Dame Joan Collins, the iconic actress who rose to international fame as the scheming Alexis Colby in the 1980s television series Dynasty, has revealed the secrets behind her remarkably youthful appearance, which she has maintained for over 45 years. At 93 years old, the Hollywood star stunned fans earlier this month with a dazzling appearance at the opening ceremony of the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival, looking far younger than her years.
Genetics and Healthy Living
In a new interview, Joan shared her belief that 'taking care of yourself is one of the most important things,' but admitted that her longevity is largely due to the favourable genetics she inherited from her parents. 'I have very good genes – I'm very lucky,' she told The Telegraph. 'My father lived to be 87, and for somebody born in 1903 that's pretty amazing. My mother took incredibly exceptional care of me and my sister. When we were growing up she gave us all supplements when nobody was taking supplements.'
While she insists she does not follow any fad diets or regimented health routines, she said: 'I just believe in healthy living. I don't eat junk, I get eight hours of sleep, I exercise. It's very simple.'
Perfect Mental Health
When it comes to her mental wellbeing, Joan says she has never had any reason to think about it, as she has 'perfect' mental health, thanks to her happy childhood, lack of substance abuse, and prioritising her loved ones. 'I never have thought about my mental health, ever. My mental health is perfect,' she said. 'I had great parents, I had a wonderful, loving mother, a quite strict father, so I never got into drugs and booze or any of that, so I never thought that there was anything particularly wrong with me. But being healthy is not my main focus. My main focus is my life, my children, my husband, my friends.'
Proactive Health Approach
Joan is a strong proponent of the mantra that prevention is better than cure and does not hesitate to see a doctor for any minor ailment, 'even if I have a pimple on my face that doesn't go after a couple of months.' She points out that health and fitness require constant maintenance, and any bout of serious illness or injury could derail everything. 'Anybody over the age of 60 who falls is doomed,' she declared, because 'it keeps you out of the gym, you lose your flexibility, and everything spirals down.'
Her proactive approach has paid off. After being cast as Wallis Simpson in the upcoming biopic My Duchess, she underwent a medical test for insurance purposes and proudly relayed: 'They told me I was more healthy than any of the other cast!'
No to Plastic Surgery
Despite the increasing popularity of plastic surgery and 'tweakments' among celebrities, Joan has always been resolute in her unwillingness to go under the knife. 'I do not believe in what they call tweakments,' she insisted. 'I've never had them, which is why I look more or less the same as I have done for years.'
In recent years, she has defiantly hit back at accusations that her youthful looks were the result of surgery, insisting she is ageing naturally and that she is 'appalled' by fellow stars who have indulged. Refuting plastic surgery speculation to The Sun in 2017, she said: 'If people want to think I've had surgery, then… You can tell [I haven't] because I have lines and jowls. When I see women around my age, I think, oh really? My gosh, I look quite a bit... I think I look pretty good!' She reiterated in 2023: 'A lot of people think I've had a ton of work done. To set the record straight: I have not. I haven't had Botox, I haven't had any tweakments, I haven't had fat injections, and honestly, when I look at the women who have – certainly a lot of women in their 40s – it appalls me.'
Skincare and Beauty Tips
Instead of surgery, Joan credits her age-defying skin to simple habits: always sleeping on her back, wearing SPF, and keeping her face out of the sun. 'I also always, always sleep on my back,' she explained. 'I've trained myself to, because I used to sleep on my side, scrunched up into the pillow, and then I was told not to because it gives you 'scrunchy face'. Which is absolutely true.'
She added to You Magazine in 2014: 'I have always worn sun protection and have kept my face away from harmful rays since I was 20. You should see me when I wake up in the morning: my face is so white, it's like a sheet. I've saved my face by always wearing a hat in the sun. The rest of me is not as good as it should be, because I do go in the sun. I love getting a tan. It means I can wear off-the-shoulder things.'
Her skincare routine is strict: she never goes to bed without removing her makeup and applying night cream. She uses a Nivea cleanser and Charlotte Tilbury night cream. She also learned a trick from Marilyn Monroe's makeup artist, Allan 'Whitey' Snyder: before big events and after flights, she places ice-cooled cotton pads on her eyes for five minutes to reduce puffiness.
Fitness and Nutrition
As she has aged, Joan has adapted her fitness routine. A trapped nerve recently forced her to scale back movement for about two months, but with physiotherapy, she has fully recovered and now enjoys gym workouts and Pilates. She highly recommends working out with a physiotherapist for older individuals. 'Half an hour a day is mostly what I do and I've found that it gives me energy,' she told My Weekly magazine. She also swims regularly and has revealed she can still do the splits 'very easily'.
When it comes to diet, Joan favours nutritious whole foods, especially avocados, which improve heart health and support digestion. 'I eat an avocado every day and have facials in New York with a girl called Tracie Martyn. She works a lot of oxygen into my skin,' she told The Express. She avoids junk food and believes in a balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements such as Vitamin C, E, and Omega oils.
Joan works with nutritionist Gabriela Peacock but does not deny herself treats. She told OK! magazine: 'I don't stuff myself with food. I only eat half of what's on my plate, and I won't deprive myself. I'll drink wine, have dessert, eat toast, and have coffee with sugar. I think I'm just lucky.'
