She has been famous for more than seven decades – and has as much zest and ambition today as she did at 18. She discusses fame, politics, the casting couch, motherhood and marrying five times
Joan Collins steps out of the chauffeur-driven limo – white frock, wide-brimmed white hat, huge shades, rocks on her fingers. Even if she wasn’t Joan Collins, you would stop to look. Some people just have the air of a star. At 90, hers shows no sign of waning – although, as she reminds me a number of times, we don’t discuss age in Dame Joan’s world.
This is one of her favourite restaurants, close to her home in south-west London. We are here to talk about her new one-woman show and book, called Behind the Shoulder Pads. The head waiter directs us to our table in the corner. He is delighted to see Collins. And Collins is delighted to be here. She loves her food.