Love her or loathe her, you have to admire the longevity of Joan Collins’ career. No other memoir starts with its author partying with Gene Kelly and Claudette Colbert, only to finish with them – approaching 90 and sporting sky-high stilettos – sharing the Met Gala stage with Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.
Behind The Shoulder Pads is not an exhaustive retelling of Joan’s rarefied life (there have been three autobiographies before this one to cover that) but is billed as a collection of juicy anecdotes and celebrity tittle-tattle that, until now, she has only shared with her friends. On that front, she does not disappoint. As razor sharp and deliciously catty as her Dynasty alter-ego Alexis Carrington, she takes delight in cutting everyone from Warren Beatty to Arnold Schwarzenegger down to size.
Amidst the withering putdowns, soirées on superyachts and unfortunate Piers Morgan cameos, she viciously attacks the casting couch culture she was subjected to as a young actress and speaks with admirable honesty about her fractious relationship with her sister, the late Jackie Collins. A book for film buffs and gossip lovers alike from a woman who’s been everywhere, done everything and has the (shoulder-padded) t-shirt to prove it.
Behind The Shoulder Pads, Joan Collins (Seven Dials)
Price: £22/£24.99 audiobook. Info: here
words RACHEL REES