Collins was 'phenomenal' says pal Conti

PAULINE Collins was a “phenomenal” talent who “just leapt out of the screen at us”, her friend and fellow actor Tom Conti has said.

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Collins, whose role in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine earned her an Oscar nomination, died this week at the age of 85, her family announced on Thursday.

She starred in the first series of sitcom The Liver Birds but did not become a household name until getting a regular role in Upstairs Downstairs in 1971.

More recently, she starred in Dustin Hoffman’s 2012 comedy Quartet alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Billy Connolly.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast yesterday, Conti, who starred with Collins in Shirley Valentine, said she possessed “star quality”.