PALM BEACH DAILY ... MARCH 31ST 2015 ..

CENTER FOR FAMILY SERVICES

Actress Collins talks about success at Old Bags Luncheon

By Shannon Donnelly

Daily News Society Editor

Actress Joan Collins — she of the immortal Dynasty catfight-in-the-fountain scene — was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the annual Palm Beach fundraiser to benefit the Center for Family Services.

The Old Bags Luncheon took place March 5 at The Breakers.

Janet Levy and Debbie Porreco were chairwomen for the event, which began with a reception and silent auction of new and gently used designer handbags. That’s where the “Old Bags” part comes from, lest some of you think it’s a demographic thing.

The afternoon continued with lunch and remarks from Collins — now Dame Joan, courtesy of Her Majesty the Queen —she attributed her enormous success to both luck and hard work.

“The harder I work, the luckier I get,” she said. “I’ve always believed in the power of positive thinking. If you really wanted something and you really worked at it, you would be able to achieve it.”

Lorrain Hall, Soula Rifkin and Linda Adelson were honorary chairwomen.

More than 550 people attended. Proceeds support the Center for Family Services programs, including the only emergency shelter for homeless families in Palm Beach County, and a program for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

HELLO! MAGAZINE .. MARCH 30TH 2015

Check out the latest issue of Hello! magazine UK out today which features Joan's big day as she was made a Dame.. Here is a photo of Joan with friend Esther Rantsen who was also recently made a Dame..

INVESTITURE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE .. MARCH 26TH 2015 ..

With Prince Charles at The Palace

Joan attended her investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier and was awarded her honour by Prince Charles.. Accompanying Joan to the Palace were husband Percy and children Tara & Sacha.. Afterwards they had a celebratory lunch at The Wolsely with among others sister Jackie...

Joan proudly displays her honour with Tara & Sacha

THE 17TH ANNUAL OLD BAGS LUNCHEON .. THE BREAKERS .. PALM BEACH .. MARCH 5TH 2015

JOAN WITH EVENT ORGANISERS JANET LEVY & DEBBIE PORRECO

Joan was recently in Palm Beach as guest speaker at the 17th Annual Old Bags Luncheon in aid of The Center For Family Services.. The luncheon also held an auction of designer handbags donated by their previous owners

THE ROYALS ... SEASON PREMIERE .. MARCH 15TH 2015 ... E! CHANNEL USA ...

For viewers in the USA, you can catch the season premiere of 'The Royals' this Sunday 15th on E! Channel at 10pm... For UK viewers the show premieres on March 25th at 9:00pm on E! UK... Joan makes a dramatic appearance later in the series.. Don't miss it!

QUEENS OF DRAMA ... APRIL 26TH ON POP ...

LOS ANGELES — March 12, 2015 — Girl power reigns supreme as six former daytime and primetime soap stars take control of their careers to produce and star in a new serialized drama, in the series premiere of QUEENS OF DRAMA on Pop, Sunday, April 26, at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, immediately following the network’s exclusive live broadcast of the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards. A sneak peek is available online at http://press.poptv.com/promotion/qod.

Following its premiere, QUEENS OF DRAMA will begin airing in its regularly scheduled time slot on Wednesdays, (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) starting April 29.
 “QUEENS OF DRAMA features a powerful, all-star cast of soap’s leading ladies, while tapping into the sensibility of female empowerment, taking charge and having it all,” said Paul Adler, Senior Vice President, Programming, Pop. “We’re excited to give fans a new perspective of these women with a reality series that debuts immediately following Pop’s exclusive live broadcast of the Daytime Emmys.”
 QUEENS OF DRAMA is a 10 episode series that features an all-female cast working in front of and behind the cameras as they develop, pitch, and produce a new steamy series with the goal of landing a pilot deal by the end of the season.  The all-star cast includes Lindsay Hartley (“All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives”), Crystal Hunt (“Guiding Light,” “One Life to Live”), Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas,” “General Hospital”), Chrystee Pharris (“Passions,” “General Hospital”) and Hunter Tylo (“The Bold and The Beautiful”) with special appearances by Donna Mills (“Knots Landing,” “Melrose Place”).& a special appearance by Joan Collins (Dynasty) ...

 QUEENS OF DRAMA is produced by ThinkFactory Media, with Adam Reed, Adam Freeman, Aaron Fishman, Tim Laurie, and Leslie Greif, servi

QVC! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW .. TIMELESS BEAUTY ANNIVERSARY ... MARCH 15TH 2015 ..

Can you believe it’s been a year since the glamorous Joan Collins graced our screens with her Timeless Beauty range?

We caught up with the lady of the hour herself in Los Angeles, to have a chat with her ahead of the anniversary show…

So it’s been a year since your brand launched with us here on QVC. How has this year been for you?

It has been wonderfully exciting whirlwind year of QVC appearances in the UK, Italy and Germany. I have been totally immersed in Timeless Beauty, and even been able to share it on my filming projects – the range is proving to be a big hit with make-up artists.

Congratulations on being awarded a damehood! How did you feel when you found out you were on the New Year’s Honours List?

I was beyond thrilled when I heard I was being made a Dame and am really looking forward to again meeting The Queen or Prince Charles in the spring to have the honour formally bestowed upon me.

What have been your highlights of being on QVC?

It took several years of hard work with the team developing my beauty experience and ideas

to create my Timeless Beauty range and it’s been a real privilege to launch it on QVC. Definitely a highlight has been sharing my beauty tips and tricks with the QVC audience and seeing how positively they, and the QVC presenters, have reacted to my new products. We have regular sell-outs, which is so exciting.

