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Michelle Collins

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For other people named Michelle Collins, see Michelle Collins (disambiguation).

Michelle Collins
Collins in 2006
Born
Michelle Danielle Collins

(1962-05-28) 28 May 1962 (age 62)
Hackney, London, England
Occupation(s)Actress, television presenter
Known forCindy Beale in EastEnders (1988–1990, 1992–1998)
Nicki Matthews in Sunburn (1999–2000)
Abby Wallace in Two Thousand Acres of Sky (2001–2003)
Stella Price in Coronation Street (2011–2014)
Spouse
Mike Davidson
​
(m. 2022)​
PartnerFabrizio Tassalini (1995–1998)
Children1

Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962)[1] is an English actress and TV presenter, best known for her roles in the British soap operas EastEnders and Coronation Street.

Collins played Cindy Beale in the BBC soap EastEnders from 1988 to 1998, with a two-year break between 1990 and 1992. She played Stella Price in the ITV soap Coronation Street from 2011 to 2014. Her other notable TV roles include the BBC dramas Real Women (1998–1999), Sunburn (1999–2000) and Two Thousand Acres of Sky (2001–2003).

Early life and education

Collins was born at Hackney South East Hospital in Hackney, east London, to a Welsh mother, Mary, and a father of English and Flemish heritage. [2] Her Flemish grandfather was Belgian from Antwerp and had emigrated to the UK in 1915 when aged five.[3] She and her elder sister Vicki were brought up by their mother Mary in Highbury, London.[1][4] When Collins was 14, her mother went back to university to obtain a law degree.[5] In the 1970s Collins was a member of the youth organisation the Woodcraft Folk, and visited Romania with the group.[6]

She trained at the Royal Court Activists and Cockpit Youth Theatre from the age of 14, and Kingsway Princeton College, where she studied drama and theatre at O/A-level.[7]

Career

Singing

After her exams Collins landed a role in Mikhail Bulgakov's The Crimson Island, directed by Lou Stein, at the Gate Theatre. Her career changed direction after performing in the 1978 video for the Squeeze song "Cool For Cats". The band spent 18 months touring the country, working with artists such as Marc Almond, Level 42, Altered Images and Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

Early acting career

When the band broke up in 1982, she went back into acting and with the help of her friend, the British actor Tim Roth, she successfully gained a part in a musical with Gary Hutton and Gary Shail known as H.M.V. Collins had also been in The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson.

Collins's first TV appearance was with Gary Oldman in the BBC drama Morgan's Boy. Other TV credits included: two series of the sitcom Running Wild, where she played Ray Brooks daughter; a part in ITV drama The Bill; a Screen Two production Lucky Sunil, directed by Michael Caton Jones and a BBC play Pressures. She later appeared in three films: Personal Services, Empire State and Stephen Poliakoff's Hidden City. Collins appeared in an episode of the BBC's Bergerac (series 4) in 1985.

EastEnders

Main article: Cindy Beale

While she was filming the BBC play Pressures in 1988, Collins was spotted by EastEnders producer Julia Smith, who asked her to audition for the role of Cindy Beale, who was to feature in 11 episodes of the soap. The manipulative, reckless nature of her character was a hit with viewers so her contract was extended and the character became a major villain in the series. Cindy was the unfaithful wife of EastEnders stalwart Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), between 1988 and 1998. During breaks from EastEnders she filmed the drama Real Women for the BBC, with Pauline Quirke and Frances Barber. On 14 November 2014, Collins reprised the role of Cindy for a short stint for Children in Need.[8]

After EastEnders

After leaving EastEnders in 1998 (when her character met an untimely demise offscreen), her career flourished with a series of drama roles. These include: two series of Real Women (BBC One); two series of Sunburn (BBC One), for which Collins sang the theme song (which was a no. 28 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1999);[9] Daylight Robbery (ITV); The Sleeper (BBC One); Uprising (ITV): three series of Two Thousand Acres of Sky (BBC One):[10] the two-part series Perfect (ITV); Lloyd and the Hill (ITV) and Ella and the Mothers (BBC One). In 2003 Collins played Sarah Barton in Single.[11]

In 2003, Collins filmed the BBC drama Sea of Souls and then went on to star in a film for Granada/Channel 4 called The Illustrated Mum, which told the story of two girls coping with the unpredictable behaviour of their depressed, alcoholic mother. The film, written by Jacqueline Wilson, was based on the children's novel of the same name. It was screened to great acclaim over Christmas 2003 and won an Emmy Award and two BAFTAs.

