PHOTO OF THE DAY : NEW YEARS CHEERS FROM THE QUEENS OF GLAMOUR!

This exclusive shot features Joan & Jackie backstage at The Graham Norton Show.. 

TV ALERT : THE GRAHAM NORTON NEW YEARS EVE SHOW ..BBC 1 .. 10:15 PM

Just a reminder to tune into to BBC 1 tonight at 10:15 pm to catch

Joan & Jackie on The Graham Norton New Years Eve Special..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S BINN TO LUNCH WITH JASON!

This pic from earlier this month features Joan catching up with friend Jason Binn for lunch in New York...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN IS PEACHY KEEN ON COWARD!

Joan glams it up in this shot from the 1974 tv play 'Fallen Angels' by Noel Coward. Joan played Jane Banbury opposite the late Susannah York and Sacha Distel...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN GIVES THE HEADS UP ON JULIA!

This fabulous shot by Fadil Berisha features Joan wearing the style 'Julia' from the new Joan Collins Dynasty Collection of wigs.. Check out  www.joancollinswigs.co.uk and make a new year resolution to be glamorous!

PHOTO EXTRA : JOAN'S WHIRLWIND CHRISTMAS!

Joan on Christmas Eve with Jackie and Tiffany

Joan & Rene Horsch on Boxing Day!

Joan had a most wonderful Christmas spent with family & friends. Joan spent Christmas Eve with Jackie, while Jackie entertained a cavalcade of family and friends on Christmas Day for dinner. On St Stephens Day Joan hosted a post Christmas cocktail party at her LA apartment.. Here are some wonderful shots thanks to Jackie and Rene Horsch!

Joan on Christmas Day with Jackie, Percy & friends Johnny & Jan Gold

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S A SHIMMERING START TO THE NEW YEAR!

 

As Christmas has now passed for another year and we look forward to a New Year... One of the highlights this New Years Eve is the special edition of The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 at 10:15pm which features Joan and Jackie. Here is an exclusive shot of Joan backstage wearing a fabulous new gown... 

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN SPREADS THAT HOLLYWOOD LOOK!

This shot by Sven Doornkaat was taken for a recent magazine article for Freizeit Revue, this shot was not used in published spread.

ON THE COVER FLASHBACK ... LA SEMAINE..

This wonderful cover features another glamorous shot from the Palm Springs Life Christmas shoot..

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Just to wish everyone a most fabulous Christmas and much love and luck for 2014! I promise there will be lots more to come from our most sensational Joan! As they say watch this space!!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST ALL WRAPPED UP FOR JOAN!

Joan ponders whether or not she has forgotten anyone for a gift in this festive shot.

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S GOING TO HAVE A CRACKING CHRISTMAS!

Joan intends making her point in this shot from the 1972 terror film 'Tales From The Crypt' ..

TV ALERT : THE GRAHAM NORTON NEW YEARS EVE SPECIAL .. DECEMBER 31ST .. BBC 1 ..10:15 PM (EXCEPT SCOTLAND)

Don't forget to tune into BBC 1 on New Year's Eve to catch Joan & Jackie together on The Graham Norton New Year's Eve Special. The show airs at 10:15 pm with a repeat screening on January 2nd at 12:20am.. Viewers in Scotland check listings....

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S ALL LAID BACK ABOUT CHRISTMAS!

Joan is all dressed for Christmas in this stunning shot form 1982.

PHOTO EXTRA: BRUNCH WITH JOAN FOR BIRTHDAY BOY RENE!

Joan met up with friend and stylist Rene Horsch to celebrate his birthday with brunch at the legendary Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Thanks to Rene for sharing this lovely shot!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : IT'S GONNA BE A FUR WRAPPED CHRISTMAS FOR JOAN!

Joan is all ready for Christmas in this gloriously glamorous shot from the 1982 Palm Springs Life shoot...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S FULL OF SPARKLE FOR CHRISTMAS!

Joan looks sensational on this Christmas Greeting from 1994!

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S GOT THE GIFT OF GLAMOUR!

Joan has her Christmas all wrapped up in this shot from 1982 for Palm Springs Life...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S ALL DECKED OUT FOR CHRISTMAS!

Joan is faithfully festive in this shot from 1989...

PHOTO EXTRA: JOAN'S ALL WHITE AT CRAIG'S!

Joan now back in LA to celebrate the Christmas Season enjoyed dinner at Craig's restaurant in Hollywood...

PROMO UPDATE : HEADS UP ON THIS CHRISTMAS'S HOTTEST GIFT!

