Joan Collins, who celebrated her 93rd birthday yesterday , outshone her colleagues half her age on the red carpet in Cannes a few days ago. She brought a touch of real glamour to the Cannes Film Festival.
The legendary actress wore a sculptural white orchid-inspired gown with a long cape from French designer Stephane Rolland’s haute couture collection. In the gown, paired with dramatic black silk gloves, diamond jewelry and equally ornate shoes, Collins exuded the energy of Alexis Carrington . It was a throwback to the 1980s, when the British actress, as the scheming queen of “Dynasty,” practically set the fashion rules.
"It was very exciting. My glamour team did my hair, my makeup. I looked... Well, I won't say what I looked like, but you can read what they wrote about it," Collins told Deadline.
And foreign media wrote that she was the most elegant woman on the red carpet, that she gave everyone a fashion lesson and showed what an acting diva she is.
Collins wasn't in Cannes just to reminisce about the golden age of cinema. She was there to promote her latest film , "My Duchess ." The film, directed by Mike Newell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") and written by Louise Fennell, is about one of the most famous women of the 20th century, Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. The American divorcee, who was the reason King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, abdicated the British throne.
The film deals with the final years of her life, which she spent in France, at the Château de Windsor in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. She lived under the control of Susan Bloom, a lawyer played by Isabella Rossellini. The film begins after the death of the Duke of Windsor in 1972 and follows the Duchess's physical and mental decline under Bloom's control.
The film is currently in post-production and is set to hit theaters later this year. But Collins already has a new project in the works, the drama "Unforgettable," about a director who loses all his money and moves to India. She will also star in the film alongside Franco Nero and Marisa Berenson.
Collins celebrated her 93rd birthday without much fanfare , and shortly before that, she thanked her Instagram followers when she passed the 600.000 mark. She is quite active on social media, posting behind-the-scenes stories, reminiscing about her career in the 1950s, sometimes giving fashion advice and talking about family and friends.
Joan Collins is married to 61-year-old Percy Gibson.
A few days before her birthday, she revealed to the British media one of the secrets to her youthful appearance and slim figure - avocados.
"The quality of what you eat is just as important as the quality of the products you use. I try to eat a balanced diet. I think eating avocados is very beneficial and I believe in taking vitamin supplements, I take vitamin C, E and omega oils," she said.
Collins said avocados are good for the heart and against high cholesterol, and that they are also filling, so it helps her avoid eating late at night.
– I never eat late, not before bed. I believe that our body is a factory; we need to feed it the right things. If you have a great car, you don't put bad fuel in it. I'm very picky about what I eat – the actress revealed.
Her "sin" is milk chocolate.
– The cheaper it is, the better. I treat myself. Why not? – she admitted.
The legendary actress said she tries to stay physically active, although her exercise habits have changed over the years. She used to dance a lot, go to the gym, and do Pilates.
"As you get older, you can't put as much stress on your body, so I've cut back on my exercise significantly. I'd still like to dance more, but it seems like no one does it anymore," she explained, adding that she no longer feels the need to train hard.
In May Weekly magazine, she revealed that she has been working with a physical therapist for several years.
"I recommend working out with a physical therapist to older men and women who want to stay in shape. Half an hour a day is mostly what I do and I find that it gives me energy," the actress said.
When asked if she would reach for the GLP-1 weight loss drugs that are being taken en masse in Hollywood, she waved her hand.
– It would never have occurred to me. I saw too many disastrous faces, I joked and concluded: I think if you want to lose weight, you have to reduce your calorie intake. But you want to enjoy life. You don't want to live on a stalk of celery – concluded the legendary Joan Collins.
