EVENT UPDATE : BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS BOOK SIGNING .. HATCHARDS PICCADILLY .. DECEMBER 7TH 2023 ..

A Book Signing with Joan Collins at Hatchards Piccadilly

Just in time for Christmas, Joan will be at Hatchards in Piccadilly on Thursday Dec 7th to sign copies of her latest bestseller 'Behind The Shoulder Pads' from 5pm till 6pm.. Access to the event is by ticket only! Click link below to book your spot and purchase a copy or two of the book! 

DAME JOAN COLLINS BOOK EVENT HATCHARDS PICADILLY.. 

EVENT UPDATE : CLARIDGE'S CHRISTMAS TREE UNVEILING .. CLARIDGE'S LONDON .. NOVEMBER 23RD 2023 ..

 Joan attended the launch of Claridge's 2023 Christmas Tree unveiling, this years tree is in conjunction with Louis Vuitton..

The Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2023 by Louis Vuitton brings together two illustrious names who have long celebrated the Art of Travel, and crossed paths throughout their respective histories after both being founded in 1854.

This magnificent sculptural creation is immersed within two large open, emblematic wardrobe trunks towering on top of each other at the height of 5.2 metres. Each signature trunk is adorned with Claridge’s travel stickers of yesteryear and an oversized Louis Vuitton luggage tag. 

Exuding a festive charm, the tree is composed of 15 vertically placed chrome trunks of varying heights that tower to create the silhouette of a traditional Christmas tree. Scattered atop the silver trunks and amidst the snowy landscape of the tree are 21 Louis Vuitton Vivienne mascots, all found within the hotel’s distinguished black and white marbled lobby.

The hotel’s Louis Vuitton trunk envelopes the magical Claridge’s Christmas Tree, just as the Maison’s iconic Malle Vestiaire or ‘Wardrobe Trunk’, a hard-sided case created in 1875, was dedicated to transporting one’s most personal and precious effects.

 

What an honour it is to welcome such a legendary house as Louis Vuitton to design our Claridge’s Christmas Tree this year. Christmas is the most magical time of year for us here at the hotel and we look forward to welcoming guests and seeing visitors immerse themselves in Louis Vuitton’s world.

Claridge's General Manager Paul Jackson

PRESS UPDATE : CHARITY TODAY ... NOVEMBER 16TH 2023 ..

 

A host of stars joined 350 guests on Friday 10 November, to show their support for The Shooting Star Ball, in aid of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. The children’s hospice charity supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, across Surrey, south-west London and north-west London.

Now in its 19th year, the annual event, took place at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, hosted by Jackie and Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, who celebrate their 20th year as Patrons. Guests were entertained by a surprise performance from Britain’s Got Talent 2023 winner Viggo Venn; with Rob Lamberti performing as George Michael in tribute to the late singer’s 60th birthday. The highlight of the night came from Rick Astley, performing with his band, with an amazing performance of his hit songs.

Vice-President’s Dame Joan Collins DBE and Tony Hadley MBE, also celebrating their 20th year with the charity, spoke on stage on how much the charity means to them and both donated fantastic gifts for the live auction. Although unable to be there due to filming commitments, Vice-President Simon Cowell and Patron Lauren Silverman joined the evening via video link from LA to talk about their commitment to the charity. Also in attendance on the night were Julian Clary, Dutch sensation Rene Froger and Julie Forsyth, whose father Sir Bruce Forsyth was the first person to host an event for the charity 20 years ago.

Guests included Julian Clary with Sue Vanner and Lizzie Cundy

Guests enjoyed a three-course ‘winter warmer’ dinner, before taking part in a money-can’t-buy auction hosted by auctioneer Charlie Ross. Auction prizes included a special ‘Mamma Mia’ prize and flying on a private jet to Paris to join Dame Joan Collins for lunch.

Karen Sugarman MBE, Executive Vice-President of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said:

“The Shooting Star Ball is always a very special evening where we are able to come together to raise vital funds for the families who need our support. We are so thrilled and overwhelmed with the generosity of every single guest. Without whom, we simply would not be able to provide the vital care to children and families facing unimaginable circumstances.”

