If you ever feel like life ends after 40 — just remember Joan Collins.
At 48, she was only beginning her journey to global fame. At 69, she found her true love. And at 85, she starred in American Horror Story!
Childhood: When Dreams Were Born in a Bomb Shelter
Who would’ve thought that a little girl from war-torn London, watching The Wizard of Oz in the midst of WWII, would become one of Hollywood’s brightest stars? But Joan always had the gift of finding glamour even in the darkest circumstances. While other children hid from German bombs, she was dreaming of spotlights and red carpets.
Fun fact: Joan’s first stage role was… a boy messenger! And even as a teen, she seriously considered transitioning to male.
First Marriage: When a Fairytale Becomes a Nightmare
Now for the dramatic part—18-year-old Joan, a naive beauty, crosses paths with Hollywood predator Maxwell Reed. A horrifying story involving a seasoned actor, sleeping pills, and a seedy hotel.
What’s even more shocking? Joan’s mother’s reaction. Instead of suing or calling out the abuse, she… organized a wedding! Because what could be better for a young actress’s reputation than a quick marriage to her abuser?
Reed turned out to be a “true gentleman”—he beat her and even tried to sell her to an Arab tycoon. Pure romance! But our heroine wouldn’t be Joan if she didn’t at least try to learn from this mess.
Hollywood Era: Collecting Hearts and Disappointments
Moving to Los Angeles, Joan decided it was time to shine. And shine she did—but not in the way she’d hoped. Turns out, she had an unparalleled talent for falling for the worst men in Hollywood.
Charlie Chaplin’s son? Of course! Marlon Brando? Why not? Warren Beatty? Naturally! Joan collected handsome heartbreakers the way others collect stamps—only stamps don’t cheat or leave you at the altar.
The breakup with Beatty hit especially hard. She decided—let’s put it delicately—not to have kids with this “wonderful” man. A decision she later deeply regretted.
Interestingly, Richard Burton was the only one who couldn’t seduce her. Maybe she finally learned her lesson? Or just got tired of Hollywood playboys.
Marriage Marathon: Searching for Mr. Right
Her second marriage to singer and composer Anthony Newley seemed promising. Two kids, a few happy years… until he found a new muse—Barbra Streisand.
Her third marriage to Ron Kass could have been a fairy tale ending—except for one minor detail. He was a drug addict and a compulsive gambler.
And the fourth? Oh, that’s a whole song. Peter Holm, a Swedish rock singer 14 years her junior. Handsome, charming, and attentive to a mature woman. Who would’ve guessed he was after her money?
Particularly “charming” was how Peter treated Joan’s 8-year-old daughter recovering from a car accident. Hitting a sick child takes a special kind of cruelty.
Dynasty: When Being a Diva Becomes a Profession
And then came the role that changed everything. Alexis Carrington in Dynasty—a part tailor-made for Joan. Who better to play a smart, ruthless, and irresistibly charming diva?
The secret to Alexis’s success? Viewers saw a powerful woman. Not a doll, not a side character, but a force who fought for what she wanted. In the 1980s, that was revolutionary.
Funny enough, producers initially wanted to punish Joan for posing in Playboy at 50. A half-naked woman at that age? Scandalous! But audiences thought otherwise and demanded her return. Moral of the story? Sometimes it’s smarter to listen to fans than to your own biases.
The only downside to playing Alexis: Joan began to forget where the character ended and she began. When an actress says she’s relieved the show ended—it says a lot.
Fifth Time’s the Charm?
Finally, at age 68, Joan met Percy Gibson—a man 31 years her junior. The world waited for the fling to fail. It’s been 21 years.
Maybe the secret is that Percy truly loves her? Or maybe Joan finally learned to tell true feelings from fake ones? Or perhaps maturity and wisdom finally triumphed over naivety and romantic illusions.
Jeans Are Evil, Elegance is Everything
“I hate jeans and graphic T-shirts,” Joan once said in an interview.
A shocking statement in today’s world, where leggings are acceptable dinner attire and tracksuits are considered all-purpose outfits.
But not for our heroine! Even at 92, she shows up to parties in gowns, with perfect hair and makeup.
“I don’t fit into L.A. life,” she says. “Everyone walks around in T-shirts and jeans.”
A Millionaire On and Off Screen
Playing a rich woman is one thing—being one is another. Joan did both. Beyond acting, she authored over a dozen books—memoirs, novels, and style guides. Her books sold over 50 million copies, translated into 30 languages!
She’s also a philanthropist, receiving the Order of the British Empire for her work supporting children’s hospices and breast cancer awareness. Still think you’re too busy?
Joan Collins vs. Time: Round 92
In 2018, when most of her peers were retired, Joan starred in American Horror Story. And you know what? She looked fabulous!
