She was the eldest daughter of Elsa Collins and Joseph William Collins. Her mother was a dance teacher and nightclub hostess while her father was a theatrical booking agent. She has one sister, Jackie, who is an author, and one brother, Bill.

She went to Francis Holland School - a school for girls in London. Later on she went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

In 1951 she made her feature film debut as a beauty contest entrant in ‘Lady Godiva Rides Again’. It was followed by minor appearances in films like ‘The Woman’s Angle’ (1952) and ‘The Good Die Young’ (1954).

She played the femme fatale in Howard Hawks’ epic ‘Land of the Pharaohs’ in 1955. The movie was a big flop and did nothing to further her career.

During the 1950s she gained a reputation as a popular pin-up model. With her pretty looks and grace, she often found herself on the covers of such magazines like ‘Span’ and ‘66’.

She portrayed the actress Evelyn Nesbit in a fictionalized account of her life in ‘The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing’ in 1955. The film revolves around the story of a beautiful actress whose former lover is killed by her jealous husband.

She decided to concentrate on her family life and did not work much during the 1960s. She made several guest appearances in television shows including ‘Batman’, ‘Star Trek’, ‘The Virginian’ and ‘The Danny Thomas Hour’.

She appeared in the segment ‘And All Through The House’ as Joanne Clayton in the horror film ‘Tales from the Crypt’ in 1972. The story revolved around five strangers who meet a mysterious crypt keeper in a crypt who tells them the manner of their death.

The year 1981 saw her fortunes change for the better. She was offered the role of Alexis Carrington in the struggling soap opera ‘Dynasty’. She was to portray the beautiful but vicious ex-wife of a tycoon Blake Carrington. She played the role to perfection and was greatly appreciated for her performance.

By 1985, this once struggling series became the most watched show in the United States, ranked at No.1. Collins was credited with resuscitating the fortunes of the show with her amazing performance. From 1982 to 1987, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award every year.

The series ‘Dynasty’ came to an end in 1989. The cast came together again in 1991 for ‘Dynasty: The Reunion’, a miniseries that concluded the series which had previously been cancelled abruptly.

Over the 1990s she continued appearing in guest roles in television shows and played minor roles in films. She also made a return to the stage and played Amanda in a revival of the play ‘Private Lives’ in 1990.

She is also an established author. She has written several literary works in the genres of fiction, non-fiction, lifestyle books, and memoirs. Her best selling novels include ‘Prime Time’ and ‘My Secrets’. Her books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide.

She is best known for playing the primary antagonist, Alexis Carrington Colby on the television series ‘Dynasty’ who is hell-bent on destroying her former husband’s life. Her character was named among ‘The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time’ by T.V. Guide.

She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her contribution to the arts and her charity work.

She was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Diego International Film Festival in 2005.

In 2013 she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sedona International Film Festival.

Her first marriage was to Irish actor Maxwell Reed which lasted from 1952 till 1956. She then married Anthony Newley in 1963 and had two children with him. This marriage too ended in separation.

She exchanged vows again in 1972 with Ron Kass; the couple had one child before divorcing in 1983. She was married to singer Peter Holm from 1985 to 1987.

She married for the fifth time in 2002 to Percy Gibson. She is regarded as a glamorous grandmother for looking so beautiful and fit even at this age.

She has been actively involved in charities for years. She was made a patron of the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities in 1983. She is also an honorary founding member of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.