Paul Farthing, Chief Executive of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said:

“It’s been a phenomenal evening and I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in making such an extraordinary event possible. It’s great to be able to come together and highlight how vitally important their continued support is, in order for us to be there for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, now and long into the future.

PRESS UPDATE : EVENING STANDARD .. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH 2023 ..

 

DAME JOAN COLLINS - 10 SHOPPING COMMANDMENTS! -                                          From St Tropez Markets to Zara..

Broderie anglaise from Zara, Sensodyne toothpaste from Elizabeth Street and bras from Marks & Spencer. Dame Joan Collins tells Joe Bromley everything she knows about shopping..

Buy a status symbol handbag at your peril 

‘You know what — I have grown to really hate handbags and mascara. I just can’t be bothered. I just try to have a little clutch. I understand it’s difficult to have a little clutch when you go out shopping during the day, but I’m not really interested in the status symbol of handbags. I must have quite a few Chanel ones, but they’re terribly heavy. Anna Wintour never carries a handbag, so I’ve heard.’

Thou shalt not fear the supermarket (or Harrods) 

‘I’ve shopped at Marks & Spencer since I was a little girl with my mother. I’ve always liked it. I particularly like the food — the coronation chicken and the spaghetti bolognese. And I have always shopped there for underwear; bras, tights, stockings, nightgowns and dressing gowns. They’re also very good for T-shirts and jeans. In fact, I was there just yesterday, and I saw some of what they call joggers. They’re like jeans and joggers in this distressed denim. Now, I don’t like wearing jeans, but I think I’m probably going to get them. Jeans, particularly if they’re soft and easy to pull on, are easy to wear. I also like Fortnums, Waitrose and Harrods, I guess. It’s very expensive at Harrods, though.’

Stay woke 

‘The first item I ever saved up for was pretty non-woke, if you know what I mean. It was many years ago in California, and I wanted a particular kind of a fur coat. I saved up my housekeeping money because I wasn’t acting then — I was a little housewife married to Anthony Newley with two children — and I bought the coat. I’m not going to tell you [the variety of fur] because I’d get hate mail. I don’t get hate mail, and I will keep it like that. One of the most exciting things I’ve ever bought was in the Saint-Tropez market about eight years ago; a black gilet trimmed with fake fur that I absolutely adore and have practically lived in ever since.’

Buy yourself an iPhone 

‘Obviously everybody has to have an iPhone. But we also have a landline. It’s essential to have a landline as well in case everything goes wrong, which it can do. I mean, look at what happened when all the airline systems went out. There’s just no question. I have flashlights and torches and candles in the house, too, in case all the electricity goes. Be prepared — that’s my motto.’

Embrace the urge to splurge and abide by Roger Moore’s advice 

‘My most extravagant purchase ever was a Rolls-Royce, during the height of Dynasty. I was driving a nice BMW and Roger Moore said, “Oh, you can’t drive a BMW.” He had a Bentley and I said I don’t like Bentleys, I prefer a Rolls. So I have this Rolls and called her Beryl, because I really love her. I still have her, she lives in LA.’

Never allow oneself to get distracted among the rails 

‘Sometimes people ask me for pictures, but I usually say — look, I’m not doing pictures, I’m sorry. When one is shopping, you want to concentrate. If you do a picture with one person, normally a couple of others will come up and ask, so I try to be as inconspicuous as possible. How? With a baseball cap and sunglasses.’ 

Joan with Viviane Ventura in 1980 at Liberty London for her beauty book signing.

Do not buy an outfit last-minute 

‘I’m much too old for last-minute outfits. If there’s anything important happening I’m usually planned a month — or at the very least a few days — in advance. I meet with my dresser Chrissie for my outfits. Lastminute crisis, though? I don’t know. I usually manage to solve it one way or another.'

