Margaret Elaine Collins(born 21 April 1958) is a Scottish actress and producer.
Elaine Collins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Margaret Elaine Collins 21 April 1958 Lanarkshire,Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, producer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Career
editCollins made her acting debut in 1975, appearing in a guest role in the seriesLord Peter Wimsey.Her most prominent roles include films such asSoft Top Hard Shoulder(1992),[1]Mrs Brown(1997),The Wyvern Mystery(2000) and television showsCity Lights(1984–1987),Selling Hitler(1991),Psychos(1999).[2]
Since the 2000s, Collins prefers to work behind the camera. She was an associate producer on the 2001 drama filmStrictly Sinatra.[3]She worked as a script editor on the detective seriesA Touch of Frostfrom 2008 to 2010. In 2011, she became a producer and executive producer atITV Studios,and helped to create the crime mysteryVera.[4]Collins joinedBBC Dramain 2014 as a creative director, where she was responsible for developing and producing first three series of the crime dramaShetland.[5]
In 2017, she founded film production companyTod Productions.[6]She produced the thrillerCriminal RecordforApple TV+in collaboration withSTV Studios,which premiered in 2024.[7][8]
Tod's slate of television dramas in the pipeline includes a couple of book adaptations.They F*ck You Up,[9][10]scripted byThomas Eccleshareand directed by Collins' husbandPeter Capaldi,is based onSarah Naish's memoirBut He Looks So Normal: A Bad-Tempered Parenting Guide for Adopters and Foster Parents.[11]The Jigsaw Murdersis about the 1935 murders of DrBuck Ruxtonand based on the true crime bookThe Jigsaw Murders: The True Story of the Ruxton Killings and the Birth of Modern Forensicsby journalist and authorJeremy Craddock.[12][13][14]
In 2024 it was announced that Collins and Tod Productions had optionedCharles Beaumont's espionage novelA Spy Alone.[15][16][17]
Personal life
editCollins has been married to the actorPeter Capaldisince 1991. They met in 1983 while working for the Paines Plough Theatre Company.[2]They have a daughter born in 1992 and two grandsons (b. 2021 and 2023).[18][19]The family lives inMuswell Hill,London.[20]
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Company | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 & 1990 | The Guid Sisters | Lisette de Courval | Tron Theatre, Glasgow | Michael Boyd | play byMichel Tremblay,translated into Scots byBill Findlay& Martin Bowman |
Filmography
editActress
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes | Ruby | Uncredited |
| 1992 | Soft Top Hard Shoulder | Yvonne | Nominated —BAFTA Scotland Awardfor Best Actress |
| 1993 | Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life | Miss Cicely | Short film; also production assistant |
| 1994 | Seeds | Short film | |
| 1996 | The Empty Mirror | Blonde woman | |
| 1997 | Mrs Brown | Mrs Grant |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Lord Peter Wimsey | Helen McGregor | 2 episodes: "Five Red Herrings" |
| 1975 | The Hill of the Red Fox | Morag | Episode #1.5 |
| 1976 | Sutherland's Law | Mary Hepburn | Episode: "Blind Jump" |
| 1977 | The Mackinnons | Annie Gillies | Episode: "In the Public Interest" |
| 1978 | The Sunday Drama | Secretary | Episode: "City Sugar" |
| 1979 | Scottish Playbill | Elvira | Episode: "The Day After Yesterday" |
| 1979–1982 | Play for Today | At the pub / Isabel | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | The House with the Green Shutters | Janet Gourlay | Television film |
| 1984–1987 | City Lights | Janice | Series 1 and 2 |
| 1988 | The Comic Strip Presents... | Scots girl | Episode: "Funseekers" |
| 1988–1993 | Rab C. Nesbitt | Dancing woman / Isa Minto | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Snakes and Ladders | TV reporter | 4 episodes |
| 1991 | Selling Hitler | Maria Modritsch | |
| 1991 | The Play on One | Eloise | Episode: "And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon" |
