HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN ..... THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DAME!

Today we celebrate the birthday of a truly iconic Star as our very special leading lady made a spectacular entrance in Bayswater nursing home, in north west London, to Joe and Elsa Collins. Joan's South African born dad was a well respected theatrical agent and ran the Collins & Grade agency with partner Lew Grade, who would one day be a Sir and the most famous agent and entertainment producer in  London. Joan's parents lived in a flat in Maida Vale, which was close to Regent's Park. She made her stage debut in a production of "Why The Fairies Cried" and she joined Cone-Ripman theatrical school at aged twelve and soon after was chosen to appear in a London production of Ibesn's "A Dolls House". Joan was determined to be an actress and longed to make it on stage, but dad Joe knew how difficult the business of show is and wanted her to be a secretary. Joan however was adament and wanted  to join the legendary RADA ...Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and persuaded him to let her audition for a place in the school. If that failed she would take up a position as a secretary! Needless to say
Joan was accepted and the rest they say is history! From her first screen appearance, albeit fleetingly in "Lady Godiva Rides Again" to her upcoming release "Molly Moon", Joan is rarely out of the limelight and hopefully the best is yet to come! Whatever the project, be it a film, television, stage, book or product, it will almost certainly have that gloss of glamour we come to love and expect from a true legendary star of stage and screen. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAME JOAN!