Stay local — Belgravia is best 

‘I just bought some soap yesterday from the Walden pharmacy on Elizabeth Street. Also Sensodyne toothpaste, which is very good. There’s another shop right around the corner which sells light bulbs and hammers and all of those kinds of things, which I get my husband to do. We have the wonderful Mayhew Newsagents, which I’ve been going to for 20 years. They deliver the newspapers and the magazines to me, and I get the magazines sent to me if I’m in America. They also have every single possible greetings card you could want, and all kinds of sweets and chocolates. There’s also a fabulous shop on Walton Street called Percy Bass — Percy, like my husband’s first name. They sell every gift: embroidered cushions, waste baskets, Kleenex boxes, pictures, everything.'

Buy your broderie anglaise in Zara 

‘I love Zara. The last items I bought there were from the Zara next door to Harrods, where we had just been buying some cheese. I purchased several really nice, white broderie anglaise shirts for the South of France. I usually go to the Zara on the Duke of York Square though, because it’s much closer.’ 

Never throw away a great purchase 

‘I collect clothes. If I buy something that has some value to it, like a Versace jacket or a Valentino skirt, I’ll keep it and have it for years. Years! I wore a black Yves Saint Laurent leather jacket in a picture that I posted on Instagram, and it practically went viral. Just a simple picture, but it was a great jacket.’

EVENT UPDATE : SHOOTING STAR CHILDRENS HOSPICE BALL ... ROYAL LANCASTER HOTEL.. LONDON.. NOVEMBER 10TH 2023 ..

 

One of Joan's favourite events is the annual Shooting Star Children's Hospices Ball and earlier Joan was guest of honour at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel.  Other guests this evening included Tony Hadley, Rick Astley, Lizzie Cundy and Julian Clary..

TV ALERT : LOUIS THEROUX INTERVIEWS... BBC 2 ... NOVEMBER 21ST.. 9PM ..

Tune into BBC2 on Tuesday November 21st st 9pm as Louis Theroux pays a visit to St Tropez to spend time with Joan...

Louis Theroux travels to the glamorous French Riviera to spend time with actress, author, and one of the last surviving icons of Hollywood’s golden age, Dame Joan Collins.

Welcomed into her secluded villa near St Tropez, Louis and Dame Joan discuss the ups and downs of her multi-decade career, which has so far spanned over 70 years. From her beginnings as a drama student at RADA in the 1940s to the silver screens of Hollywood in the 1950s, the horror movies of the 1970s and the world-wide success of Dynasty in the 1980s, Dame Joan candidly reflects on her triumphs, setbacks and her experiences of the predatory nature of an often toxic entertainment industry.

PRESS UPDATE : PLATINUM CHRISTMAS EDITION ... DECEMBER 2023 ..

 Check out the Christmas edition of Platinum Magazine with a super shot of Joan on the cover to start the party season.. You can read the interview featured in the magazine below....

PRESS UP DATE : BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS TOUR REVIEW .. THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON ..

 

Review : Joan Collins ‘Behind The Shoulder Pads’ at Theatre Royal

by Kairen Kemp

To coincide with the release of her much-anticipated memoir ‘Behind the Shoulder Pads’, global superstar Dame Joan Collins has embarked on a brand new tour for 2023 and Saturday 21^st October she ‘landed’ in Brighton for the penultimate show.
Featuring seldom told tales, enchanting anecdotes, and rare and fascinating footage from her seven decades in show business, the evening will be full of the usual wit, candour, and of course glamour that we have come to expect from this British born Hollywood legend. As an award-winning actress, author, producer, humanitarian and entrepreneur, Dame Joan Collins’ career places her in the unrivalled ranks of an international icon.

 The stage was set with two high back white armchairs with a small table between and three screens at the rear of the stage showed stills, professional and home movie clip from Dame Jones’ remarkable life.

I can honestly say that I’ve not been at a theatre show where at the star’s entry, resplendent in a long golden dress, on the arm of her husband Percy Gibson, the whole audience exploded in to cheering and applause.  It nearly lifted that roof off the Theatre Royal which, bearing in mind the frail state of the building, was slightly concerning!

Her husband, Percy Gibson, was by her side, interviewing her which was a very nice touch and he held his own well with immense humour, candour and charm.  It was also touching the way that he ensured that she was comfortable at all times.

