“People That Nowadays Just Want To Be Famous for Fame’s Sake Are Pathetic”: Dame Joan Collins on Why It’s Difficult To Be Iconic Under The Age of 40
Bazaar Arabia’s September 2024 cover star shares insight into her famous friendships and whom she deems to truly be icon-worthy
True grande dames are few and far between, and with seven decades in the spotlight, including the golden age of Hollywood, they simply don’t come more legendary than Dame Joan Collins.
The award-winning actress, author and all-round icon shares with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Olivia Phillips how her success during Hollywood’s Golden Era is very different to the fifteen minute of fame everybody appears to be seeking out in today’s day in age.
“I worked very hard to get where I am – and I was brought up to think ‘no handouts’. No one is going to just give you everything. I loved movie stars but I never wanted to be one – I wanted to be on stage. I think people that nowadays just want to be famous for fame’s sake are pathetic,” she tells Bazaar Arabia’s Olivia Phillips, in our September 2024 cover story.
How many people can still recall discussing predatory men-filled, casting-couch horrors with Marilyn Monroe, or what it was like to date Marlon Brando – or Warren Beatty? It’s little wonder she’s written 19 books – she’s lived 19 lives.
Monroe and Brando were the level of icon Joan was rubbing shoulders with back when she moved to Hollywood in her 20s, getting signed under contract by 20th Century Fox. “You’re not aware that you’re living through an iconic era at the time, though,” she says. “And you’re also not aware that people like Elvis Presley and James Dean, who were around when I was around, were iconic at the time, either.”
Following this, Bazaar Arabia’s Olivia Phillips followed up to explore how Joan feels about today’s celebrities, where she responds, “Oh dear,” she says. “It’s hard to answer.” Then, after some thought, “I’m way past having fan crushes on people like I used to, but I suppose Taylor Swift is iconic. She’s a good example of clean living. She doesn’t do overly suggestive things which, quite frankly – and I’m not naming names here – a lot of performers do these days. But who else is iconic? Oh my God…” she trails off, struggling to suggest anyone else. “It’s very difficult to be iconic under 40,” she settles on.
But what about back in those halcyon days? “Marilyn Monroe, absolutely. Marlon Brando, who I find extraordinary that a lot of people don’t know who he is. Our late Queen Elizabeth, without question, who was just fantastic and a role model in every shape and form. And Ava Gardner, who was a beautiful woman and somebody who I emulated a lot physically when I played Alexis.”
Read the full cover story here from Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September’s 2024 issue.
Lead image credits: Snowflake Earrings in Platinum and White Gold with Diamonds; Endless Ribbon Necklace in White and Rose Gold with Diamonds, POA, both Van Cleef & Arpels Dress, POA, Custom Rami Kadi
Editor-in-Chief: Olivia Phillips. Photographer: Ellen von Unwerth. Art Director: Paul Solomons. Stylist: Sascha Lilic. Hair & Make-Up: Alyn Waterman. Senior Producer: Steff Hawker. Local Producer: Filipine Guyonnaud. Dresser: Chrissy Maddison. 1st Assistant: Frederic Trohler. 2nd Assistant: Octave Monteiro De Oliveira. Digital Technician: Ovidiu Oltean. Styling Assistant: Celeste Pettorelli. Male Model: Pascal L. Seamstress: Myriam Savarese. Photographer’s Agent: 2B Management. Personal Stylist to Dame Joan Collins: Rene’ Horsch. Special thanks to Alex Silver and Le Beauvallon, Bay of Saint-Tropez.
