Few Hollywood stars can claim a career as long, or as glamorous, as Joan Collins.
The actress, author and pop culture icon is celebrating her 93rd birthday on May 23 after spending more than seven decades in the entertainment industry.
Born in London in 1933, Collins began acting as a teenager and quickly rose to fame during the 1950s, becoming known for her beauty, screen presence and dramatic performances. Early in her career, she appeared in films including The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing and Land of the Pharaohs, helping establish herself as one of the era’s rising stars.
“I still feel like that 20-year old girl leaving her family and friends 7,000 miles away to go chase her dreams in Hollywood,” Collins told Vogue in 2022. “I’d never been before, and didn’t know a single soul except for a makeup artist on one of my first films, Land of the Pharaohs. I was not aware at that time of how brave that really was.”
It was in the 1980s that all that bravery culminated in Collins achieving her most iconic role.
Her portrayal of the glamorous and ruthless Alexis Carrington on Dynasty transformed her into one of television’s defining stars of the decade. Alexis became famous for her sharp one-liners, elaborate fashion and explosive rivalries, helping turn Dynasty into one of the biggest primetime soap operas in television history.
The role also earned Collins major critical recognition, including a Golden Globe Awards win for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama in 1983. She also received multiple Emmy nominations during the height of the show’s success.
Beyond acting, Collins built a remarkably successful second career as an author.
Over the years, she published numerous novels, memoirs and lifestyle books, becoming a bestselling writer known for glamorous Hollywood-inspired fiction and candid autobiographical works. Her books frequently explored fame, relationships and the entertainment industry, helping expand her celebrity far beyond television audiences.
Among her best-known books are memoirs like Past Imperfect and The World According to Joan, which offered readers an inside look at both old Hollywood and her own extraordinary life.
Collins has also remained active in film, television and theater well into her later years, continuing to make public appearances and embrace her status as a pop culture legend.
Her longevity in entertainment is especially remarkable given how dramatically Hollywood has changed throughout her career, from the studio system era to modern streaming television.
Now at 93, Joan Collins remains one of the last living stars whose career truly connects multiple generations of Hollywood history. And, she has no plans to retire. “The thing is, actors can go on for ever, because there are always roles for them,” she told The Guardian.
From classic films to Dynasty fame to bestselling books, Collins’ legacy continues to stand as one of the entertainment industry’s most enduring success stories.
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This story was originally published by Parade on May 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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