In 2004, she starred in an episode of French and Saunders and also starred with fellow EastEnders actor Martin Kemp in the ITV drama Can't Buy Me Love, which was watched by nearly eight million viewers. The programme was inspired by the real-life story of Howard Walmsley, who was jailed for fraud after pretending to win the lottery to keep his wife Donna (played by Collins) from leaving him. Their lives and marriage were subsequently turned upside down by the events that unfolded. In 2005, Collins starred in the ITV drama The Last Detective and in the BBC drama The Family Man, alongside ex-EastEnder Daniela Denby-Ashe, which aired in March 2006. She starred in the West End musical Daddy Cool, and while working during the night there shot sequences for a cameo in the short film Broken written and directed by Vicki Psarias, which went on to win the several international awards. She also featured in the film Don't Stop Dreaming, released in 2007. She left Daddy Cool in January 2007 to shoot the Doctor Who episode "42".[12]

On 2 July 2007, it was announced that Collins has been cast for the lead role of Karina Faith in new ITV drama series, Rock Rivals, produced by Shed Productions.[13] In 2009, Collins took part in the BBC Wales programme Coming Home about her Welsh family history. On 21 May 2009, it was rumoured that Collins had auditioned to star in US drama Desperate Housewives, but she did join the cast.[14][15][16]

In June 2010, it was announced that Collins would make a six-episode guest appearance as a patient's mother in Casualty.[17] In 2010, she also guest-starred in Romeo & Juliet at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, playing the Nurse. From 7 April-7 May 2011, Collins starred as Sheila Grundy, Fred Dibnah's third wife, in The Demolition Man at Octagon Theatre, Bolton.

Coronation Street

Main article: Stella Price

"I am honoured to be joining the cast of Coronation Street. The show has been part of my life since I was a child, so to become a part of it is extremely exciting."

In January 2011, a rumour was posted on Digital Spy that Collins was in talks to join EastEnders' main rivalling soap Coronation Street, after she allegedly met with soap's producer and close friend Phil Collinson.[18] Three months later it was confirmed Collins had joined the cast as Stella Price, new landlady of the Rovers Return pub, beating Lisa Maxwell for the role.[19] Her first episode aired on 16 June 2011 and gained a rating of 8.4 million.[20] It was announced on 22 August 2013 Collins had decided to leave Coronation Street.[21] In January 2014, Collins claimed she was "unhappy" over the lack of screen time for her and her character. Collins filmed her final scenes on 19 February 2014, and made her final appearance as Stella on 2 April 2014.[22]

After Coronation Street

Since leaving Coronation Street, Collins has had various guest roles in television dramas: Casualty as Samantha Kellman (2014), Death in Paradise as Annette Burgess (2015), and Midsomer Murders as Nadine Campbell (2016). In October 2019 Collins appeared in Casualty as Lorna Rowle/Hammond.

In 2016, Collins took part in the ITV reality series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.2-1

Personal life

Collins has a daughter by ex-partner Fabrizio Tassalini, Maia Rose (born 29 September 1996).[23]

In 2014, Collins revealed that in 1998 – distraught by the end of her relationship with Tassalini and feeling career pressure – she attempted suicide while filming Sunburn in Cyprus. She took an overdose of sleeping pills but later woke up and asked her costar to take her to the hospital.[24]

After their split, Collins had an amicable relationship with Tassalini, who lived close by, and they raised their daughter together until he died in 2014.[5] In April 2022 Collins announced she was engaged to her partner of 10 years, Mike Davidson. They married in August.

In August 2014, Collins was one of 200 public figures to sign a letter to The Guardian in opposition to Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[25]

Collins is involved in charitable causes. She is an ambassador for Oxfam and has visited Brazil, South Africa and Armenia, promoting the need for the basic right to education.[26] She is also an ambassador for Ambitious about Autism and a patron for the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation.[27][28]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Note(s)
1987 Empire State Emma Supporting Role
1987 Personal Services June Supporting Role
1987 Hidden City Applicant at Hairdressing Salon Minor Role
1993 Shattered Family Julie Supporting Role
1996 Darkman III: Die Darkman Die Nurse Minor Role
2001 Lloyd & Hill DI Judy Hill Main Role
2003 The Night We Called It a Day Mrs. Appleby Supporting Role
2003 The Illustrated Mum Marigold Westward Main Role
2007 Don't Stop Dreaming Jessica Main Role
2021 Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins Mandy Williams Supporting Role

Television

Year Title Role Note(s)
1984 Scene Ria Episode: "Good Neighbours"
1984 Morgan's Boy Carol Episode: #1.1
1985 Marjorie and Men Debbie 2 episodes
1985 Bergerac Trace Episode: "Chrissie"
1986 The Bill Sharon Brand Episode: "Loan Shark"
1986 Gems Pru Murphy 10 episodes
1987–1989 Running Wild Stephanie Wild All 13 episodes
1987 Full House Abby Episode: "The First Day of School"
1988 Screen Two Daisy Episode: "Lucky Sunil"
1988–1990,
1992–1998 		EastEnders Cindy Beale Regular role; 576 episodes
1999–2000 Sunburn Nicki Matthews Main role; 14 episodes
1999–2000 Daylight Robbery Kathy Lawrence Main role
2001–2003 Two Thousand Acres of Sky Abby Wallace Main role
2002 Ella and the Mothers Gina Main role
2003 The Illustrated Mum Marigold Westward Main role
2003 Lloyd & Hill DI Judy Hill TV film
2004 French and Saunders Regan Lear Episode #6.4
2004 Sea of Souls Katie Quinn 2 episodes
2005 The Last Detective Maureen Fallon Episode: "Willesden Confidential"
2006 The Family Man Gillian TV film
2007 Doctor Who Kath McDonnell Episode: "42"
2008 Rock Rivals Karina Faith 8 episodes
2009 Hotel Babylon Karen Episode: #4.8
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Treadwell Episode: “The Secret of Chimneys”
2010 Casualty Camille Lewis 4 episodes
2011–2014 Coronation Street Stella Price Regular role; 447 episodes
2014 Casualty Samantha Kellman 3 episodes
2014 Children in Need Cindy Beale EastEnders special
2015 Death in Paradise Annette Burgess Episode: “She Was Murdered Twice”
2015 Suntrap Coco Episode: “Casino”
2016 Midsomer Murders Nadine Campbell Episode: “The Incident at Cooper Hill”
2018 The Dumping Ground Fiona Johnson 4 episodes
2019 Queens of Mystery Electra Bliss 2 episodes "Death by Vinyl"
2019 Casualty Lorna Rowle Episode: #34.8

