01of 27Joan Collins' ChildhoodJoan Collins/InstagramBorn Joan Marie Collins on May 23, 1933, the actress was the eldest of three children born to talent agent Joseph Collins and dance teacher Elsa Collins. She’s pictured here with her younger sister Jackie, born in 1937, who grew up to be a renowned romance novelist.
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Joan Collins' Childhood
Joan Collins/Instagram
Born Joan Marie Collins on May 23, 1933, the actress was the eldest of three children born to talent agent Joseph Collins and dance teacher Elsa Collins. She’s pictured here with her younger sister Jackie, born in 1937, who grew up to be a renowned romance novelist.
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Joan Collins During World War II
During World War II, the family lost their home in Maida Vale, London, to air raid bombs. Shehas recalled her experience staying in the London Underground during the bombings, as well as being evacuated with her sister to safer locations.
03of 27Joan Collins Growing UpJoan Collins/InstagramIn 2021, the actress paid tribute to her mother with a vintage photo of their family. Brother Bill arrived in 1945.
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Joan Collins Growing Up
In 2021, the actress paid tribute to her mother with a vintage photo of their family. Brother Bill arrived in 1945.
04of 27Joan Collins' Early CareerGettyIn her teens, the actress trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, before being signed at age 17 to a film studio. (She’s seen here at 21 while on a trip to Rome with sister Jackie.)
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Joan Collins' Early Career
Getty
In her teens, the actress trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, before being signed at age 17 to a film studio. (She’s seen here at 21 while on a trip to Rome with sister Jackie.)
05of 27Joan Collins' First HusbandEvening Standard/GettyIn 1952, the star wed actor Maxwell Reed. The two divorced in 1956 and had no children together.
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Joan Collins' First Husband
Evening Standard/Getty
In 1952, the star wed actor Maxwell Reed. The two divorced in 1956 and had no children together.
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Joan Collins' Big Break
07of 27Joan Collins in ‘The Land of the Pharoahs’GettyHer 1954 turn in this Egyptian-themed drama caught the eye of then-20th Century Fox chief Daryl Zanuck, who offered her a Hollywood contract.
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Joan Collins in ‘The Land of the Pharoahs’
Her 1954 turn in this Egyptian-themed drama caught the eye of then-20th Century Fox chief Daryl Zanuck, who offered her a Hollywood contract.
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Joan Collins’ Engagement to Warren Beatty
Anthony Wallace/Daily Mail/REX Shutterstock
Once a single Collins arrived in Hollywood, she dated several men before starting a passionate romance with Beatty, who was then relatively unknown. She became pregnant during their relationship, andhas said in recent years she has “no regrets” about having an abortion, as it would have meant “the death of [her] career.”
09of 27Joan Collins' Second HusbandExpress/GettyIn 1963, Collins wed actor and singer Anthony Newley, and later that year they welcomed daughter Tara.
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Joan Collins' Second Husband
Express/Getty
In 1963, Collins wed actor and singer Anthony Newley, and later that year they welcomed daughter Tara.
10of 27Joan and Jackie Collins in 1966Reg Burkett/Express/Hulton Archive/GettyThe two sisters were best friends and incomparably glamorous, as seen in this oh-so-1960s shot.
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Joan and Jackie Collins in 1966
Reg Burkett/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty
The two sisters were best friends and incomparably glamorous, as seen in this oh-so-1960s shot.
11of 27Joan Collins' ChildrenSTILLS/Gamma-Rapho via GettyCollins and Newley also had a son, Alexander, in 1965, before they eventually split up in 1971.
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Joan Collins' Children
STILLS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty
Collins and Newley also had a son, Alexander, in 1965, before they eventually split up in 1971.
12of 27Joan Collins' Third HusbandBertrand Rindoff Petroff/GettyThe actress wed businessman Ron Kass in 1972; the couple (seen here dancing in Marbella, Spain in 1981) were together for more than a decade before divorcing in 1983.
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Joan Collins' Third Husband
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty
The actress wed businessman Ron Kass in 1972; the couple (seen here dancing in Marbella, Spain in 1981) were together for more than a decade before divorcing in 1983.
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Joan Collins' Three Children
Gamma-Rapho via Getty
The actress welcomed her third child, daughter Katy, with Kass in 1972.
14of 27Joan Collins in ‘The Stud’Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/GettyCollins got the chance to work with her sister in the 1978 film adaptation of Jackie’s novel. It was a hit, and so was the autobiography she published the same year,Past Imperfect.(She would go on to publish 16 books in total.)
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Joan Collins in ‘The Stud’
Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty
Collins got the chance to work with her sister in the 1978 film adaptation of Jackie’s novel. It was a hit, and so was the autobiography she published the same year,Past Imperfect.(She would go on to publish 16 books in total.)
15of 27Joan Collins’ Fourth HusbandEddie Sanderson/GettyIn 1985, the star tied the knot with singer Peter Holm at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Their split in 1987 was acrimonious, and she said she wouldn’t marry again.
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Joan Collins' Fourth Husband
Eddie Sanderson/Getty
In 1985, the star tied the knot with singer Peter Holm at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Their split in 1987 was acrimonious, and she said she wouldn’t marry again.