Joan wears the 'Victoria' ...

 

A perfect Christmas Gift has to be a sensational style from Joan's fabulous new range of Wigs.. For more details see ...
http://www.joancollinswigs.co.uk

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S WRAPPED UP FOR A DESERT CHRISTMAS!

 

Joan is all wrapped up for Christmas in this stunning shot for Palm Springs Life in 1982...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN TAKES IT ON THE CHIN FROM ORSON!

 

Joan squares up to Orson Welles in this scene from the 1972 tv version of 'The Man Who Came To Dinner' which was set at Christmas...

PHOTO EXTRA : FLASHBACK TO THE 50'S!

As the news of Joan Fontaine's death was announced earlier, here is a photo of Joan with Miss Fontaine in the 1953 RKO release 'Decameron Nights' .. The two Joan's also appeared in a Bob Hope Tv Special in 1966 and the 1957 Fox release 'Island in the Sun'..

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S GOT CHRISTMAS ALL IN HAND!

As it's now countdown to Christmas, decided to feature some shots of Joan with a Christmas theme for the next week or so.. This shot from the 50's was a typical seasonal studio promo photo..

PRESS UPDATE : THE GUARDIAN .. DECEMBER 10TH 2013..

From Lethal Weapon to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the buddy movie has long been dominated by men, but thanks to Joan Collins and Pauline Collins, all that is set to change.

The British actors will star in The Time of Their Lives, a road movie in which Joan plays a former Hollywood star who escapes her London retirement home and travels to France for her ex-husband's funeral. Pauline plays a housewife with a failing marriage who joins the trip, and the pair become romantically embroiled with a reclusive Frenchman played by Franco Nero.

"I was very excited by the script, which was sent to me about one month ago," Collins told Screen Daily. "There are very few roles today for women aged over 45, let alone over 65. The fact that it's a buddy movie along the lines of Thelma and Louise, with a hint of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, really interested me.

"People are sick to death of watching shoot 'em ups, blood and gore and explosions - those films for the 12-30 year-old market. It's time producers realised that people also want to see stories about mature adults, not only teenagers."

The film will be directed by Roger Goldby, who has blended TV work like Call The Midwife with features like The Waiting Room, starring Anne Marie-Duff and Ralf Little. He said that it will be "an uplifting, truthful comedy, a film about the transformative power of female friendship... One of my favourite films, Thelma and Louise, has been a touchstone throughout."

Its executive producer meanwhile is frequent Andrew Lloyd Webbercollaborator Tim Rice, who will also oversee the soundtrack – he said it would be filled with "wonderful French pop hits from the 60s, by artistes such as Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Jacques Dutronc and Francoise Hardy."

Pauline Collins, who became famous for her role in Shirley Valentine, recently starred in Dustin Hoffman's Quartet, which along with Le Week-end, The King's Speech and the aforementioned Marigold Hotel (plus its forthcoming sequel) is part of a recent wave of films courting older cinema-goers.

Joan Collins, has recently completed Molly Moon: The Incredible Hypnotist, a British adaptation of the Molly Moon children's fiction series. She plays the mother to the villain played by Dominic Monaghan, with Anne Marie-Duff, Celia Imrie, Lesley Manville and Omid Djalili also in the cast.

PRESS UPDATE :YORKSHIRE EVENING POST .. DECEMBER 15TH 2013

Joan Collins has a Passion For Life! Interview by Sophie Herdman.

