Daily Mail: July 22, 2011
By Joan Collins
The call came in as I was lying by the pool in Marbella. It was August 1981 and I was on holiday with my family and some friends.
‘They want you for Dynasty,’ said my agent excitedly.
‘What’s Dynasty? A Chinese restaurant?’ I asked.
‘It’s a big American TV series. Haven’t you heard about it?’
‘Not a word,’ I said.
‘Well, they need to know right away, as they start shooting their second series in two weeks and they want you to play Alexis.’
‘Hmmm, that’s a good name,’ I said. ‘How long is the gig?’
‘They’ll need you for about six weeks,’ he said.
Well those six weeks stretched into nine of the most fascinating years of my life, and it’s hard to believe it’s 30 years since it all began. To mark the anniversary, the final four-part reunion series is being re-screened tomorrow night. I went from being practically unknown in America to becoming one of the most popular actresses on television.
My face was plastered in practically every magazine and newspaper, and my every move was gossiped about.
On my first day on set I had to wear the same costume an unknown actress had worn in the final episode of the first series. Even at the last minute, the producers still hadn’t cast the role, having offered it to, and being turned down by, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren. They were having furious rows about who should play Alexis. Although they changed their tune later, few of the executives wanted Joan Collins.