Do you have any backstage gossip for us?

No, things have run very smoothly behind the scenes, with my stylist Alyn Waterman on hand to deal to with any smudges or stray hair. Unlike on the Dynasty set – when we were throwing punches in the now famous fight scene in the lily pond, Linda Evans accidentally knocked me out and I came to in the emergency ward!

Glad to hear you’ve been taken care of. How do you feel people have responded to your beauty range?

I have loved being able to engage with the QVC shoppers and get their genuine feedback on the products, which has generated so many 5* reviews across the range. Especially the heroine products, which include the Lash Treatment Gel, the First Base Foundation and my I Am Woman fragrance, have been a real hit. I am delighted.

If you have one tip for our beauty junkies what would it be?

Looking good makes you feel good, which is great for your confidence. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself, experiment and play around with colour. Blusher and lipstick can bring your face alive.

What are your make-up bag and skincare must-haves?

My Sun Hat Day Cream, which contains SPF15, goes on every morning, and I believe using foundation gives another layer of protection, especially my First Base Foundation which is a skin treatment as well as a base. Without fail I carry my handbag favourite, the Paparazzi Ready Compact Duo, which makes it so easy to check my face, touch up my powder and lipstick, all in one convenient compact – it’s so clever.

And finally, what can customers look forward to from you in this next year?

We have some very wearable summer bright and nude lip and nail shades coming up and also super new products in the I Am Woman fragrance, including a fabulous gift idea for next Christmas – I can’t believe I’m even thinking about Christmas already!

You can talk about Christmas, we don’t mind! We simply cannot wait to see the new treats from the Timeless Beauty range!

In the meantime, browse Joan Collins Timeless Beauty or visit our beauty department, and don’t forget to tune in for more from Joan at 1pm and 8pm on 15th March, and 16th March at 7pm

PALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED .. MARCH 2015 ..

Q&A with Joan Collins

By Jennifer Pfaff

Related Content

                  

   It took a glamorous, fearless actress to play Alexis Carrington Colby, the villainous diva of the 1980s hit soap opera Dynasty—and Joan Collins was perfect for the part.
   The British actress, who’s starred in dozens of TV shows, movies and plays, is most recognized for her role in the dramatic series, which revolved around a wealthy Texas family; her performance was credited for boosting the show’s ratings and garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
   Off camera, Collins has written lifestyle, memoir and nonfiction books and, as her most recent honor, was named a dame in January by Queen Elizabeth II.
   Known for her charm, wit and ask-me-anything personality, she will be the featured speaker at the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County’s seventeenth annual Old Bags Luncheon, taking place March 5 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. Tickets cost $350. (561-616-1222, ctrfam.org)

How easy was it for you to play Alexis?
Contrary to popular belief, I have very little in common with Alexis, aside from her fierce mothering instinct. She was a smart businesswoman with an instinct for finance and power, which sometimes I wished I shared. But through the nine years I played her, I came to love her. John Gielgud told me, when he was playing Richard III, that it was crucial to love your character, even if you are playing the most dastardly villain, as it will bring richness and complexity to the script.

If a network were to bring Dynasty back to television today, like TNT did with Dallas, would you rejoin the show?
Of course, but it ain’t gonna happen!

Do you keep in touch with any of your Dynasty castmembers?
Not really. I have run into them through the years, and we’re always very friendly, but film sets and plays are very transitory. You go onto the next one, make new acquaintances and move on in life, as do they. Lasting friendships on set are extremely rare, but I do try to make at least one good friend out of my many experiences! Lately, though, I’ve seen Stephanie Beacham, Emma Sams, and Jack Coleman more regularly.

What projects are you working on today?
I’ll shortly be seen on U.S. TV on E!'s first scripted series The Royals. In the U.K., I’m a recurring character on their longest-running comedy Benidorm. I continue making films, having released two last year. I also launched my own beauty and cosmetics range last year in Europe, Joan Collins Timeless Beauty, available through QVC, which i’m happy to report is doing very well. I tour my one-woman show constantly through the U.S. and Europe, and I’m always writing articles and books, having published at least one a year of the latter. I have a philosophy that the harder I work, the luckier I get, so I keep working.

What’s your top beauty secret?
Stay out of the sun! Nothing ravages the skin more than the elements, so it’s why I wear sun protection and always wear makeup—makeup, particularly SPF products, is a godsend to keep your skin youthful, radiant and nourished.

One of the biggest draws at the Old Bags Luncheon is the handbag auction. Do you have a favorite purse?
Chanel is by far my favorite, but I have a penchant for some vintage Judith Leibers. I have the newest Louis Vuitton in a dark burgundy crocodile, which I think is simply divine.

What do you enjoy about Palm Beach?
I adore Palm Beach—the architecture, the history and, of course, the shopping on Worth Avenue!  But I think what I enjoy most about Palm Beach is the friends I have there and down in South Beach. There is an immediate sense of calm and relaxation when I arrive—the spacious boulevards and lazy traffic and the stillness of it all rejuvenates the soul.

What event would you say changed your life the most?
There is no question that Dynasty catapulted me to international stardom, and I can hardly argue that it wasn’t my most life-changing moment. However, having my children was probably the most fulfilling experience of my life. But I’ve just been made a dame, which—although not life changing—is a tremendous honour, and I’m totally thrilled. (For those who don’t know, a dame is the female equivalent of a knighthood.)

What's your favorite childhood memory?
Who remembers?