This public figure grew up during the period of war. However, she could barely recall what transpired that caused the war because she was still too young. It had an effect on her schooling, but she became one of the most iconic stars.
Born in London, England, on May 23, 1933, this celebrity is the eldest child of Elsa, a former nightclub hostess, and Joseph, a talent agent.
Elsa, a British native, and her husband, Joseph, a South African, welcomed two more children together: Jackie in 1937 and Bill in 1946. The family lived during the World War II period.
They sought shelter in Tube stations with other London residents hiding from German bombs that were all over the city. This girl recalled those times in May 2020.
The celebrity pictured on September 1, 1951 | Sources: Getty Images
She shared that she was quite young when the war started and that her father had to stay in London to host and entertain those who remained there. She added:
“But I was evacuated constantlyz. […] We were all over the place.”
This negatively affected her schooling as her family could not stay in one place. This showbiz star admitted it was a challenging period for her. However, she and her sibling were fortunate enough to have their mother with them, which made things easier.
She recalled her and her loved ones sleeping in the underground, “We went to the one at Marble Arch the most. It was very convivial – people would have accordions and they’d sing.”
Who Is the Girl Who Slept in the Underground?
The girl who was an evacuee is Joan Collins, an English actress. She became a household name after appearing in the 1981 drama series, “Dynasty,” alongside Linda Evans.
In October 2013, in an interview, Collins revealed her grandmother, who taught her how to sing and do tap dance, and splits, encouraged her to pursue acting. However, her father discouraged her from becoming an actress, saying that by age 23, she would no longer be relevant to the industry. Evidently, she soared over everyone’s expectations.
Joan Collins in the set of “Esther and the King,” 1960 | Sources: Getty Images
Though her career has thrived through the years, the same cannot be said about Collins’ love life. The star was once engaged to actor Warren Beatty, then 23, and she fell pregnant with his child when she was 26.
But he urged her to end the pregnancy, arguing that it would tarnish their careers. Although she was initially reluctant, the mother of three later agreed that he was correct.
Although she and Beatty never married, Collins went on to marry four times. She is now married to her fifth husband, actor Percy Gibson, since February 2002.
“Percy is the most honorable man I’ve ever met,” Collins gushed a month after the couple exchanged wedding vows. Although she had no intention of marrying again, he changed her mind.
In 2000, the pair met in New York City when she was part of a play, and he was a producer. They began a passionate affair when she was in her 60s and he was in his 30s. The age difference never bothered the couple.
Today, Collins is 90 years old, while her longtime husband, Gibson, is 58. The Peru native is 32 years younger than his Golden Globe Award-winning wife.
