"Doctor Who" and "Shirley Valentine" star Pauline Collins has died.

British actress Pauline Collins, who was nominated for an Oscar for her leading role in the film Shirley Valentine, has died at the age of 85 after a long illness. Deadline magazine reported this on November 6, citing a statement from the actress' family.

"Pauline has been very important to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparkling, witty presence on stage and screen. Her brilliant career has shown how she played politicians, mothers and queens," the magazine quotes a fragment of the statement.

Collins died surrounded by her loved ones, having suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years, Deadline said.

The actress was born on September 3, 1940 and graduated from the Royal Central School of Stage Speech and Dramatic Art. She later became an actress and appeared as Samantha Briggs in the popular TV series Doctor Who.

A breakthrough in the career of an actress occurred in the 1970s thanks to the TV series "Up and Down the Stairs." International recognition came to her in 1989 after the release of the film "Shirley Valentine", for the theatrical version of which she won the Laurence Olivier Award. Her filmography also includes "Miss Marple", "The Three Musketeers", "Dickensada" and others.

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