Joan Collins Pays Touching Tribute To Late Sister Jackie

Here at IMAGE.ie we’ve made no secret of our love for Joan Collins (her attitude, beauty line and so on), and her late sister Jackie was equally fabulous. Joan has paid a touching tribute to her younger sister, best-selling author Jackie Collins, who sadly passed away yesterday evening following a six-year battle with breast cancer.

Joan said she was “completely devastated” following the news in the early hours of this morning.

“She was my best friend, ” Joan said in a statement to People. “I admire how she handled this. She was a wonderful, brave and beautiful person and I love her.” The sisters have worked together in the past. Joan notably played the title?role in The Bitch, an adaptation of?one of?Jackie’s many novels.?The British-born author passed away in Los Angeles. According to reports, the 77-year-old author had told few of her illness bar her four daughters, and in one of the last interviews before her death, said she only told sister Joan a few weeks ago, choosing to largely keep her diagnosis quiet.

When asked why she didn’t tell Joan sooner, Jackie said she didn’t want to burden her:

“Because it would have really affected her. I just felt she didn’t need it in her life. She’s very positive and very social but I’m not sure how strong she is, so I didn’t want to burden her with it,” she said.

Collins? infamous novels detailing the scandalous lives of the rich and famous elite have sold more than 500 million copies in 40 countries. In a career spanning four decades, all 32 of her novels appeared in the New York Times bestseller list.

Her family released a further statement following her passing: “It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one-of-a-kind mother,” the statement said. “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 4 decades. She was a true inspiration, a trailblazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.”

In what was her final interview, she?also?told People that she had lived a full life and had no regrets.?”Looking back, I’m not sorry about anything I did,” she said.?”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 travelled all over the world, and now I want to save other peoples’ lives. ”

She added that it was her family who had given her the most happiness in life. “I love being with my family,” she said. “I love sitting out by the pool and watching my [grandkids] play.”

We’ve all sat and enjoyed the delightful pure escapism that comes when when reading a Jackie Collins novel. She has had quite a career, and her legacy will no doubt continue to live on through her novels, which we know will skyrocket back onto the best-selling lists now. ?RIP Jackie. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

Many celebrities and friends of the beloved author have expressed their sadness at her passing.

Shocked & devastated at the death of @JackiejCollins. Loved & respected her. Thoughts & prayers go out to her family. pic.twitter.com/1RfmNEsm5G

? Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) September 20, 2015

In Hawaii w my pal. Brilliant, fearless, beautiful, funny, naughty, LOYAL, brave…I’m crushed. @jackiejcollins pic.twitter.com/kZ8r3YNlQU

? Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) September 20, 2015

Horribly sad news about Jackie Collins. She was a lovely, very special woman. RIP.

? Elizabeth Hurley (@ElizabethHurley) September 20, 2015

Jackie Collins you were a light & it was a pleasure to know you. Thank you for bringing joy to so many. #RIPJackie pic.twitter.com/4zptFms0uw

? Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) September 20, 2015

Via People