How Shirley Valentine made me dream bigger, even as a teenager

When I was a teenager, Pauline Collins was nothing short of a heroine. Watching her in the movie, Shirley Valentine, as a teenager I felt like I had glimpsed a life I could only dream of, a life drenched in sunshine, and that unapologetic, cheeky rebellion against a life that wasn’t enough. Collins had warmth and wit, like she knew that life could be more than you’d be told. I was captivated. She became the blueprint for the woman I longed to be, even though I didn’t yet know what that looked like in the real world.

Of course, my teenage imagination was fuelled by endless trips to Greece with my parents. Sunburnt afternoons on pebbled beaches in Rhodes, endless plates of feta and olives, the smell of salt and citrus carried on the Aegean breeze. It was intoxicating. Greece became a symbol, shorthand for freedom and excitement. And like Shirley Valentine, I yearned to escape the boredom of my little village life.

I grew up in a small village that felt a million miles away from the idea of marrying a tall, dark, handsome stranger. Life there was quiet, predictable, the kind of place where everyone knew everyone else’s business before you did.

But somewhere along those turquoise-drenched shores when I was on holiday, I began to believe that other cultures were infinitely more thrilling than my own. Perhaps that’s where it all started, the hunger for life beyond my familiar little bubble.

Cut to now: midlife and perimenopause. And my “Greek fantasy” turned into more of a short, dark and handsome Persian prince! It was on a night out in Whitley Bay, I met H. He whispered that he was Persian, and at that moment, looking and sounding the part, my young imagination surrendered. That story, me thinking he was Greek, is still a bit of a running joke between us. And now, 20+ years later, H and I love Greece together, reliving sun-drenched memories with a little more wisdom and a lot more laughter.

Looking back, I can see how my teenage trips and dreams of faraway lands, and Pauline Collins’ Shirley Valentine all came together in ways I couldn’t have understood at the time. They weren’t just about escape or romance; they were about courage. They were about claiming space in a world that expects you to shrink, to play safe, to blend in. Collins showed that you have to write your own script, and sometimes it takes opportunities that feel terrifying at the time. It’s not about the Greek sun or the perfect partner; it’s about going with your heart.

So here’s to Pauline Collins. A woman who showed up on screen with unguarded honesty and left a real example behind. She reminds us that life doesn’t end when youth fades, and that dreams are never in the place you expect them to be.

Fast forward to married life, and if H wants steak and chips – or egg and chips – he knows where the cooker is. And for me? I get to write my own script, just like Shirley Valentine taught me.

Did someone inspire you as a teenager who still influences you today? Share your story of unexpected inspiration.

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