The phone rings and a man picks up - unless she has just eaten a Snickers bar, this is clearly not Joan Collins.
In fact, it’s Percy Gibson. Husband number five. He passes her the phone.
“I’m getting a bit of a sore throat so forgive me for being a little croaky,” she says.
As ever, Collins is extremely busy and she’s been struggling to sleep due to the building work at her London flat.
“It’s hard to find a nook one can go into without bumping into someone,” she notes.
Among her projects, there’s a new autobiography Passion For Life, two films, a cameo in TV series Benidorm, a novel, a big secret project and she’s due to perform an updated version of her one-woman show next year, which Gibson directs.
He is wonderful to work with, she says. And according to her new autobiography (or illustrated memoir, as she’d rather call it), he’s also a wonderful husband.
So what does Collins, with her wealth of experience, believe is the key to a happy marriage?
“Giving each other space and being best friends,” she states. “Oh - and trying to have separate bathrooms.”
Collins is not really one for giving advice, though, and she certainly does not tell her three children how to conduct their relationships.
“If someone asks what I think of their boyfriend, I will say, but I don’t arbitrarily go about giving advice. I hate people who do that,” she says.
When she wants advice, she turns to her husband, and occasionally her younger sister, writer Jackie Collins - but only “up to a point”.
Family is clearly very important to her. The first chapter of Passion For Life is dedicated to the topic (there’s another about her many friends - loyalty, she says, is key to a good friendship).
Collins’s mother was a dance teacher, her father an agent for the likes of Shirley Bassey and The Beatles.
“He wanted me to go to secretarial school, find a good husband, have children and lead a nice, proper life.
“It wasn’t quite my cup of tea.” His comments just made her more determined to succeed.
“I took some small pleasure in showing him it didn’t happen the way he thought - that I was able to make a living as an actress, which very few actors can do all their life, and write books and support three children,” she says.
“I feel I’ve achieved quite an amount in my time.”
Her father did give her one good piece of advice, though: No one will ever do anything for you, you have to do it yourself.
“He was right there,” she says. “I trusted my financial affairs to people who were supposed to be experts during the time of Dynasty, and they badly let me down. I found myself in very deep trouble with the tax man.”
That’s not the only knock-back the actress has experienced during her life.
There were four failed marriages, of course, starting with Irish actor Maxwell Reed (whom she married aged 19; it lasted four years), followed by another actor, Anthony Newley, who was unfaithful. Next came American businessman Ron Kass, who developed a drug addiction, and finally pop singer and playboy Peter Holm, whom she describes in her book as “a mixture of obdurate dullard and calculating sociopath”. This was the shortest marriage, lasting barely two years.
Collins also suffered heartache when her daughter Katyana, then aged eight, developed a severe brain trauma and was left fighting for her life in a coma following a car accident. Thankfully, she lived to tell the tale.
The actress was once also embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with publishers Random House.
Somehow, though, she seems to have remained positive.
“I was born with the optimist gene,” she says.
High points have been plentiful. She started working professionally in her teens and was quickly signed to Twentieth Century Fox, landing her big Hollywood break with a role in 1955’s Land Of The Pharaohs.
Film and TV roles continued throughout the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, including two films based on novels by her sister - The Stud and The Bitch.
From 1981 to 1989, she starred as scheming diva Alexis in Dynasty, which became one of America’s most successful series and earned Collins a Golden Globe.
She’s continued working in film and on stage, has also written a substantial number of books, both fiction and non-fiction, and right now, of course, she’s popping up in the Snickers adverts.
In 1997, Collins was awarded an OBE for her contribution to the arts and charity work.
Her first four marriages may not have lasted, but Collins doesn’t see them (well, two of them at least) as complete failures. Without them, she wouldn’t have had her three children - Tara and Sacha, whom she had with Newley, and Katyana, by Kass.
She’s looking forward to spending Christmas with them.
“I’m a huge fan of Christmas! Every year, I have a massive tree. I started making my own decorations.”
Her three grandchildren will be there, too.
“I enjoy my grandchildren, but do I enjoy being a grandmother? What does that mean? Sitting around making woollen hats for them?” she says, laughing.
Passion For Life is out now.

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN'S ON THE PATH TO BENIDORM!

As the new series of 'Benidorm' starts on January 2nd on ITV1 .. Here is a look at Joan on set.. Joan will appear in the final episode of the series...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN IS SURROUNDED BY BAUBLES AND BUBLES!

Joan looking sensational as ever with Michael Buble on The Paul O' Grady Show earlier this week.

PHOTO OF THE DAY : JOAN IS ALL REeaDy FOR CHRISTMAS?

Joan is currently in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with Jackie and will no doubt be preparing her Christmas Tree.. Here is an 1989 shot of Joan at her Beverly Hills home...

PRESS UPDATE : DAILY MAIL.. DECEMBER 11TH 2013

 

It was a show-stopping photo - Joan Collins still every inch the glamourpuss. But, she says, it ain't easy to look agelessly fab

• From an old-fashioned set and blow-dry to her trademark shoulderpads...
• Here is Joan's step-by-step guide to looking stylish - for women of all ages

By Joan Collins
PUBLISHED: 23:57 GMT, 11 December 2013 | UPDATED: 00:01 GMT, 12 December 2013            

 

Favourite look: Joan wore this dress to an awards show she presented last week. It's a perfect example of her style