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Joan Collins' ‘Dynasty’ Reign
17of 27Joan Collins and Linda Evans on ‘Dynasty’Walt Disney Television via GettyThough Collins’ character had many relationships with various men onDynasty,it was her ongoing feud (including this famous pond fight) with Linda Evans' Krystle Carrington that was the true defining relationship of the show. “I did my own stunts, and it was rough,” Collins told PEOPLE.
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Joan Collins and Linda Evans on ‘Dynasty’
Walt Disney Television via Getty
Though Collins' character had many relationships with various men onDynasty,it was her ongoing feud (including this famous pond fight) with Linda Evans' Krystle Carrington that was the true defining relationship of the show. “I did my own stunts, and it was rough,” Collins told PEOPLE.
18of 27Joan Collins Wins a Golden GlobeRon Galella Collection via GettyThe star was nominated six times for a Golden Globe for her work onDynasty, and she took home a statue in 1983. She also received a Primetime Emmy nomination and won severalSoap Opera Digestawards, including for Outstanding Villainess.
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Joan Collins Wins a Golden Globe
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The star was nominated six times for a Golden Globe for her work onDynasty, and she took home a statue in 1983. She also received a Primetime Emmy nomination and won severalSoap Opera Digestawards, including for Outstanding Villainess.
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Joan Collins Gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1983, the actress donned some majorly glam accessories to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
20of 27Joan Collins Meets Princess DianaAlphaThe actressrecalled her relationship to the late royal to PEOPLE, saying that she was “exquisite” at their first meeting (pictured) in 1985, and they went on to have a friendly acquaintance. “I met her five or six more times after that, and she was always exceedingly charming, very down-to-earth, very real, not at all stuffy,” Collins said. “She was very natural and unaffected.”
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Joan Collins Meets Princess Diana
Alpha
The actressrecalled her relationship to the late royal to PEOPLE, saying that she was “exquisite” at their first meeting (pictured) in 1985, and they went on to have a friendly acquaintance. “I met her five or six more times after that, and she was always exceedingly charming, very down-to-earth, very real, not at all stuffy,” Collins said. “She was very natural and unaffected.”
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Joan Collins' 1980s Glamour
Dennis Stone/Shutterstock
22of 27Joan Collins' Fifth Husband"I kissed a lot of frogs before I found my prince," Collins told PEOPLE of her fifth husband, Percy Gibson, whom she wed in 2002. “He’s my rock.“Gibson is 32 years her junior, but Collins scoffs at anyone who might raise an eyebrow abouttheir “just a number” age gap.“He’s the best, I can’t imagine life without him,“she told theSunday Times.“He’s the rock that holds our family together. Thank God I married somebody 30 years younger than me. I couldn’t bear to be married to someone my own age.”
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Joan Collins' Fifth Husband
“I kissed a lot of frogs before I found my prince,” Collins told PEOPLE of her fifth husband, Percy Gibson, whom she wed in 2002. “He’s my rock.”
Gibson is 32 years her junior, but Collins scoffs at anyone who might raise an eyebrow abouttheir “just a number” age gap.“He’s the best, I can’t imagine life without him,“she told theSunday Times.“He’s the rock that holds our family together. Thank God I married somebody 30 years younger than me. I couldn’t bear to be married to someone my own age.”
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ADAM BUTLER/POOL/AFP via Getty
In 1997, Collins was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her services to England in the arts.
24of 27Joan Collins at the Met GalaKevin Tachman/MG19/GettyThe star’s commitment to over-the-top elegance remains — we’d be surprised if she even owned a pair of sweatpants! Here, she’s seen in marabou and diamonds at the 2019 Met Gala, alongside model Cara Delevingne (who happens to be one of Collins' 13 godchildren!).And, fittingly for a Met Gala whose theme was “Notes on Camp,“the actress channeled her extremely campyDynastycharacter in a video for Valentino, who created her gown.
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Joan Collins at the Met Gala
Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty
The star’s commitment to over-the-top elegance remains — we’d be surprised if she even owned a pair of sweatpants! Here, she’s seen in marabou and diamonds at the 2019 Met Gala, alongside model Cara Delevingne (who happens to be one of Collins' 13 godchildren!).
And, fittingly for a Met Gala whose theme was “Notes on Camp,“the actress channeled her extremely campyDynastycharacter in a video for Valentino, who created her gown.
25of 27Joan Collins in ‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’FXThe star (seen here in the 2018 Ryan Murphy production) relishes the fact that she hasn’t slowed down well into her 80s.“Well, I am proud of having survived seven decades in a cut-throat industry. I don’t think many actresses have,“she told theIrish Times.
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Joan Collins in ‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’
FX
The star (seen here in the 2018 Ryan Murphy production) relishes the fact that she hasn’t slowed down well into her 80s.
“Well, I am proud of having survived seven decades in a cut-throat industry. I don’t think many actresses have,“she told theIrish Times.
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Joan Collins Becomes a Dame
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Zuma
27of 27Joan Collins in 2024Kevin Mazur/GettyThe star (seen here at the 2023 Emmys in January 2024) turned 90 in May 2023 and shows no signs of slowing down.
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Joan Collins in 2024
Kevin Mazur/Getty
The star (seen here at the 2023 Emmys in January 2024) turned 90 in May 2023 and shows no signs of slowing down.
source: people.com
