Joan Collins - Biography

Last Editor: gaultc01				Joan Collins Biography -   Name : Joan Collins Date of birth : 23 May 1933 Place of birth : London, England, UK Birth name : Joan Henrietta Collins Height : 5' 6

Joan Collins Trivia -

Studied acting at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Daughter Tara Newley is a news anchor in England, UK. Son Alexander Newley is an artist. Daughter Katyana Kass is an actress and a theatrical production assistant. [May 2000] Sister of Jackie Collins. Two of her childhood wishes came true when she made her debut on Broadway (wish #1) in 1991 in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and starred as Amanda (wish #2). Dates 'Robin Hurstone' , London Antiquities Dealer. Her first agent was her father Joe Collins in London. Later in her career her agent was the well-regarded Irving Paul Lazar (aka "Swifty" Lazar), until his death in 1993. Once engaged to Warren Beatty. Affectionately known as "The British Open" because of her liberal lifestyle. Great admirer of former Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher. Has described herself as "right-wing" [politically], although she once collected welfare in the U.S. per her own biography. She had affairs with Dennis Hopper, Arthur Lowe, Sydney Chaplin, Ryan O'Neal, and George Englund (Cloris Leachman's husband). Turned down Frank Sinatra, Robert F. Kennedy, Darryl F. Zanuck and Dean Martin. First husband Maxwell Reed tried to sell her to an Arab sheik for £10,000, just seven months after their wedding. Received an O.B.E. (Officer of the British Empire) Pulled in a reported $120,000 per episode as "Dynasty" (1981)'s super- bitch, Alexis. Met her fifth husband, theatre manager Percy Gibson, when Collins appeared in a touring production of the play "Love Letters" in the United States. Gibson helped edit Collins's new novel, "Star Quality". She was 68 and he was 36. Starred with Leonard Rossiter in Cinzano alcohol commercials on television. Children: Tara Cynara Newley (b. 12 October 1963) and Alexander Anthony "Sasha" Newley (b. 8 November 1965) by Anthony Newley; Katyana Kass (born Kennedy "Katy" Kass, b. 20 June 1972) by Ronald S. Kass. Became a grandmother on 5 October 1998. But Joan, being Joan, refuses to be called "Grandma"; Miel Celeste Adam calls her "DoDo" instead. Split permanently with first husband Maxwell Reed on her 21st birthday. Brother William Collins Jr. (b. 1946) is a real estate agent. Lived with art dealer Robin Hurlestone for 13 years. The eldest of three children. Measurements: 38C-23 1/2-37 (as starlet, 1960), 34B-27-35 1/2 (trimmed down mid-1960s), 36-24-35 (reported in 1980), 34D-27-36 (following reported implants in 1987) (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) The second volume of her autobiography was called "Second Act" and was released in 1996, following her successful court battle against her publisher, Random House. The company had demanded that Joan return the $2-million advance it had given her for two novels, as it claimed her submissions were "substandard". The New York judge ruled in her favor. A doll and an action figure were made in the likeness of her character on "Star Trek" (1966), Edith Keeler. Has three grandchildren: Miel and Weston by daughter Tara, and Ava Grace Newley (born July 2004), by son Sacha and daughter-in-law Angela. Refused to return to work on "Dynasty" (1981) at the beginning of the 1985-1986 season until she was given a raise, forcing the writers to write her out of the first episode of the season. It was a bold move on her part, because the previous season's cliffhanger was the infamous "Moldavian Massacre", in which all the characters were shot. It would have been very easy for the producers to fire her and eliminate the character of Alexis by having her being killed in the shootout. However, she successfully negotiated a raise to around $60,000 per episode and returned to work, missing only one episode. Only appeared in 13 of 22 episodes during the final season of "Dynasty" because the producers told her they couldn't afford to pay her every week. Is portrayed by Rachel Scobie in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV)

Joan Collins Detailed Biography -

Joan Collins is an award winning actress, best-selling author, accomplished producer, successful entrepreneur and devoted humanitarian. Prior to beginning work on The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas she produced and starred in the film The Clandestine Marriage with Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Her latest book, My Friends' Secrets, is on the best seller list in the U.K. and will be published in America in April 2000. She will co-star with George Hamilton and Stacy Keach on stage in a limited engagement of Love Letters, starting April 11. She first appeared on the London stage at the age of nine in a production of Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Arts Theatre. She went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and after just 18 months was signed to an exclusive contract by the Rank Organization where she made such films such as Our Girl Friday, I Believe in You and The Good Die Young. The Golden Globe and People's Choice Award-winning actress has starred in more than 55 films, including: Girl in a Red Velvet Swing, Rally ‘Round the Flag Boys, Sea Wife, The Bravados, The Road to Hong Kong and Virgin Queen. Recent credits include Decadence and Kenneth Branagh's In the Bleak Mid-Winter. With more than 30 televisions shows to her credit, her most memorable role was that of Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty , which became the top-rated drama throughout the world. She produced and starred in the mini-series Sins, and also produced the mini-series Monte Carlo. Recent TV credits include a Hart to Hart movie-of-the-week, ABC's family film Annie: A Royal Adventure, a guest appearance on the hit TV series The Nanny and guest starring roles in six special episodes of Pacific Palisades. She has joined the cast of Will & Grace and will make her first appearance in the May sweeps. Her first major stage role was in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; other notable roles included the lead in The Seventh Veil, Claudia & David and The Praying Mantis. Joan returned to the British stage in 1980 to play the title role in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney at the Chichester Festival Theatre and later in the West End. Her most recent stage appearance was in Noel Coward's Private Lives, which earned her outstanding reviews in the West End and on Broadway. In addition to her acting career, Joan is a prolific author. Her books include her autobiography Past Imperfect, a second autobiography Second Act, three novels Prime Time, Love, Desire & Hate, Too Damn Famous, and a non-fiction work Health, Youth and Happiness: My Secrets. Her entrepreneurial skills have resulted in the Joan Collins Eyewear Fashion Line Collection, which is the number one celebrity eyewear endorsement. Collins has been honored with the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her lifetime contributions to the arts and her continuing charity work which includes such organizations as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, the Joan Collins Wing of the Children's Hospital of Michigan, Variety clubs International and the Association of Breast Cancer Studies.