Tributes have been paid to actress Pauline Collins, who died aged 85.
Valentine, who was best known for starring in Shirley Valentine, also starred in the series of sitcom, The Liver Birds, before becoming a household name for her role in Upstairs Downstairs in 1971.
In 1989, Collins starred in Shirley Valentine, a film which saw her earn an Oscar nomination. The film saw her play the lead character of a dissatisfied Liverpudlian housewife.
Collins also starred in the 1997 film, Paradise Road, alongside Glenn Close, Frances McDormand and Cate Blanchett.
Her death was confirmed by a statement posted to the PA news agency, confirming that she died "peacefully at her care home in Highgate this week, having endured Parkinson's for several years".
"We are heartbroken to announce that Pauline Collins died peacefully at her care home in Highgate this week, having endured Parkinson’s for several years", it read. "She was surrounded by her family".
"Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen", it continued. "Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens".
"She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them".
It added: "More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us. And she was John’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years".
The statement ended saying: "We particularly want to thank her carers: angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love. She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers, so joyful and full of energy; and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her".
Paying tribute to Pauline Collins, her husband John Alderton, an actor who also starred in Upstairs Downstairs, paid this tribute to his late wife.
"Pauline Collins was a remarkable star. I had the great good fortune to have worked with her more than any other actor in our many TV series, films and West End stage shows together, and watched her genius at close quarters", he said.
"What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with. She wanted everyone to be special and she did this by never saying 'Look at me’. It’s no wonder that she was voted the nation’s sweetheart in the 1970s".
"She will always be remembered for Shirley Valentine, not only for her Oscar nomination or the film itself, but for clean-sweeping all seven awards when she portrayed her on Broadway in the stage play, in which she played every character herself".
"But her greatest performance was as my wife and mother to our beautiful children".
Collins and Alderton married and 1969, and had three children Nicholas, Kate and Richard.