We were regaled with stories from across her life, family and career including the birth of her sister Jackie, about which she was distinctly non-plussed at the time.

We whipped through RADA, her father not being impressed with his daughter being an actor, work in UK theatre and film before Hollywood came knocking and stole ‘our Joanie’ away for decades.

Her stories from her life as a starlet were, for me, the highlight of the first act as we hung on every charming, humorous and sometimes heart tugging word. This was where she grew, through experience, into the strong independent woman who took on the film, TV and publishing establishment and won.

After the interval with our star , in black, silver and sequins, the tables were turned and it was, us, the audience who asked the questions. Too many subjects to cover here but we found out why Tony Curtis was nicknamed Toxic, what Laurence Harvey was like in ‘real life’ and a myriad of others. The night ended with the answer to which decade she’d like to go back – the 80s “as long as I could take Percy with me”.

Although on The Graham Norton Show the night previously where she mentioned how tiring touring was it seems as though she does enjoy it and Brighton certainly did.

PRESS UPDATE : BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS .. REVIEW : THE HAWTH CRAWLEY ..

 

Dame Joan Collins: Behind the Shoulder Pads | The Hawth Crawley | Review

To coincide with the release of her new memoir “Behind the Shoulder Pads” the award winning iconic star of stage and screen Dame Joan Collins alongside husband Percy Gibson, has embarked on a brand new tour.  She talks about her glittering career in film and stage, regaling the audience with anecdotes and stories of her life, alongside fascinating footage of her seven decades in showbusiness.

Dame Joan entered the stage on the arm of her enigmatic husband Percy Gibson, glamorous as always in a sparkling red sequin dress, a woman of many talents – we later learnt that she had designed the dress herself.  Percy led the show, directing questions towards his wife, which she answered with wit and charm.  Entertaining the audience with dozens of stories, starting from her childhood, and her birth into a showbusiness family, and talking about her late sister Jackie.  She then moved on to how she started in showbusiness, firstly by attending RADA and then films in the UK before being “bought” by Hollywood.  Regaling us with tales of life as a young starlet, the famous actors she met and worked with, some of whom became good friends, including Paul Newman, Marlon Brando and Gene Kelly.  She really brought to life a golden era in Hollywood through her narrative alongside film and photographs of those times. Of course, for this writer, the most memorable being her time spent in Dynasty, and a period of time that she particularly loved and talked about with fondness, of her time on the show and the people she worked with. 

 

The second half of the show, in which she appeared in another sparkling gown, this time black sequins, was dedicated to audience questions.  These included, her favourite decade (the 80’s), a day in her life she would relive again (her marriage to Percy), and numerous other questions before finishing off with a question praising her fabulousness and how she remained so glamorous and beautiful (it’s in the genes darling!).  All in all it was a wonderful intimate evening celebrating an iconic star, I loved the gentle humorous interaction between Dame Joan and Percy, and I left the show having enjoyed it tremendously.

Reviewer: Gill Burke

TV ALERT : THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW BBC 1 10:40PM .. OCTOBER 20TH 2023 ..

Tune into BBC1 tonight at 10:40pm when Joan will join Graham Norton on the sofa along with Patrick Stewart & Ralph Fiennes.. Viewers in Ireland can catch the show at 11pm on Saturday Oct 21st..  You can watch a clip from the show below!

PRESS UPDATE : SUSSEX LIFE ... SEPTEMBER 2023 ..

 

Joan Collins: ‘Glamorous? I didn’t think I was good looking!’

Exclusive by Karen Pasquali Jones
She’s been married five times but insists she’s a romantic. She’s starred as the glamorous leading lady in some of Hollywood’s finest movies and the world's smash hit TV shows though she thinks she’s not particularly good looking. She’s hilarious, witty and popular and yet she claims to be shy. Meet Dame Joan Collins, who has to wear prosthetics to look old, and says her biggest achievement is her family.


Sussex Life: You’re coming to Sussex to do your new show, Behind the Shoulder Pads. What can we expect from it? Are there any shocks or scandal?

