Born In Bayswater, west London, on 23rd May, 1933.
Who is she? British actress and writer.
Wasn't she in Dynasty? Played Alexis Carrington in the soap for years.
Why's she in the news? Has just won a court case against Random House. It was demanding the return of a $1.2 million advance on two novels she was writing, A Ruling Passion and Hell Hath No Fury.
Random claimed she had failed to deliver. Joan counter sued for $4 million.
The jury ruled that Joan had submitted a complete manuscript and said not only could she keep her advance, but that she might be entitled to an additional $530,000.
What's she like? Said to have more guts than an abattoir, more luggage than Elizabeth Taylor, more swings than a roundabout and more husbands than most.
Her marriages First was Maxwell Reed, when she was aged 17. Lasted seven months. The divorce, in 1957, cost her 15,000.
Next was singer Anthony Newley. Nine years later with two children, they divorced (1972).
She stayed with Ron Kass for 11 years, gaining mother daughter, but divorcing in 1983.
Peter Holm, an unemployed Swedish actor and double glazing salesman was number four. That lasted six months and cost her $180,000 in 1987. Her style In one of her manuscripts, Joan offers
"Laura Marlowe possessed outstanding loveliness... The oval symmetry of her face was framed by a cloud of golden hair whose curly tendrils caressed sculpted cheekbones, a perfect pointed chin and a flawless forehead . . . her retrousse nose was perfection."
Red hot Her editor at Random, Joni Evans, expressed disappointment "It struck me as extremely dated, melodramatic and a little bit gothic," she said.
Last word Goes to Edwina Currie, a Tory backbencher and a bit of a novelist herself. Said she cheered aloud at the outcome of the case.
"She never pretended that she was a great writer.
What she was prepared to sell and lend to them was her name her face, her promotion skills and a few good ideas.