1933
CountryUnited States of America
I have to say that those nine years were full of turmoil and drama and trauma to me, in actual fact.
I mean, I'm a war baby, and we had rationing, and we didn't have sugar and sweets, which is very good for you in actual fact. Because when we had a piece of fruit, we'd gulp it down. It was just great.
In fact, the 20th century I think was the most fascinating century and the whole of man civilization because so much happened.
It's just something that I like, and I also don't buy into the ageism theory.
Most of the time we've been living in England and now we've bought an apartment in New York which we absolutely love.
No, that's what I think God does to you. He gives you some great gig in which you make a whole heap of money, and you're just on top of the world and on every magazine cover, but your personal life is miserable. And for most of that time, I have to say, my personal life was pretty miserable.
Well, it is quite daunting, but I made my first appearance on the stage when I was nine, because I went to a theatrical school, because I wanted to be an actress since I was eight.
Yes, I remember the bombings. Yes, I remember, because - yes, I remember being in air raid shelters. Even though I was evacuated because I was very young, I remember being in air raid shelters and the tremendous feeling of compatibility with everybody.
If I need to cheer myself up, I will put on some fabulous '40s musical on video. But I'm very lucky; I seldom get depressed. Without question, I'm a 'glass half full' person. In fact, it's three-quarters full!
I received an OBE from the Queen, which probably doesn't mean anything in America but is quite nice in England - the Order of the British Empire for services to drama.
I have a lot of male friends that I go the cinema with and movie and shopping. A lot of men friends I know love shopping.
I'm a fiend for costume jewellery and have countless pairs of rhinestone or diamante earrings, which are so flattering when they catch the light. I love the designers Alexis Bittar and Kenneth Jay Lane, and I always go to jewellers Butler & Wilson.
I was voted the most beautiful girl in the world in 1958, and courted by every young, available man in Los Angeles, most of whom I didn't go out with, by the way.
Isn't three quarters of life a guilty pleasure?