Jackie Collins, multi-million selling author, has passed away at the age of 77 in her Beverly Hills mansion.
In one of her final interviews the author spoke exclusively to HELLO! talking about her love of writing and her close relationship with her sister Dame Joan Collins. Explaining their differences Jackie told HELLO!: "Growing up, I was the wild one and Joan was the goodie goodie" but admitted they have always been the best of friends.A spokesman for the family confirmed the news. "It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today [September 19].
© Photo: Getty ImagesJackie Collins passed away in her Beverly Hills mansion
"She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over four decades. "She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.It has been revealed that the novelist had been fighting cancer for the past six years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2009 but kept the illness almost entirely to herself only telling her three children.Giving an interview to People just days before passing Jackie said she had "no regrets" about how she had handled her cancer.
© Photo: Getty ImagesJackie's sister Dame Joan Collins is devastated to have lost her "best friend"
"I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I've written five books since the diagnosis, I've lived my life, I've traveled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it. "Jackie's older sister Dame Joan Collins, 82, spoke out about her sister on Saturday evening saying she was "completely devastated" to lose her "best friend". Other celebrities have been paying tribute to the literary legend, including kinds words from Oprah, Sandra Bullock and Sir Roger Moore.
Up until a few days ago Jackie was still posting pictures on her Facebook and Twitter pages, and put up a picture of her with the panelists from daytime TV show Loose Women. Jackie had been on the TV show to promote her latest book The Santangelos and had even joked about doing research for her next novel.
HELLO! magazine editor Rosie Nixon who interviewed Jackie a few weeks ago paid tribute to the star.
