BFF26: Shirley Valentine

Retrospective

In tribute to the late Pauline Collins, we present her iconic Oscar-nominated performance in the 1989 comedic drama Shirley Valentine. Collins plays Shirley, a bored housewife in Liverpool, England, who dares to take a chance on a trip of a lifetime to the sunny and sensual Greek islands.

Adapted from the one-woman play of the same name (also starring Collins), the film follows Shirley who is offered a last-minute ticket to Greece by her adventurous friend Jane (Alison Steadman). Taking the chance to trade her mundane life as housewife for cocktails by the mediterranean sea with a Greek bachelor, Shirley embarks on a journey of mid-life self-discovery.

With a career spanning six decades across film, television, and theatre, Pauline Collins leaves behind a distinctive legacy. Much like her character Shirley, Collins was given a new lease on life with the widespread success of both the original play and the later film. For her standout performance in Shirley Valentine, Collins won the Best Actress BAFTA and was nominated for an Academy Award® and Golden Globe.

WINNER | Best Actress, BAFTA Awards 1990
NOMINEE | Best Actress, Academy Awards 1990
NOMINEE | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Awards 1990