Collins will always be remembered for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley Valentine in Lewis Gilbert's award winning 1989 film of the same name.

Her critically acclaimed performance won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, the Bafta Award and an Academy Award nomination.

In 1988, Collins first played the title role of Shirley Valentine at the Vaudeville Theatre in London. She won that year's Olivier Award for Best Actress.

The following year she opened in New York at the Booth Theatre with a repeat performance for Shirley Valentine.

She was awarded the Theatre World Award, The Drama Desk Award, The Outer Critics Circle Award, The Drama League Award and a Tony Award, for Best Actress.

Long career

In 1991, Collins co-starred with Patrick Swayze in Roland Joffe's City of Joy, filmed in Calcutta. The film brought Collins further international acclaim and worldwide recognition.

The actress's career stretches back over 40 years with performances in some of Britain's most loved television programmes.

Born in Exmouth in 1940, she was raised near Liverpool and started out as a teacher.

Her love of the stage led her to take up acting on a part-time basis, and in 1957 she had a cameo role as a nurse in the Emergency Ward 10 TV series.