PRESS UPDATE : THE SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE .. JULY 3 2026 ..

 Relative Values

Joan Collins: ‘I took any job I could to keep my children fed’

The actress and her great-niece India Thain on glamour, men and how to mend a broken heart

Joan and India at the Peninsula hotel in London

Photo Paul Stewart for The Time Magazine

Joan

I remember India when she was a tiny little girl, always full of joie de vivre, the life and soul. She was a particular favourite of my sister, Jackie, who was her grandmother. Jackie absolutely adored her and took her everywhere — shopping, to the cinema, to Hawaii.

Geographically, India and I were not close at all. Most of the time I lived in England or the south of France and she lived in LA. But there has never been any kind of uneasiness between us. She and I have always gotten along really well. As for me being famous, well, she didn’t care. I don’t think that children care whether you’re an actress or the prime minister.

Since Jackie died, which was almost 11 years ago, we’ve become much closer. Before Covid I was doing a tour of my one-woman show and India came with me. She was wonderful.

India is the only one in the family who has followed me into this industry. Why nobody else? Because they’re smart. They realise how tough the profession is. It’s not just getting dressed and going on red carpets, you know. It’s a tough business. You have to have a carapace the size of a whale to survive rejection, people saying horrible things about you, the lack of care.

Joan with India in A Murder Between Friends

She’s now co-starring with me in my new film, A Murder Between Friends. They were looking to cast it and wanted an American woman, and I spoke to the director ­— a friend of mine — and said that India was an actress. He said, “She’s not American.” I said, “She can play American!” And then I called her up and asked her if she could. “Of course I can,” she said. “I went to drama school.” And she’s wonderful in the film, a natural talent. And so beautiful.

I did warn her about the pitfalls in this industry. I’d been taught about them by my father, Joe Collins, a theatrical agent, and how dangerous it can be for young girls and how you have to be on your marks, get set, get out of there! He said that if a man behaved wrongly with me, the best thing to do was laugh at them. I became an expert laugher. And if that doesn’t work, he said, a knee to the nether regions. You read about the Harvey Weinsteins and people like that, but it’s not just showbiz, it’s everywhere. Not that I’m against men, because I’m not. But some men, they just feel it’s their divine right.

I also warned India that most actors are out of work most of the time. I myself hadn’t worked for ten months before our film. I left England at the age of 20 for Hollywood and did whatever I could — film, theatre, TV. It was a living. People say I’ve not been in very good films. Well, I was supporting three children, the breadwinner. I’ve always thought of myself as a jobbing actor and took what I could to keep my children fed and watered.

We talk a lot, India and I, intimate things too. With men, if she’s nursing a broken heart I tell her that they are like buses — if she waits long enough, another one will come along. We’re very close. She’s like a daughter to me.

India

I grew up between the UK and America, and I’ve always been very close to my family. Joan is my great-aunt, but she doesn’t like “great” very much, so we just say aunt. Both Joan and Jackie were always unbelievably well put together, glamorous at all times. Even on an off-day, Joan is immaculate. The way that both of them navigated the world, and speaking to men in general, is something I’ve definitely taken on. The power they would wield in a room was extraordinary to watch.

There was a period of Joan and Jackie not being particularly close with one another, but over the past few years, I’ve spent a lot of time with Joan. When I’m with her, I feel close to my grandmother.

Jackie with grand daughters including India collecting her OBE

Joan has always had an effect on people. When I was at school and teachers found out we were related, they were gobsmacked: “Joan Collins is your aunt?!” I tended to downplay it. When I went to drama school, the teachers had no idea who I was. One day, one said that a scene I was doing had “something very Joan Collins about it”. My friends started laughing.

I remember watching Dynasty as a child and being struck by seeing my relative playing that character on screen, how poised she was, how incredible she looked. It must have set something off in me because I’m the only one in the family who has pursued acting.

When I was young I also tried to read a couple of my grandmother’s books but found it quite difficult. Why? Because within the first few pages there would be an in-depth sex scene. So I waited until I was older. In the years since I’ve actually narrated a lot of her audiobooks. That was interesting!

Having someone famous in the family is, I’d say, quite difficult. Absolutely, there are doors that are opened and there’s a certain level of privilege, but sometimes it feels as if you have even more to prove. You have to be better. If you look at a lot of the kids in Hollywood with famous parents, they tend to be really, really good. They kind of have to be. Once that door is open, you’re very much on your own.

I remember on the first day of shooting this film with Joan, doing the read-through, I think quite a few people in the cast were probably sitting there thinking, she has gotten this because of who her aunt is. I’m sure the producers were also a little bit “Oh my God!” when Joan first suggested me, but we did a Zoom reading and it went really well. I threw myself into it.

My first day on set with Joan was terrifying, though. The most nervous I’ve been. I was shaking! But she is such a giving actress, so approachable, normal and lovely. It was incredible to work with her, an amazing experience.

She has always been very good with advice, always warning me of the dangers of the industry. She knows how hard it can be. I’ve seen her in periods of struggling, of not working, but she always handles things so well. She has this inner strength.

I see her every couple of weeks for dinner and feel that we can talk about anything. She has more energy at her age than I have at 32. She’ll be out five nights in a row having dinners with friends. I don’t know what she’s running on, but she is definitely an extrovert.

I think that is what keeps her going. You should see her walk into a restaurant. People are completely starstruck. It’s charisma — at the highest level.

A Murder Between Friends is available on digital platforms now