Joan Collins

Studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, England.

As of May 2000, her daughter Tara Newley is a singer and news anchor in England. Son Alexander Newley is an artist. Daughter Katyana Kass is an actress and a theatrical production assistant.

Older sister of Jackie Collins.

Two of her childhood wishes came true when she made her debut on Broadway (wish #1) in 1991 in Nol Coward s "Private Lives" and starred as Amanda (wish #2).

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 United States per her own biography.

Had affairs with Dennis Hopper , Arthur M. Loew Jr. , Sydney Chaplin , Ryan ONeal 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.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 Queens New Years Honours List for her services to drama.

Pulled in a reported $120,000 per episode as Alexis Carrington Colby on "Dynasty" .

Met her fifth husband, theatre manager Percy Gibson , when she appeared in a touring production of the play "Love Letters" in the United States. Gibson helped edit her new novel, "Star Quality". She was 68 and he was 36.

Children: Tara Newley (born October 12, 1963) and Alexander Newley (born November 8, 1965) by Anthony Newley ; Katyana Kass (born Kennedy "Katy" Kass, born June 20, 1972) by Ronald S. Kass.

Became a grandmother on October 5, 1998. However, being Joan, she refuses to be called "Grandma"; Miel Celeste Adam calls her "DoDo" instead.

Acting protge and longtime friends with John Forsythe.

Brother William Collins Jr. is a real estate agent.

Lived with art dealer Robin Hurlestone for 13 years.

Is the eldest of three children of Joseph William and Elsa Collins.

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" , Edith Keeler.

Has three grandchildren: Miel and Weston by daughter Tara Newley , and Ava Grace Newley (born July 2004), by son Alexander Newley and daughter-in-law Angela Tassoni.

Refused to return to work on "Dynasty" at the beginning of the 1985-86 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 seasons 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 could not afford to pay her every week.

Separated permanently with first husband Maxwell Reed on her 21st birthday.

Best known by the public for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby on "Dynasty" .

She is allergic to shellfish.

In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Dhia Cristiani , except Land of the Pharaohs and Sea Wife where she was dubbed by Clelia Bernacchi and Lydia Simoneschi respectively.

Her father was born in South Africa, to a Jewish family (some of whom had come from the Netherlands and Germany). Her mother was English, and had French ancestry.

Has been good friends with Dame Shirley Bassey for many years. Shirley sang at her wedding to Percy Gibson.

At age 16, she was courted by 19-year-old Larry Hagman. He had to be very respectful and report to her father.

Former stepmother of Robert Kass.

She is one of only five actors to have played "Special Guest Villains" on "Batman" who are still alive, the others being Julie Newmar , John Astin , Glynis Johns and Barbara Rush.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 14, 1983.

Had often feuded with Charlotte Rae.

Replaced Marilyn Monroe in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing . Marilyn was considered too old at 30 when the girl was supposed to be 17.

Her sister, author Jackie Collins , passed away on September 19, 2015, only two weeks from what would have been her 78th birthday on October 4.

She was awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2015 Queens New Year Honours List for her services to charity. She is a philanthropist and a charity campaigner.

Godmother of supermodel-actress Cara Delevingne.

She was the fourth choice to play the role of Alexis Carrington on "Dynasty" . The other contenders were Sophia Loren , Elizabeth Taylor and Jessica Walter.

Was one of a number of actresses, including Joanne Woodward, who did a screen test for the title role of Cleopatra.

Mother of Gemma Collins.

[1984] I enjoyed being an adulteress. . . taking a certain vengeance for,the fact that my husband was not being faithful.

The unfortunate statistics are that there are far more available and,fabulous over-40 women than there are available and fabulous over-40,men.

The secret of having a personal life is not answering too many questions,about it.

I have always tried to live my life with enthusiasm and pleasure.

After a certain age, you get the face you deserve.

[1995] I was thinking, who of the English actresses in the last 30 or 40,years have achieved as much as I have?,Age, in my opinion, has no bearing at all, that is unless, of course,one happens to be a bottle of wine.

"Dynasty" (1981) was the opportunity to take charge of my career,rather than walking around like a library book waiting to be loaned,out.

[on her experience of a real life haunting in Venice, Italy] There is no,way I am staying another night in this palazzo.

He had those same qualities of shyness, uncertainty and insecurity.

Show me a person who has never made a mistake and Ell show you somebody who has never achieved much.

Life is not life unless you make mistakes.

I am a fan of marriage and a fan of being committed to the right person.

Having had five husbands, I guess I should know a thing or two about marriage.

The sad truth is that most of my husbands turned out to be convincing liars.