Never have I allowed myself to be defined by age. I'll wear a leather skirt - even a bikini if I want to. Clothes are my passion and I adore them. They reveal to the world what you think of yourself and I believe you should look well-turned-out whatever you're doing.
Some people today consider style, elegance and being well-dressed and groomed a frivolous waste of time and irrelevant, but not me. I try to bring to life the analogy that looking good is like getting married. It takes practice and, after five marriages, I like to think I have nailed it!
These days, it seems, anything goes. I love people-watching; yet so many people look and dress alike that everyone is almost identical.
I'm an individual and I don't want to look like anyone else, which means I'm hardly ever a fashion victim - although, of course, like all women, I've made mistakes.
One of the major mistakes women of all ages make is to think a particular look will translate from the pages of a glossy magazine to their own body.
Much of fashion today is designed by men with no idea of what actually works for real women. They design for very tall and skinny teenagers, and if your bosom is more than a 32B, then forget it.
Sadly, the average dress designer does not think about the older woman when sketching collections. So I've always dressed to accentuate my assets just as the glamorous queens of Hollywood always did. Whatever you buy, think flattering, not fashion.
Investing in a three-way mirror is a must - you don't actually have to buy one but install mirrors inside the doors of your wardrobe and another nearby so you can see yourself from all angles. Then look at yourself ruthlessly. You may be overweight but have really good skin, in which case you should draw attention to this by wearing clothes that enhance this asset. Three quarter-length sleeves and drawstring necks will show off your beautiful canvas.
Conversely, if you're very thin, accentuating your waist can make even the most mundane outfit look stylish. If you have beautiful hands, rings, bracelets and bright nail colours will draw the eye to this area. However, if you have a big bum don't wear tight jeans or Lycra!
Knowing what colour suits you is key, too. As I'm a brunette with fairly light-coloured skin, except in summer, I can wear black and white and also pastels such as lavender, peach and pink. I tend to look harsh in bright reds, greens and blues so I try to avoid them. I also believe prints are quite hard to wear, regardless of what the style mavens in fashion magazines say to the contrary.

AN 'LBD' WITH ADDED SPARKLE...

I've been snapped in an array of little black dresses recently. This dress (above) by Mark Zunino works so well by itself and needs few accessories; it's almost two years old now. The shoulder detail is also very flattering and I threw on my failsafe silver sequinned Dries van Noten coat before heading out with my black satin Prada clutch.
I particularly like the combination of a chic evening coat - whether in sequins or beaded - worn over a black lace or chiffon dress. For long evening wear, I favour the fishtail look and often go to Jovani in New York and Mark Zunino in LA.
I was so fortunate to work closely with the designer Nolan Miller whilst on Dynasty to create the wardrobe for Alexis Carrington Colby and we had great fun sourcing outfits. I keep tear sheets of dresses I like from magazines and try to find similar styles. Most of my best dresses have not cost a fortune and contrary to popular opinion I am not a couture customer - I wish!
...AND BIG, BOLD BRACELETS

Costume jewellery cuffs: Joan's favourites

These costume jewellery cuffs (above and right) are favourites of mine from Kenneth Jay Lane and Angela Tassoni, while the black diamond drop earrings are from Senso boutique in St Tropez.

I'm a fiend for costume jewellery and have countless pairs of rhinestone or diamante earrings, which are so flattering when they catch the light. I love the designers Alexis Bittar and Kenneth Jay Lane, and I always go to jewellers Butler & Wilson.

I also think pearls are most flattering for any complexion, but remember the mantra - go bold or go home! Neat little pearls are very grandmotherly! Two or three ropes can be extremely versatile - and can be made into bracelets.

I also like adding fake flowers to jackets a la Chanel. A camellia in white or black can be extremely alluring. As for watches, keep them simple, yet classic.

Two-to-three inch Jimmy Choos: The best

....AND STILETTOS AND JEWELLERY
I'm wearing a favourite pair of Jimmy Choos in this picture. I find a two to three-inch heel is best.
Shoe jewellery, such as clip-on bows and brooches, can be fun as well as a vintage touch to any outfit
I have a particular aversion to trainers or sneakers, which I think look ghastly with anything except active sportswear or a nurse's uniform.
Most ankle strap shoes are seriously unattractive and cut the line of the leg, unless you're 6ft tall. I like to wear chic stilettos if I am going out.
My favourites are from Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.
For daytime wear in winter, I have a range of boots with block and stiletto heels - Russell & Bromley do great classic styles that can be worn with trousers or skirts.

