Dame Joan Collins, 90, reveals why ‘wonderful’ fifth husband Percy Gibson, 58, has made her believe in marriage after half a century of heartbreak

Dame Joan Collins says she finally believes in marriage after finding Mr. Right with her fifth husband, despite their 32-year age gap.  

The legendary actress, who celebrated her 90th birthday in May, exchanged vows with Hollywood film producer Percy Gibson, 58, at London’s Claridge’s on February 17, 2002. 

With an unfortunate record of short-lived marital unions spanning more than half a century, one could be forgiven for viewing her fifth attempt at wedded bliss with a degree scepticism.

But 21-years after marrying Gibson their bond is stronger than ever, and Dame Joan insists the not inconsiderable age gap has contributed to their longevity. 

Speaking to Louis Theroux in a new BBC documentary about her colourful life, she said:  ‘I believe in marriage — which is why I’ve done it five times — and I finally have a wonderful marriage.

True love: Dame Joan Collins says she finally believes in marriage after finding Mr. Right with her fifth husband, Hollywood film producer Percy Gibson 

Old times: Her marriage to Gibson is her longest, and came some 50-years after her first, to fellow actor Maxwell Reed, in 1952 (pictured on their wedding day)

‘Percy is 30-odd years younger than me, but I don’t even feel my age. I don’t even talk about it, I don’t even think about it.’  

She added: ‘I have some friends around my age and I don’t find them interesting – everyone’s gotten older except me.’

Her marriage to Gibson is her longest, and came some 50-years after her first, to fellow actor Maxwell Reed, in 1952. 

Both established stars, their tumultuous marriage would last just four years and would end acrimoniously, with Dame Joan later revealing she married out of ‘shame’ after he raped her on their first date. 

The actress also revealed how Reed tried to pimp her out to ‘old rich men’ for £10,000 a night. 

When she filed from divorce, he asked for £950 per month, claiming he had ‘discovered’ her and therefore deserved a cut of her wage.

She confessed the marriage cost her £7,500 – an incredible £1.9 million today.

Her second marriage came in 1963 when she tied-the-knot with British pop star and serial cheater Anthony Newley, the father of her two children Tara and Alexander, now 58 and 56.

Number two: Her second marriage came in 1963 when she tied-the-knot with British pop star and serial cheater Anthony Newley, the father of her two children Tara and Alexander

Night out: Dame Joan and Newley enjoy a night out in New York shortly after their 1963 wedding

Third time lucky: Dame Joan moved on, marrying third husband Ron Kass in 1972

Family: Dame Joan welcomed a daughter, Katy, with the then head of The Beatles’ record label Apple 

But the relationship was only to last six years.

The final straw came when Newly produced and starred a largely autobiographical film about a hero who is torn between a blonde and the mother of his children, whom Joan played herself.

Dame Joan moved on, marrying third husband Ron Kass in 1972, and welcoming a daughter, Katy, with the then head of The Beatles’ record label Apple.

However the family fell on hard times after Kass moved them to LA for a job as a studio head which fell through.

She divorced Kass in 1983, and went on to meet her fourth husband, Scandinavian singer Peter Holm, at a party.

Joan, then at the height of her fame as Alexis in the TV soap Dynasty, said she thought Holm was charming, open and honest.

Here we go again: She divorced Kass in 1983, and went on to meet her fourth husband, Scandinavian singer Peter Holm, at a party (pictured) 

The five marriages of Dame Joan Collins 

24 May 1952 – Married her first husband Maxwell Reed

1956 – Divorced Reed 

1963 – Married her second husband Anthony Newley

1969 – Divorced Newley 

1972 – Married her third husband Ron Kass 

1983 – Divorced Kass

1985 – Married her fourth husband Peter Holm 

1987 – Divorced Holm 

2002 – Married her fifth husband Percy Gibson  

Joan claimed that he became her manager, sacked all her advisers – accountant, lawyer, agent – installed a powerful computer to keep track of her business affairs, and within weeks had already drawn up a prenuptial agreement in the hope that she would marry him as soon as she had divorced her third husband, Ron Kass.

They eventually married in 1985, but she claims his behaviour changed rapidly after the wedding, as though he no longer needed to pretend to love her. He became bossy and dogmatic, criticised her in public, sneered at her looks and made snide remarks about her age.

The pair split in 1987. In court he demanded to be given £35,000-a-month living expenses – £60,000 in today’s terms – as well as the LA house and their villa in the South of France.

‘If you compare how I was in the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies in between husbands with the way that some actresses — I shan’t mention any names — are today, I was positively nun-like really,’ she told Theroux. 

‘Yeah, I had a lot of boyfriends at (drama school) Rada — it was the normal things that you do. 

‘You try out different permutations of men.’ 

Louis Theroux Interviews is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.  

Youthful: ‘Percy is 30-odd years younger than me, but I don’t even feel my age. I don’t even talk about it, I don’t even think about it,’ she said

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