Joan Collins: ‘Celebrity obsession is turning us into a world of idiots’
The 75-year-old former Dynasty star attacked celebrity magazines for "dumbing down" the public.
"Our civilisation has become extremely dumbed down, with shorter attention spans. All they want are sound bites."
Collins also criticised attention-seeking stars such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears who are often photographed in compromising positions, without underwear:
"No normal girl goes out and let’s photographers shoot at that angle…
"The tabloids go after those girls who exhibit more outrageous behaviour. And believe me, those girls love it.
"I can’t think of anything more horrible than that. Publicity can be a drug." She told US magazine Black Book.
But she did offer some sympathy to troubled Britney, saying: "I don’t think she is well…I definitely think there is something wrong with her: depression, illness."
"It’s not something wonderful – just unfortunate. The first time I was 18, and much too young.
"My second and third, I had children from them. The fourth was a Swede. And it came in a moment of insanity."
She insists that Percy Gibson – husband number five – is the love of her life, "We are total partners. He is a very special person," she says.
The veteran actress – who is set to star alongside Christopher Lee in Cowboys for Christ, a sequel to the legendary Wicker Man – discusses the lack of roles for mature women in Hollywood:
"Let’s face it: There is such a glut of actresses over 50. The mothers in films are getting younger and younger." She said.
Collins – who appeared in ITV series Footballer Wives is 2006 – says she won’t rule out cosmetic surgery:
"I don’t want to keep having my face pulled and poked and Botox-ed until I don’t look like myself, but a caricature, or someone else.
"But if I got a double chin, I would do something about it."
