Joan Collins - Details

JOAN COLLINS is an award winning actress, best- selling author, accomplished producer, successful entrepreneur and devoted humanitarian.

Prior to beginning work on The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas she produced and starred in the film The Clandestine Marriage with Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Her latest book, My Friends' Secret, is on the bestseller list in the U.K. and will be published in America in April 2000. She will co-star with George Hamilton and Stacy Keach on stage in a limited engagement of Love Letters, starting April 11.

She first appeared on the London stage at the age of nine in a production of Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Arts Theatre. She went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and after just 18 months was signed to an exclusive contract by the Rank Organization where she made such films such as Our Girl Friday, I Believe in You and The Good Die Young.

The Golden Globe and People's Choice Award-winning actress has starred in more than 55 films, including: Girl in a Red Velvet Swing, Rally' 'Round the Fla9 Boys, Sea Wife, The Bravados, The Road to Hong Kong and Virgin Queen. Recent credits include Decadence and Kenneth Branagh's In the Bleak Mid-Winter

With more than 30 televisions shows to her credit, her most memorable role was that of Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty, which became the top-rated drama throughout the world. She produced and starred in the mini-series Sins, and also produced the mini-series Monte Carlo. Recent TV credits include a Hart to Hart movie-of-the-week, ABC's family film Annie: A Royal Adventure, a guest appearance on the hit TV series The Nanny and guest starring roles in six special episodes of Pacific Palisades. She has joined the cast of Will & Grace and will make her first appearance in the May sweeps.

Her first major stage role was in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; other notable roles included the lead in The Seventh Veil, Claudia & David and The Praying Mantis. Joan returned to the British stage in 1980 to play the title role in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney at the Chichester Festival Theatre and later in the West End.

Her most recent stage appearance was in Noel Coward's Private Lives, which earned her outstanding reviews in the West End and on Broadway.

In addition to her acting career, Joan is a prolific author. Her books include her autobiography Past Imperfect, a second autobiography Second Act, three novels: - Prime Time, Love, Desire & Hate, Too Damn Famous, and a non-fiction work Health, Youth and Happiness: My Secrets.

Her entrepreneurial skills have resulted in the Joan Collins Eyewear Fashion Line Collection, which is the number one celebrity eyewear endorsement.

Collins has been honored with the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her lifetime contributions to the arts and her continuing charity work which includes such organizations as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, the Joan Collins Wing of the Children's Hospital of Michigan, Variety clubs International and the Association of Breast Cancer Studies.