10 Rare — and Ultra Glam — Photos of Joan Collins in the ’50s

Joan Collins will forever be known as an '80s icon, thanks to her deliciously nasty run as Alexis Colby on the primetime soap Dynasty , but the glamorous star was already decades into her career when she landed that role.

The British actress, who is a living legend at 91 years young, began acting as a teenager in the early '50s and had her first role, an uncredited part as a beauty pageant contestant, in the 1951 film Bikini Baby .

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Collins went on to star in films like The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955), Land of the Pharaohs (1955) and The Wayward Bus (1957). In the '60s, she starred in Esther and the King (1960) and The Road to Hong Kong (1962) and appeared in the 1967 Star Trek episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," which many regard as the greatest episode of the legendary series.

Collins will always be seen as a larger-than-life screen diva, but while she told our sister publication, Woman's World , in a 2022 interview, that "confidence is not something that I’ve ever worried about," she admitted that at the end of the day, "I am just rather a down-to-earth person who made my way swimming up river in an extremely tough profession and survived."

Dynasty made Collins a household name, but she had an unparalleled charisma and confidence from her earliest days. Here's a look back at 10 stylish shots of Joan Collins young in the '50s, when she was just beginning to make her mark on Hollywood.

1. A sparkling gown

Joan looked lovely in this rhinestone accented black gown.

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2. A seaside pinup

In this '50s shot, Joan poses in a perfectly of-the-moment swimsuit.

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3. Poodle perfection

This shot of Joan lounging in bed with a pink poodle is pure kitschy '50s goodness.

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4. Fabulous fur

No one rocks a decadent fur quite like Joan.

5. A stylish day dress

Joan's gorgeous '50s day dress still looks stylish today, and pairs well with the backdrop of bamboo and a painted sky.

6. It's easy being green

Joan is known for her expressive emerald-colored eyes. Here, she plays them up with eyeliner, a green scarf and a green backdrop — and let's not forget that expertly applied red lipstick!

7. Seeing double

Joan vamped with her own reflection in this sultry 1955 shot.

8. A saucy pose

Joan was often cast in sultry roles, and it's easy to see why, from this retro lingerie photo shoot.

9. Hipster vibes

With her bangs and smart black-and-white striped ensemble, Joan is definitely serving up a hip beatnik vibe here.

10. A vision in lace

Joan is a dream in this long and lacy pink robe.