‘She knew how to love and be loved’: Julia McKenzie and Jonathan Pryce pay tribute to Pauline Collins

‘You didn’t get technique thrown at you – you got Pauline thrown at you’

Pauline Collins and Julia Mckenzie in the Shirley Valentine film. Photograph: Paramount/Allstar

Pauline shared so many traits with Shirley: crispness mixed with warmth, kindness and generosity, being very down-to-earth – and very funny. She just had everything for that role. She was born to play it.

She didn’t do a lot of technique, although she was very experienced and a thorough pro on set. You didn’t get technique thrown at you – you got Pauline thrown at you. Which was just what you wanted.

Then in 2010 she guest-starred on an episode of Marple. We were shooting the scene in which I had to give a long, convoluted speech saying who killed who and where and why. I had a bit of a meltdown. I lost track of my lines and we had to stop the scene – which had never happened before.

Pauline Collins in Marple episode The Pale Horse (2010). Photograph: ITV/Shutterstock

I was murmuring to myself: “I’ve gotta give this up, I’ve gotta give this up.” Pauline was very calm and said: “Sit down, have a cup of tea, relax, and then we’ll go again.” It really helped me and stuck with me – her humanity and compassion.

I remember an evening we spent together socially after that. She and my husband had a long chat about work. He asked her what her favourite roles were to play, and she said: “Well, something a bit sexy, really.” And she did bring that to roles, too – especially Shirley Valentine. She was very sweet. My thoughts are with John and their family. The care they showed her was unbelievable. She really was much loved.

‘Her restraint and economy were what made her so funny’

Jonathan Pryce

Pauline Collins and Jonathan Pryce in Dough. Photograph: TCD/Prod DB/Alamy

I first worked with Pauline 50 years ago at the Old Vic. I was 28 and making my London stage debut in Comedians. Pauline was already an established TV star and a warm, sincere and hugely talented actor. What I remember most is her kindness and the laughter. She had a great sense of fun and, during the run of Engaged, while delighting the audience, she could also reduce her fellow actors to fits of giggles with just a look.

As an actor she showed restraint and economy, which made her so funny and so compelling. Her honesty always shone through. I was hugely fond of her and 40 years later got to work with her again in the film Dough. She was still as generous and witty and lovable as ever. I am so sad for John and her family, but so glad I had the chance to know her.