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Collins was born in Paddington, London, the daughter of Elsa Collins ( née Bessant ), a dance teacher and nightclub hostess, and Joseph William Collins ( died 1988 ), an agent whose clients would later include Shirley Bassey, the Beatles and Tom Jones.

Her father, a native of South Africa, was Jewish, and her British mother was Anglican.

She has one sister, author Jackie Collins, and one brother, Bill Collins.

Collins was educated at the Francis Holland School and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ( RADA ).