Elaine Collins

Margaret Elaine Collins (born 21 April 1958) is a Scottish actress and producer.

Elaine Collins
Born
Margaret Elaine Collins

(1958-04-21) 21 April 1958 (age 66)
Lanarkshire, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Occupation(s)Actress, producer
Years active1975–present
Spouse
(m. 1991)
Children1

Career

Collins made her acting debut in 1975, appearing in a guest role in the series Lord Peter Wimsey. Her most prominent roles include films such as Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992),[1] Mrs Brown (1997), The Wyvern Mystery (2000) and television shows City 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 film Strictly Sinatra.[3] She worked as a script editor on the detective series A Touch of Frost from 2008 to 2010. In 2011, she became a producer and executive producer at ITV Studios, and helped to create the crime mystery Vera.[4] Collins joined BBC Drama in 2014 as a creative director, where she was responsible for developing and producing first three series of the crime drama Shetland.[5] In 2017, she founded film production company Tod Productions.[6] She produced the thriller Criminal Record for Apple TV+ in collaboration with STV Studios, which premiered in 2024.[7]

Personal life

Collins has been married to the actor Peter Capaldi since 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).[8][9] The family lives in Muswell Hill, London.[10]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompanyDirectorNotes
1989The Guid SistersLisette de CourvalTron Theatre, GlasgowMichael Boydplay by Michel Tremblay, translated into Scots by Bill Findlay & Martin Bowman

Filmography

Actress

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the ApesRubyUncredited
1992Soft Top Hard ShoulderYvonneNominated — BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actress
1993Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful LifeMiss CicelyShort film; also production assistant
1994SeedsShort film
1996The Empty MirrorBlonde woman
1997Mrs BrownMrs Grant

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975Lord Peter WimseyHelen McGregor2 episodes: "Five Red Herrings"
1975The Hill of the Red FoxMoragEpisode #1.5
1976Sutherland's LawMary HepburnEpisode: "Blind Jump"
1977The MackinnonsAnnie GilliesEpisode: "In the Public Interest"
1978The Sunday DramaSecretaryEpisode: "City Sugar"
1979Scottish PlaybillElviraEpisode: "The Day After Yesterday"
1979–1982Play for TodayAt the pub / Isabel2 episodes
1980The House with the Green ShuttersJanet GourlayTelevision film
1984–1987City LightsJaniceSeries 1 and 2
1988The Comic Strip Presents...Scots girlEpisode: "Funseekers"
1988–1993Rab C. NesbittDancing woman / Isa Minto2 episodes
1989Snakes and LaddersTV reporter4 episodes
1991Selling HitlerMaria Modritsch
1991The Play on OneEloiseEpisode: "And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon"
1992CivviesSissyEpisode #1.3
1993StrathblairAnne JarvisEpisode #2.8
1993The BillJenny BaylissEpisode: "Give and Take"
1996Thief TakersMary DonachieEpisode: "Remember Me"
1996–2000TaggartAbigail Stirling / Sheila Maitland4 episodes
1997EastEndersLisa2 episodes: "Easter 1997"
1999PsychosLaura Robb
2000The Wyvern MysteryDulcieTelevision film
2003Silent WitnessJanine BurwoodEpisode: "Answering Fire: Part 1"

Writer

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008–2010A Touch of FrostScript editorSeries 14 and 15
2009Albert's MemorialScript editor
2011VeraScript editor1 episode

Producer

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Strictly SinatraAssociate producer
2011–2015VeraProducer / executive producer16 episodes
2013–2016ShetlandExecutive producerSeries 1–3
2024–presentCriminal RecordExecutive producer

References

External links