The Life and Legacy of Jackie Collins
Before Jackie Collins became a blockbuster novelist, she soaked up inspiration everywhere she could find it — including in Hollywood.
Early Life and Inspiration
The author, born in London in 1937, was a rebellious teen with an observant eye and an archivist’s taste for documentation. When her older sister, Joan Collins, invited her out to California in the 1950s, Jackie eagerly joined her famous sibling and jotted down detail after detail of the parties, studio visits, and poolside encounters.
The result became a treasured collection of snapshots and memories that reveal some of the formative years of the late novelist’s life. A little more than a decade after her time in California, Collins would publish her very first book — one that included a Hollywood power player among its cast of amorous characters.
Trailblazer in Literature
The trailblazing and scandalous romp, 1968’s “The World Is Full of Married Men,” became an instant bestseller. Over the next 40-plus years, Collins would churn out dozens of sultry, chart-climbing tomes, each crafted with a signature cheeky style and an insistence on celebrating female power and desire inside and outside of the bedroom.
When Collins died of breast cancer in 2015, she was remembered as one of the world’s top-selling novelists with more than 500 million books sold in over 40 countries. These photos, some curated from her personal albums, capture an era that helped develop a future storytelling star.
Hollywood Connection
By 1956, she was in California with her star older sister, Joan Collins. “At the airport,” Collins told the Times, “Joan handed me car keys and said, ‘I’m off to a movie location. Learn to drive immediately.’
Family Ties and Artistic Influence
The two sisters, seen here at the London Airport in 1955, had show business in their blood. Their father, Joe Collins, was a theatrical agent.
From Acting to Writing
Collins dabbled in acting but ultimately found her passion in writing. In a 1985 interview, she mentioned, “I always, somewhere in the back of my head, knew I would write.”
However, the road to becoming a celebrated author was not without its challenges. Collins experienced personal losses, including the death of her first husband and her mother. These experiences shaped her resilient spirit that influenced her character development in her novels.
Commercial Success and Cultural Impact
Nearly 30 years after her first exposure to Hollywood, Collins crafted the 1983 bestseller “Hollywood Wives.” This book was so popular it became the first in a series set in the glitzy industry.
Reflecting on her career, Collins said, “To be successful, you have to write about what you know. Whether I’m lucky or unlucky enough to know a lot about Hollywood, it’s what I like to write about.” Through her works, she provided a voice for women and addressed cultural double standards surrounding female desire and autonomy.
Consequently, by the 1980s, Collins became a bonafide celebrity, known for her bestsellers that challenged traditional gender roles and sexual norms. Through her distinct storytelling, Collins encouraged her readers to embrace their desires and assert their independence.
