Upstairs, Downstairs actress Pauline Collins has died, her family has confirmed.
The Oscar-nominated actress was said to have died "peacefully" in her care home in Highgate, north London, aged 85.
The TV star had lived with Parkinson's disease for several years.
She starred in the first series of sitcom The Liver Birds but became a household name when she landed a regular role in Upstairs, Downstairs in 1971.
Pauline Collins died in her London care home aged 85 | PAShe married fellow actor John Alderton in 1969.
Her role in the 1989 film Shirley Valentine earned her an Oscar nomination.
Mrs Collins' family said in a statement: "Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life.
"A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens.
"She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own."
It added: "More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma.
"Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us. And she was John’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years."
The statement went on to pay tribute to Mrs Collin's carers who were said to be "angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love".
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Pauline Collins was awarded an OBE in 2001 for her services to drama
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Mr Alderton paid tribute to his wife, who he described as a "remarkable star".
He said: "I had the great good fortune to have worked with her more than any other actor in our many TV series, films and West End stage shows together, and watched her genius at close quarters.
“What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with."
He added: "She will always be remembered for Shirley Valentine, not only for her Oscar nomination or the film itself, but for clean-sweeping all seven awards when she portrayed her on Broadway in the stage play, in which she played every character herself.
Mrs Collins' husband, John Alderton, described her as a 'remarkable star'
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"But her greatest performance was as my wife and mother to our beautiful children."
Born in Exmouth in 1940, Mrs Collins was raised near Liverpool and began her career as a teacher.
But after taking up acting part-time, she landed her first television role as a nurse in the series Emergency Ward 10.
She also won great acclaim for her role in 1997 film Paradise Road, which tells the story of a group of women in a Japanese prisoner of war camp who defy their captors by founding an orchestra.
The film also starred Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Frances McDormand.
The star's final film role was alongside Dame Joan Collins in 2017’s The Time Of Their Lives
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The actress appeared alongside Patrick Swayze in 1992’s City Of Joy and starred in Dustin Hoffman’s 2012 comedy Quartet alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Billy Connolly.
Her final film role was alongside Dame Joan Collins in 2017’s The Time Of Their Lives, which follows a retired actress and her friend as they travel from London to France for an ex-lover’s funeral.
In 2001, Mrs Collins was made an OBE for her services to drama.
The actress’s family has requested anyone wishing to donate in her memory to give to Parkinson’s UK.