| 1992 | Civvies | Sissy | Episode #1.3 |
| 1993 | Strathblair | Anne Jarvis | Episode #2.8 |
| 1993 | The Bill | Jenny Bayliss | Episode: "Give and Take" |
| 1996 | Thief Takers | Mary Donachie | Episode: "Remember Me" |
| 1996–2000 | Taggart | Abigail Stirling / Sheila Maitland | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | EastEnders | Lisa | 2 episodes: "Easter 1997" |
| 1999 | Psychos | Laura Robb | |
| 2000 | The Wyvern Mystery | Dulcie | Television film |
| 2003 | Silent Witness | Janine Burwood | Episode: "Answering Fire: Part 1" |
Writer
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2010 | A Touch of Frost | Script editor | Series 14 and 15 |
| 2009 | Albert's Memorial | Script editor | |
| 2011 | Vera | Script editor | 1 episode |
Producer
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Strictly Sinatra | Associate producer | |
| 2011–2015 | Vera | Producer / executive producer | 16 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Shetland | Executive producer | Series 1–3 |
| 2024–present | Criminal Record | Executive producer |
References
edit- ^Higson, Richard (2 November 2020)."Soft Top Hard Shoulder (Limited Edition Blu-Ray)".We Are Cult.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^abMcLean, Marc (6 August 2013)."Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi: My wife has been the foundation for my career".Daily Record.Retrieved18 March2016.
- ^Eisner, Ken (20 June 2001)."Strictly Sinatra".Variety.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^"Ann Cleeves: TV Adaptations of Vera and the Shetland series".WHSmith Blog.15 January 2016.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^Chapman, Alexandra (26 September 2014)."Vera producer joins new BBC drama team".Broadcast.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^"Media release: Elaine Collins joins forces with STV Drama".allmediascotland.18 September 2017.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^Reyes, Mike (17 January 2024)."Criminal Record's Creators Took Inspiration From The 'Machismo' Of Michael Mann Movies, But Twisted It Especially For Their Apple TV+ Series".CinemaBlend.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^"HEAR FROM THE TEAM BEHIND CRIMINAL RECORD".TOD Productions.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^"TOD PRODUCES PILOT FOR SKY COMEDY".TOD Productions.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^Kanter, Jake (30 December 2022)."Peter Capaldi-Directed Parenting Comedy 'They F**k You Up' In Works At Sky".Deadline.Retrieved28 June2024.
- ^Guide, British Comedy."They F**K You Up - Sky Comedy Comedy Drama".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^"RIGHTS SECURED FOR TRUE CRIME BOOK ON INFAMOUS 'JIGSAW MURDERS'".TOD Productions.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^"Gruesome 'Jigsaw Murders' case of killer Scots doctor who scattered severed heads to be turned into TV drama - Daily Record".dailyrecord.co.uk.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^"STV Productions partner Tod signs up to put true crime drama on screen - Business Insider".insider.co.uk.Retrieved2024-06-28.
- ^televisual; Considine, Pippa (2024-09-30)."Tod secures rights to A Spy Alone".Televisual.Retrieved2024-10-09.
- ^"Tod Productions options Charles Beaumont espionage thriller A Spy Alone".C21media.Retrieved2024-10-09.
- ^Daniels, Nia (2024-09-30)."Criminal Record producers acquire spy novel".The Knowledge Online.Retrieved2024-10-09.
- ^Novak, Kim (1 September 2021)."Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi has grandparent-ing down to a fine art as he spends time with baby".Metro.Retrieved13 January2024.
- ^Lobb, Adrian (20 January 2024)."Peter Capaldi on why his new cop drama Criminal Record is going to be your next TV obsession".Big Issue.Retrieved20 January2024.
- ^Thomas-Corr, Johanna (5 November 2015)."Peter Capaldi interview: 'Sexism in the TV industry is ridiculous'".Evening Standard.Retrieved5 November2015.