Trivia

Replaced Marilyn Monroe in The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955). Marilyn was considered too old at age 29 when the girl was supposed to be age 17.

First husband Maxwell Reed tried to sell her to an Arab sheik for £10,000, just seven months after their wedding.

Only appeared in 13 of 22 episodes during the final season of Dynasty (1981) because the producers told her they could not afford to pay her every week.

A doll and an action figure were made in the likeness of her character on Star Trek (1966), Edith Keeler.

Refused to return to work on Dynasty (1981) at the beginning of the 1985-86 season until she was given a raise, forcing the writers to write her out of the first episode of the season. It was a bold move on her part, because the previous season's cliffhanger was the infamous "Moldavian Massacre", in which all the characters were shot. It would have been very easy for the producers to fire her and eliminate the character of Alexis by having her being killed in the shootout. However, she successfully negotiated a raise to around $60,000 per episode and returned to work, missing only one episode.

At age 16, she was courted by 19-year-old Larry Hagman. He had to be very respectful and report to her father.

Her father was born in South Africa, to a Jewish family (some of whom had come from the Netherlands and Germany). Her mother was English, and had French ancestry.

Turned down Frank Sinatra, Robert F. Kennedy, Darryl F. Zanuck and Dean Martin.

Attended the funeral of Sharon Tate on August 13, 1969 and was among the guests at Tate's wedding to Roman Polanski 19 months earlier.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 Queen's New Year's Honours List for her services to drama.

Older sister of Jackie Collins.

Dated realtor Bill Wiggins, Mercedes-Benz heir Mick Flick, director George Englund, producers Robert Evans and Arthur M. Loew Jr., and actors Gardner McKay, Harry Belafonte, Warren Beatty, Dennis Hopper, Sydney Chaplin and Ryan O'Neal.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 14, 1983.

The second volume of her autobiography was called "Second Act" and was released in 1996, following her successful court battle against her publisher, Random House. The company had demanded that Joan return the $2-million advance it had given her for two novels, as it claimed her submissions were "substandard". The New York judge ruled in her favor.

Has been good friends with Dame Shirley Bassey for many years. Shirley sang at her wedding to Percy Gibson.

Met her fifth husband, theatre manager Percy Gibson, when she appeared in a touring production of the play "Love Letters" in the United States. Gibson helped edit her new novel, "Star Quality". She was 68 and he was 36.

Has three children: Tara Newley Arkle (born October 12, 1963) and Alexander Newley (born September 8, 1965) by Anthony Newley; Katyana Kass (born June 20, 1972) by Ronald S. Kass.

Separated permanently with first husband Maxwell Reed on her 21st birthday.

Godmother of supermodel-actress Cara Delevingne.

She is one of only three actors to have played Special Guest Villains on Batman (1966) who are still alive, the others being Julie Newmar and John Astin. Collins is the only one of these three whose villain character ('The Siren') was made for the series (and not off on the comic books).

Great admirer of former Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher.

She was the fourth choice to play the role of Alexis Carrington on Dynasty (1981). The other contenders were Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Jessica Walter.

Resided with Robin Hurlstone from 1988 - 2001.

Became a grandmother on October 5, 1998. However, being Joan, she refuses to be called "Grandma"; Miel Celeste Adam calls her "DoDo" instead.

Her younger sister, author Jackie Collins, passed away on September 19, 2015, only two weeks away from what would have been her 78th birthday on October 4.

Affectionately known as "The British Open" because of her liberal lifestyle.

She was awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2015 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to charity. She is a philanthropist and a charity campaigner.

She was one of a number of actresses, including Joanne Woodward, who did a screen test for the title role of Cleopatra (1963). The role went to Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

She is allergic to shellfish.

Has described herself as "right-wing" [politically], although she once collected welfare in the United States per her autobiography.

Her first agent was her father Joseph Collins in London. Later in her career, her agent was the well-regarded Swifty Lazar (aka "Swifty" Lazar), until his death on December 30, 1993.

Pulled in a reported $120,000 per episode as Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty (1981).

Had often feuded with Charlotte Rae.

Daughter Tara Newley Arkle is a news anchor in England. Son Alexander Newley is an artist. Daughter Katyana Kass is a theatrical production assistant. (2000)

She was under consideration for the role of Elaine Robinson in Mike Nichols' The Graduate (1967). The role went to Katharine Ross.

Best known by the public for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty (1981).

Has four grandchildren: Miel and Weston by daughter Tara Newley Arkle, and Ava and Deia by son Alexander Newley.

Trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London, England, joining at age 15.

Two of her childhood wishes came true when she made her debut on Broadway (wish #1) in 1991 in Noël Coward's "Private Lives" and starred as Amanda (wish #2).

In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Dhia Cristiani, except Land of the Pharaohs (1955) and Sea Wife (1957) where she was dubbed by Clelia Bernacchi and Lydia Simoneschi respectively.

In the book "Son of Golden Turkey Awards" (1986) by Harry and Michael Medved, Joan won the award for "The Most Humiliating Performance by a Future Television Star" for her role in the horror film Empire of the Ants (1977).

Brother William Collins Jr. (born 1946) is a real estate agent.

Former stepmother of Robert Kass.