Joan Collins: Shocks and scandals? Honestly, what kind of life do you think I’ve led?

SL: Do you come to Sussex often? What are your favourite things to do here?

Joan: My family has a long connection with Brighton. My grandmother and all my aunts lived there, and we used to go often when I was a child. My cousin still lives there. I love the south of England. I have a good friend who lives in Hastings. Sussex is a beautiful county.

SL: You’re one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema – what lasting memories do you have of that time? Any goals still to achieve?

Joan: I came to Hollywood at the end of the Golden Age when the gilt was beginning to tarnish. I wish I’d had a camera then and was more dedicated about taking photos of my time because it really was magical. You could walk down the streets of Beverly Hills and see mega stars such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly walking around.

As Bob Hope said when asked if he had goals left to achieve…keep breathing. Joking aside, I am looking forward to shooting a new movie about the Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor’s life after the Duke of Windsor died. It’s a fascinating story.

SL: Which is the one role you wanted but went to someone else?

Joan: That’s a great question. I was eager to play the role of Clara in Sons And Lovers but the producer who I had to meet made some unwelcome advances on me, which I refused. This was made worse by my boyfriend of the time, who told me the script was awful and I should turn it down because he wanted me to be with him while he was shooting in England. I reluctantly abandoned the project and my replacement, Mary Ure, won an Oscar for it!

SL: During your career, you have won multiple accolades for your talent including a Golden Globe Award (Best Actress, Dynasty) , and a People's Choice Awards (also for Dynasty, 1985). Where do you keep them? Which one meant the most?

Joan: They’re in my flat in LA which seems fitting. They all mean a lot to me, obviously, as it’s always nice to be recognised. In my acceptance speech for my Golden Globe in 1983 I said that the last time I had won was in 1957 for Promising Young Newcomer and that it had taken me a while but I finally got there!

SL: You were made a Dame in 2015 by the late Queen Elizabeth II for your charity work with children. Can you tell us more about the work and meeting the Queen.

Joan: One of my fondest memories meeting the Queen took place at Buckingham Palace in 2014. I was invited to see a performance of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion given by RADA students (and some notable graduates_ to mark the 60 years of the monarch’s patronage of the drama school.

After the show the Queen walked around the room greeting and chatting to her many celebrity guests. She was holding a glass in her hand but whether it was wine or water I didn’t dare ask. When she came to me, she mentioned having bestowed my OBE, which I told her was perhaps the biggest highlight of my life after giving birth to my children, and we talked about the show. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the play and its adaption to My Fair Lady in the 1950s.

SL: Starring as Alexis Colby in Dynasty from 1981 – 1989 made you an even bigger international superstar. Did you love playing that character? Are you anything like her in real life?

Joan: Yes, I loved Alexis. I think it’s because I really connected on a gut level with the character. She was strong and tough and sometimes nasty and ruthless but only in business, because that’s how you have to be in business. I did not share that trait, but I knew plenty of producers that were exactly the same, so I took a blueprint off them. Where I connected was that what she did, she did in the best interests of her family. Similarly, I would do anything for the wellbeing of my children. I imbued Alexis with that rationale. I think people saw that and respected it, and I guess the haute couture and the humour didn’t hurt!

SL: What’s been the biggest achievement of your life?

Joan: As I said, I think having my children was my biggest achievement. They have all grown to be wise, dependent, and resilient. Given I was a single mother and sole breadwinner for much of the time I think that’s fairly significant.

SL: If you could tell your younger self any advice what would it be?

Joan: I underestimated myself so much. I had no self-esteem, I didn’t even think I was particularly good looking. I would plaster myself in pan stick make up. Both Jackie and I were brought up to think that we weren’t anything remarkable. The advice I would give my younger self would be: ‘You are something special.’

SL: You always look immaculate – how long does it take you to get ready and is it boring having to be beautiful and polished all the time?

Joan: 45 minutes if I’m doing the red carpet and 15 if I’m not. What’s boring about it? I love the paint and the dressing up box. I like looking good – it makes me feel good. There’s a reason we call it Dr Slap in my profession – theatricals call make up ‘slap’ because you ‘slap it on’. If you’re feeling under the weather, there’s nothing like make up and pulling your socks up to make you feel better.

