Here is the biography of Joan Collins:
Joan Collins is an English actress born in Paddington, London. She is most famous for her iconic role as vengeful schemer Alexis Carrington Colby in the soap opera "Dynasty" from 1981 to 1989. Collins was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997 for her services to drama, and later promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2015 for her services to charity.
Collins was the daughter of talent agent Joseph William Collins and his wife, dance teacher Elsa Bessant. Her father was born in South Africa and was of Jewish descent, while her mother was born in the United Kingdom to an Anglican family.
Collins was educated at Francis Holland School in London and made her theatrical debut as a child actress in 1942. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and signed a contract with the Rank Organisation in 1950.
Collins made her film debut in 1951 and quickly gained recognition for her roles in films such as "Land of the Pharaohs" (1955),"The Virgin Queen" (1955),and "Island in the Sun" (1957). She became one of 20th Century Fox's biggest stars, but left the studio in 1960 due to a contract dispute.
In the 1960s, Collins appeared frequently on television, including guest roles in "Batman" and "Star Trek: The Original Series". She returned to the UK in 1970 and appeared in a number of British films, including "Revenge" (1971) and "I Don't Want to Be Born" (1975).
Collins' career experienced a resurgence in the 1970s with the erotic drama "The Stud" (1978) and its sequel "The Bitch" (1979). She then landed the iconic role of Alexis Carrington Colby in "Dynasty", which catapulted her to stardom.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Collins continued to appear in films and television shows, including "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" (2000) and "American Horror Story" (2018). She has also written several books, including her autobiography "Past Imperfect".
In recent years, Collins has appeared in a number of TV shows, including "Happily Divorced", "Benidorm", and "The Royals". She has also continued to tour with her one-woman show "An Evening with Joan Collins" and its sequel "Joan Collins Unscripted".
At 90 years old, Collins remains an active and beloved figure in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning over seven decades.
