Joan Collins swipes at Frank Sinatra over meeting when he was ‘past his prime’ 

Dame Joan Collins did not enjoy her chance meeting with Frank Sinatra less than two years before the legendary crooner died.

Speaking at Kite Festival, journalist Decca Aitkenhead asked the actress: “You met Frank Sinatra… I was wondering which stars you always hoped if you arrived at a dinner party that you would be sitting next to.”

Without a pause, the 90-year-old addressed attending Sir Roger Moore’s 69th birthday celebration, quipping: “Well not Frank Sinatra, I’m sorry to say.

“He was a bit past his prime. [Wife] Barbara Sinatra was sitting opposite saying, ‘Have you taken your pills Frank?’”

“He was around 80 then. He had a tough life in terms of drinking,” she added.

The music legend died at the age of 82 back in 1998, after suffering two heart attacks.

In an extract from her book My Unapologetic Diaries that focuses on the late 1990s, Joan went into further detail about her attendance at Roger’s birthday at Le Dome.

The actress discussed how she apparently had the best seat in the house sitting between Frank and Gregory Peck, and opposite the late James Bond legend, who died in 2017.

The latter was sat next to Frank’s fourth spouse, Barbara, with Joan sharing her opinion on the Come Fly with Me legend.

She said: “Mine is not an easy draw because Frank Sinatra is not and never has been interested in talking about anything other than himself.”

Joan claimed that “his mind wandered a lot” during his later years.

To see such a big star fading away before her eyes was difficult for Joan, who has enjoyed an illustrous Hollywood career.

She added: “It’s frightfully sad to see this golden icon now a befuddled old man.”

Joan, finding Frank hard company, preferred talking to Gregory, who died in 2003, who she called “a little dull” but still an “adorable” man.

Frank was hospitalised frequently in his later years for heart and breathing problems, as well as high blood pressure, pneumonia and bladder cancer.

He also suffered from dementia.