SL: You’ve been married five times – the latest for 21 years to Percy Gibson. Are you a romantic?

Joan: The famous writer AA Gill said that my last marriage was ‘an exercise of optimism over experience.’ Well after 21 years of blissful wedlock, I say chock one up for the optimists and the romantics. ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’

SL: You starred in The Opposite Sex, where you said in your My Unapologetic Diaries that you sat in the hair and make-up room with Liz Taylor, Grace Kelly and Ava Gardner and were so shy you couldn’t speak. Were you very different then as you always seem so confident and charismatic. What made you change?

Joan: I once read an article by Woody Allen about his shyness. I saw him at a party not long after and went up to him to express how much I identified with it as, I myself, am a shy person. He looked down the extremely low-cut dress I was wearing and replied: ‘I wouldn’t have guessed’ and scuttled away.

SL: You detail a lot of times when you crash diet and lose 8lbs in a week or exist on broccoli to make sure you look your best for events and parts. How demanding on your body and mental health was your career? Can you eat what you want now?

Joan: I never dieted or ate for the sake of my career, but rather for the sake of my health and wellbeing. But there are times when you have to keep an extra keen eye on the lbs, as was the case for us in Dynasty. We had a strict unwritten code that came down from management about keeping slim, so we had one catering for the crew that was full of donuts and cakes and potato chips and one for the cast that was carrots and celery and cucumber slices. How times have changed.

SL: You had to wear prosthetics to look old in the film Gerry even though you were 85 – how did that make you feel? What’s the secret to your youthful looks?

Joan: I know! I was rather pleasantly surprised that they had to make me look old. Largely, I chalk it up to good genes. My father and sister all had the youthful look and so does my brother. But also, to a life lived with moderation. If you’re lucky enough to be given a rolls Royce, you have to maintain it after all.

SL: Does it upset you when people insist you must have had plastic surgery? If you had decided to have it, what would you have had done?

Joan: No, it doesn’t upset me. Sticks and stone. And the idea of going under sedation is anathema to me.

SL: What’s the average day for Joan Collins – run us through what you get up to?

Joan: My day is as average as you get. I love waking up in the morning and my husband usually brings me a cup of coffee as he’s a much earlier riser. I read all the papers – I’m a voracious newshound and then I get to work. If we’re not out in the evening, there’s nothing I love more than dinner on trays with a fabulous movie on TV.

SL: You’ve seemingly met everyone who’s anyone – who was your favourite celebrity and the worst?

Joan: I loved Paul Newman. He and I, and his wife Joanne Woodward became very good friends and they lobbied for me to be in their movie Rally round the Flag Boys. They were the only ones in the business, apart from my sister Jackie, who have ever helped me along my career.

Tony Curtis was a dreadful misogynist. He once called me the ‘C’ word in front of the whole crew just because I wanted to walk back to the set instead of getting a ride with him on a terribly dangerous truck.

SL: What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

Joan: My daughter Katy’s accident when she was eight. I was in Paris working any my husband had come with me even though we had discussed him staying behind to look after her. She was staying with a friend and they were playing in their back garden in their country house when she strayed onto the road, chasing each other, and got hit by a car. Katy’s friend broke her leg but my daughter sustained a head injury and was in a coma for eight weeks. She had to learn everything again – how to walk, talk, write… It was the most challenging and heartbreaking period of my life.

SL: What is the worst thing that could happen to you?

Joan: I don’t think anything could be worse than losing one of your children.

SL: How do you want to be remembered?

Joan: That I entertained and gave people pleasure.

SL: What’s next?

Joan: Coming to Sussex!

Dame Joan Collins will perform Behind The Shoulderpads at Theatre Royal Brighton on October 21, 2023 at 7.45pm. Alongside her husband, Percy Gibson, the actress will have an intimate chat with the audience, share seldom told tales, enchanting anecdotes, and show rare and fascinating footage from her seven decades in showbusiness. Tickets start from £25 atgtickets.com