Wednesday, March 25, 2026

PRESS UPDATE : HELLO! .. MARCH 24TH 2026 ..

Grande dame

INTERVIEW: SOPHIE HAMILTON

24 Mar 2026

Having found worldwide fame in the Eighties soap opera Dynasty, Dame Joan Collins now has another role she’s passionate about: being a grandmother. The actress is mother to son Alexander Newley and daughters Tara Newley and Katyana Kass, and she reveals that her four grandchildren – Miel, Weston, Ava and Deia – have an affectionate name for her.

“I’m DJ to the grandkids,” she tells hello! in this exclusive interview. “I love to be with them and I pay them a lot of attention.”

It’s this love of children that drew Joan, to her role as vice-president of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, which helps babies, children and young people living with life-limiting conditions, as well as their families.

Joan has backed the charity since 2003 and is the first guest on its new podcast, featuring chats with the charity’s famous supporters. Each guest has donated a personal item to help to raise vital funds; Joan has given a Valentino clutch bag.

“It’s the number one charity close to my heart,” she says. “I love the fact that we’re doing so much for the children and the families. They are in the most unimaginable circumstances [when] they come to Shooting Star.”

Joan with Karen Sugarman Exec Vice President Shooting Star at the annual ball

SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES

Joan recalls a difficult period in her own life when her daughter Katyana was hit by a car aged eight in 1980. “I was with her in the hospital while she was in a coma,” she says. “It took seven to eight weeks for her to be able to walk and talk slightly. But then the hospital said, ‘All right, it’s up to you now’. With the help of physiotherapists, doctors, nurses and teachers, Katy recovered.”

Joan treasures the time she spends at the organisation’s hospices in London and Surrey, which cater for more than 700 children. “I visit at least once a year and have tea with the families. We take pictures, we talk and the children always give me beautiful handmade cards. They’re inspirational,” she says.

Joan who is married to her fifth husband – the film producer Percy Gibson, who is 32 years her junior – says she has a lust for life that she believes is genetic. “My father was pretty full of life, and he lived to be 86,” she says.

She is best known for her role as Alexis Colby in Dynasty: is there any truth in the rumours that there was a feud between Joan and her co-star Linda Evans, who portrayed her on-screen rival Krystle Carrington? “No; it was our characters – and just because we didn’t socialise,” she says.

Of the many actors she has worked with Joan is friends with “maybe ten to 20”. This includes Isabella Rossellini, her co-star in the forthcoming film The Duchess & I, in which Joan plays Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.

A collector of costume jewellery Joan often donates pieces to Shooting Star’s auctions. “The charity needs to raise at least £12m a year and it relies on donations,” she says.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

PRESS UPDATE : HELLO! .. MARCH 24TH 2026 ..

Grande dame

Dame Joan Collins – DJ to her four beloved grandchildren – tells us why supporting a children’s hospice is one of her most important roles..

SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES

Joan who is married to her fifth husband – the film producer Percy Gibson, who is 32 years her junior – says she has a lust for life that she believes is genetic. “My father was pretty full of life, and he lived to be 86,” she says.

She is best known for her role as Alexis Colby in Dynasty: is there any truth in the rumours that there was a feud between Joan and her co-star Linda Evans, who portrayed her on-screen rival Krystle Carrington? “No; it was our characters – and just because we didn’t socialise,” she says.

Of the many actors she has worked with Joan is friends with “maybe ten to 20”. This includes Isabella Rossellini, her co-star in the forthcoming film The Duchess & I, in which Joan plays Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.

A collector of costume jewellery Joan often donates pieces to Shooting Star’s auctions. “The charity needs to raise at least £12m a year and it relies on donations,” she says.

SHOOTING STAR CHILDRENS CHARITY FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK!

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Wednesday, March 25, 2026

PRESS UPDATE : HELLO! .. MARCH 24TH 2026 ..

Grande dame

Dame Joan Collins – DJ to her four beloved grand­chil­dren – tells us why sup­port­ing a chil­dren’s hos­pice is one of her most import­ant roles..

SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES

Joan who is mar­ried to her fifth hus­band – the film pro­du­cer Percy Gib­son, who is 32 years her junior – says she has a lust for life that she believes is genetic. “My father was pretty full of life, and he lived to be 86,” she says.

Of the many act­ors she has worked with Joan is friends with “maybe ten to 20”. This includes Isa­bella Ros­sellini, her co-star in the forth­com­ing film The Duch­ess & I, in which Joan plays Wal­lis Simpson, the Duch­ess of Wind­sor.

A col­lector of cos­tume jew­ellery Joan often donates pieces to Shoot­ing Star’s auc­tions. “The char­ity needs to raise at least £12m a year and it relies on dona­tions,” she says.

SHOOTING STAR CHILDRENS CHARITY FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Dame Joan Collins – DJ to her four beloved grandchildren – tells us why supporting a children’s hospice is one of her most important roles..

Joan who is married to her fifth husband – the film producer Percy Gibson, who is 32 years her junior – says she has a lust for life that she believes is genetic. “My father was pretty full of life, and he lived to be 86,” she says.

Of the many actors she has worked with Joan is friends with “maybe ten to 20”. This includes Isabella Rossellini, her co-star in the forthcoming film The Duchess & I, in which Joan plays Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.

A collector of costume jewellery Joan often donates pieces to Shooting Star’s auctions. “The charity needs to raise at least £12m a year and it relies on donations,” she says.