She may be a Golden Globe winner, have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and have countless acting credits to her name – but Dame Joan Collins isn’t able to stop working.
It may come as a surprise, but the 90-year-old showbiz icon has insisted she’s not rich enough to retire, even though she’s been in the industry since the 1950s.
Known as one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, the movie star has assured fans that, despite having to work to fund her lifestyle, she does genuinely love it.
During a new interview, Dame Joan spoke about her busy schedule as she prepares to head on a month-long stage tour this October.
Dame Joan – who has properties in London, LA, and France – told The Times: ‘I work because I have to make a living.’
On people’s misconceptions that she could throw in the towel altogether, she added: ‘This is what astounds me. What kind of money do you think I have?’
The money she works for, however, goes towards all her luxuries.
Just recently, she splashed out $7,000 (£5,452) on a first-class flight when a return journey was not included in a company’s expenses.
And no, you won’t see her sitting in economy anytime soon.
‘We were going back to London and somebody sneered, “Alexis Colby in steerage! How can you do that?” At that point I said, “Right, that’s it. We’re not economising anymore.”
‘I figure I deserve the lifestyle that I work for.’
Later on, she reiterated: ‘I work because I love it.’
Dame Joan explained that it’s the ‘roar of the greasepaint’ and ‘the smell of the crowd’ that get her out of bed in the morning.
‘I love acting and I’m really looking forward to the tour because that, in a way, is acting too. I’m putting on my best persona so that you’ll write nice things about me.’
Elsewhere in the interview, with Emmy nominee spoke about her health, which she assured is tip top after a string of problems over recent years.
She suffered from back pain last year, but physiotherapy sorted that out for her.
Dame Joan has also had Covid twice, describing the first time as ‘like a cold’ but the second time as much worse.
As the interviewer probed her on death, Dame Joan insisted she’s not scared of dying.
‘No. Are you?’, she replied when asked.
As the interview said they were ‘a little bit’, she responded: ‘Oh, you are? I don’t think about it.’
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