Being age-appropriate is something women need to remember. If you're beyond your teenage years, micro mini-skirts are out, as are skirts or trousers that end below the belly button and are low-waisted.
Hemlines that fall to the knee are my favourite, while I've just found the most flattering high-top jeans from Donna Ida, which lengthen the leg and eradicate the ubiquitous 'muffin top' look.

LEGS: GO NUDE, NOT NAKED

 I wore nude tights from Wolford to the awards show. I always keep a stash of nude and sheer black hose to hand, but in summer my legs are tanned and I don't wear anything.

Fishnets: They add a touch of old Hollywood glamour

I'm fortunate I've inherited my mother's and grandmother's legs. They were both fabulous dancers.
I think bare legs in winter are idiotic. Unless your naked pins are toned, tanned and veinless it's best to cover up. There is nothing more elegant in winter than dark tights worn with matching knee-length boots and a belted trench coat.
Fishnets add a touch of old Hollywood glamour, too.

Dressing appropriately but never dowdily is important. This season's little slip dress is a serious no-no for anyone over a size 10. I don't believe that this lingerie look does anything other than make women look like ironing boards and reveal every flaw.
My failsafe go-to dress is a black shift that can be vamped up with a sequinned top or beaded evening coat. Sequins are a secret weapon that reflect the light, illuminating skin and adding drama to any outfit.
This dress, which I wore to an awards show I was presenting last week, is a perfect example of the look I love. Commentators raved about how daring it was but I think the combination was elegant - and age-appropriate.
It's by Mark Zunino, whom I met when he worked as an assistant for Nolan Miller, the costume designer on Dynasty. Mark now has his own label full of red-carpet gowns, and I often wear his dresses for parties.
Having a good dressmaker is a wise investment. I adore going fabric shopping. Joel & Son is an Aladdin's cave off London's Edgware Road and I love selecting silks and chiffons to be made up into flattering tops which offset my decollete and can be mixed and matched with classic trouser or skirt suits.
My wardrobe has been honed to include many basics that don't change with the fashions but can be updated with accessories. I've always endorsed what Yves Saint Laurent said: 'Fashion fades but style is eternal . . .'
Here is my step-by-step guide to how women of all ages can look stylish and elegant - without breaking the bank.

A great disguise: On a bad hair day, a good hat is just the thing

BLOWDRY AND BACKCOMB

My hair was already done for an earlier photo shoot and only needed a few tweaks. I've made no secret of the fact that I often wear wigs and have in fact launched my own Dynasty range, named after various characters. I find this saves a ton of time - as well as my own hair.
There's nothing worse than hair which is over-treated and heat-damaged. I have fine hair, which loses shape and bounce very quickly. I like an old-fashioned set and blow-dry, which can be back-combed later for a lasting look.
Sophie at Stephen Casali is my hairdresser of choice. As for supplements, I've found that Omega oils and vitamin E can help with hair thickness and growth.
On a bad hair day a hat is a great disguise; from a fedora to a baseball cap.
I love hats as well as veils, which can add  pizzazz to any outfit.

MANICURES AT HARRODS

I'd actually had my nails done the day before this event while under the hairdryer at Stephen Casali's. I like to multi-task, even while grooming!
I believe in regular manicures and pedicures and always invest in one if I am going out for an event. (I go to Harrods Urban Retreat for mine).

Added elegance: Evening gloves accessorize long dresses and disguise any flaws

I favour Rouge Noir shades in winter and bright pinks or nudes in summer, but you can't beat a good red (by Opi or Essie) for added glamour.
A fabulous ring, not necessarily real, can draw attention to your hands while evening gloves can add elegance to a long dress and disguise any flaws.

MY TRADEMARK SHOULDERPADS

Flattering: The iconic shoulder-padded look

I believe firmly in portion control as well as exercise. One tip is to eat half of what is on your plate.
I favour eating vegetables with protein over carbohydrates. In general, bread is public enemy number one.
I have a personal trainer (or should that be personal tyrant) who comes twice a week. I focus  on stretching and incorporate Pilates and yoga after a brisk walk.
However, it's a fact that the body does change shape with age, as the metabolism slows down. I've always found that the iconic shoulder-padded look, so emulated from Dynasty, flatters most figures. I wear structured jackets that nip in the waist.
Waist cinchers do help, although Spanx can be a tortuous way to ensure a smooth line and I never wear them.
I usually avoid carbs before a big event to lose a few pounds. If you can lose 10lbs you can usually lose ten years off your age, too! I don't deny myself anything - I'm a notorious chocoholic - but moderation is key.

Passion For Life by Joan Collins is published by Constable, £25