Daughters pay tribute to Jackie Collins as they pick up award

Jackie died of breast cancer on September 19 at the age of 77 after keeping her six-and-a-half year battle with the illness private.

Her daughters Tiffany Sachs and Rory Green paid tribute to their mother at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Bash in Los Angeles, where Collins was posthumously honoured with the Pioneer Award by comedian Kathy Griffin. The organisation is America’s largest mentoring network and matches adult volunteers with children and teenagers.

Speaking on the red carpet in Beverly Hills, Rory said: “This is our first foray out of the house, we have been in sweats and t-shirts for five weeks crying, it is surreal.

“To be in this position where she is being honoured and we can accept the award on her behalf is very special, we definitely feel her with us.”

Tiffany added: “It’s very bittersweet, she was such a pioneer and she was so incredible, and the outpouring of love and support we have received since she’s gone is unbelievable.

“It’s so heart-warming to us and makes us feel so good to know how loved she was by everybody.

“She would be so honoured, we are just sad she can’t be here to see it but we know she will always be with us.”

Collins, who is the younger sister of actress Joan, was born in London but moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s.

Her best-selling novels, including Hollywood Wives, Chances, Lucky and Hollywood Husbands, won her legions of fans and Rory said those fans have been a source of comfort to her family.

She added: “She was very connected to her fans. After someone dies you wonder if they knew how loved they were but she had such a lovely relationship with her readers, it comforts us to know how loved she was.

“Given the opportunity, she would have kept writing until she was 100 years old.

“We are just sad she didn’t have the opportunity but she left this extraordinary legacy with her work and her characters, and that gives us some comfort and solace without her being here.”