A true icon of Hollywood glamour is coming to Dartford. For one night only, veteran star of stage and screen Joan Collins OBE will be sharing the stories and secrets of her amazing career and life in a one-woman show at the Orchard Theatre.

The award-winning actress has appeared in more than 60 feature films and dozens of TV series including 1980s soap opera Dynasty, in which she played vengeful man-eater Alexis Carrington, which turned her into a household name.

In addition to her long and varied career, Joan’s personal life has also been eventful.

She has been married five times, including to actor and songwriter Anthony Newley. In 2002 she married Percy Gibson, 32 years her junior. And at the age of 79, the former model is still renowned for her immaculate, glamorous look.

During this special evening, she will regale audiences with tales of memorable moments in her life, including her screen test for Cleopatra (and why she lost the role to Elizabeth Taylor) and her first on-set encounter with Bette Davis.

She will also reveal her struggles with money, how Hollywood changed her fortunes – and of course screen some great outtakes from Dynasty.

Joan Collins is known for her outspoken views on life. Here are a few of her many memorable quips...

“Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.”

“The problem with beauty is that it’s like being born rich and getting poorer.”

“I’ve never yet met a man who could look after me. I don’t need a husband. What I need is a wife.

Extra time

Born in Paddington in 1933, she made her stage debut aged nine in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House at London’s Arts Theatre

She trained as an actress at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), before being signed to the British J Arthur Rank Film Company aged 17

Aged 22, Collins headed to Hollywood, making her debut in Howard Hawks’s 1955 film Land Of The Pharaohs

In the late 1970s she starred in two racy films based on bestselling novels by her younger sister Jackie Collins – The Stud (1978) and its sequel The Bitch (1979). They were panned by critics at the time but have since achieved cult status

In 1981, Collins landed the role of Alexis Carrington in the TV soap opera Dynasty. The show ended in 1989

At the age of 60, in 1994, she launched her only exercise video, titled Joan Collins: Personal Workout

In 2005 she guest hosted satirical BBC panel show Have I Got News For You

She made her pantomime debut in Dick Whittington as Queen Rat at the Birmingham Hippodrome during the 2010 Christmas season

She married theatrical manager Percy Gibson, her fifth husband, in 2002

Collins has three children, Tara and Alexander from her marriage to Anthony Newley, and Katyana from her marriage to businessman Ron Kass. She has three grandchildren

One Night With Joan starts at 7.45pm on Wednesday, April 17. Tickets from £29. Call 01322 220000.