Exclusive: Joan’s secret to her longevity

By Sarah Tetteh

She is one of London’s most treasured icons, and now Dame Joan Collins has told us the secret of her longevity – and just how she stays so glamorous – aged 90.

“I don’t suffer fools easily,” the straight-talking Dynasty queen, who is from Paddington, tells us at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2024.

The world-famous actress – who shot to fame in 1980s hit US show – added: “I say what I feel. 

“I have my feet firmly planted on the ground, I say what I think, and I don’t put up with fools gladly.”

Talking about her secret of looking so youthful, Joan, who was easily the most in-demand woman in the room, said: “Oh, just enjoying myself. I’m delighted to be here among friends. That’s very kind of you, darling. Everyone just looks so wonderful.”

The awards show made a dazzling return to The Londoner hotel in Leicester Square, where top stars of music and entertainment descended upon London’s West End for the do.

Joan was such hot property that Liverpool football legend Peter Crouch looked ready to ditch his missus Abbey Clancy for the night – just to grab lunch with the megastar.

He said as he collected his podcasting award with his supermodel wife Abbey on the stage: “I know I was outbid for lunch with her, but Dame Joan Collins, I am still available for lunch. Just putting it out there.”

Luckily, Abbey saw the funny side, as did the whole audience, who burst out laughing. Phew!

Dame Joan, who looked flawless in her black velvet gown with sheer puffy sleeves, and glammed up to the nines with a slick of deep ink glossy lipstick, was accompanied to the do by her husband.

She has been happily married to her fifth husband Percy Gibson for more than two decades.

She met the producer, who is 32 years her junior, in 2000 while working on the play Love Letters, which Gibson produced.

“Percy is the most honourable man I’ve ever met,” she told PEOPLE in March 2002, shortly after the pair married.

Collins was previously married four times before meeting Gibson. “I kissed a lot of frogs before I found my prince,” she wrote in her 2011 memoir, The World According to Joan.

“For those women who are looking for a life partner, that old saying that men are like buses and ‘if you wait long enough the right one will come along’ is true for a reason.”

Speaking of her journey into showbiz, she said she owed it all to her family.

She said: “My grandmother and aunts were in showbiz, so they encouraged me.

“I’m thankful for that.”

Pictured top: Dame Joan Collins was the queen of the night –  presented her gong by good friend music genius Andrew Lloyd Webber (Picture: Andy Barnes Photos)