Guest appearances

Theatre Credits

Year Title Role Note(s)
1990-1991 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Snow White Oxford Apollo
1991-1992 Aladdin The Princess Oxford Apollo
1994-1995 Jack and the Beanstalk Jack Hackney Empire
1996-1997 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Orchard Theatre, Dartford
2004 Rattle of a Simple Man Cyreene Harold Pinter Theatre
2004-2005 The Play What I Wrote Various UK Tour
2006-2007 Daddy Cool Ma Baker Shaftesbury Theatre
2008-2009 Cinderella Wicked Stepmother Bristol Hippodrome
2010 Calendar Girls Cora Phoenix Theatre; Various
2011 Romeo and Juliet Nurse Octagon Theatre, Bolton
2011 The Demolition Man Sheila Grundy Octagon Theatre, Bolton
2014 The Glass Supper Wendy Hampstead Theatre, London
2016 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Baroness Bombhurst UK Tour
2016-2017 Aladdin The Genie Aylesbury Waterside
2017 A Dark Night in Dalston Gina Park Theatre, London
Thoroughly Modern Millie Mrs. Meers UK Tour
2017-2018 Cinderella Wicked Stepmother Orchard Theatre, Dartford
2018-2019 Jack and the Beanstalk Fairy Nuff Crewe Lyceum
2019 My Dad’s Gap Year Cath Park Theatre, London
How Love is Spelt Marion Southwark Playhouse
2019-2020 Sleeping Beauty Carabosse Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2020 The Birthday Party Meg UK Tour
2021 Safe Sex Marion The Turbine Theatre, London
2021-2022 Sleeping Beauty Nightshade Poole Lighthouse Theatre
2022 Cluedo Miss Scarlett UK Tour

References

  1. ^ a b Collins, Michelle (2014). This Is Me. Michael O'Mara Books. p. 9. ISBN 978-1782432326.
  2. ^ "BBC One – Coming Home, Series 4, Michelle Collins". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. ^ Lambert, Victoria (10 October 2016). "Michelle Collins: 'I signed up to be an actress, not a celebrity'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Life after Cindy". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Exclusive Michelle Collins on Her Looks, The Toyboy, Pole-Dancing, Yoga.. And Why She Stopped Watching X Factor". Daily Mirror. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. ^ Lam, Sophie (15 March 2008). "My Life in Travel: Michelle Collins". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. ^ Charalambous, Anthi (6 June 1999). "How We Met: Michelle Collins & Aldo Zilli". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. ^ Liz Cookman (7 November 2014). "Why it's time to stop bringing old EastEnders characters back". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 115. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ "BBC Drama – Two Thousand Acres of Sky – Michelle Collins". BBC. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  11. ^ Cousens, Claire (3 November 2003). "ITV drama hopes dashed". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Collins cast". BBC Doctor Who website. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  13. ^ "Michelle Collins lands 'Rock Rivals' role", Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  14. ^ "EastEnders" Star Auditions for "Housewives", Digital Spy, 14 July 2009.
  15. ^ "Michelle Collins Has 'Desperate Housewives' Audition", What's on TV, 14 July 2009.
  16. ^ Michelle Collins "Would Do Soap Again", Digital Spy, 30 July 2009.
  17. ^ Staff. "Michelle Collins to Guest Star". Holby.tv. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  18. ^ Daniels, Colin (23 January 2011). "Michelle Collins for 'Coronation Street'?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Michelle Collins joins Coronation Street". BBC News. 15 April 2011.
  20. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (17 June 2011). "Michelle Collins's 'Coronation Street' debut nabs 8.4m". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Michelle Collins to leave Coronation Street". BBC News. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  22. ^ Michelle Collins (2 April 2014). "T'rah Stella! Michelle Collins waves goodbye to Coronation Street and opens up on life after the cobbles". Metro. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  23. ^ Michelle Collins (2014). This Is Me. Michael O'Mara Books. p. 112. ISBN 978-1782432326.
  24. ^ Doug Wight (30 March 2014). "Michelle Collins tells of suicide bid: I took pills and decided no one would miss me". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  25. ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Countries we work in | Oxfam GB". Oxfam.org.uk. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  27. ^ "Ambassadors". Ambitious about Autism. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  28. ^ "Patrons". Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013.

Published works

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