Dame Joan Collins ‘overjoyed’ as she watched her only son get married
In a touching online post, Dame Joan Collins has said she was “overjoyed” as she watched her only son get married.
Dame Joan Collins was “overjoyed” as she watched her only son get married.
The Dynasty star, 92, was among the guests as her artist boy Alexander ‘Sacha’ Newley got hitched to singer-songwriter Sheela Raman in a lakeside castle ceremony in Salzburg at the weekend.
He is the son of Joan’s second husband – the late actor and singer Anthony Newley – and this marks Sheela’s first marriage.
The couple had become engaged in 2019, but their original plans for a wedding in the south of France were cancelled the following year due to Covid restrictions. Five years later, they celebrated their marriage in Austria.
Sheela shared photographs of the ceremony on Instagram, writing: “What a gift to stand side-by-side, surrounded by our beloved friends and family, as we step into this new chapter together.
“Our wedding day was more than a celebration, it was a reflection of the creative life we’re building together, full of music, laughter and love, and our little girl, who makes every day more glorious as she blossoms.
“We’re so grateful to our family and friends who travelled from near and far, held us in joy, and communed with us on this sacred day. It will live with us always.”
Joan, who attended in a light blue dress with a matching hat, said online: “It was a magical three days.” Sheela replied: “It was so wonderful to celebrate with you.”
The ceremony took place against an Alpine backdrop, with the newlyweds photographed on a jetty before gathering with family and friends inside the castle.
Sheela performed the track Feeling Good during the reception – a song written by Anthony Newley for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd.
It was first performed by Cy Grant and later recorded by Nina Simone.
The couple also serenaded one another in front of their guests.
Sacha, a distinguished painter, has produced portraits of Gore Vidal, Christopher Reeve and Billy Wilder.
He and Sheela welcomed their daughter, Deia Shanaya, in 2022, making Joan a grandmother for the fourth time.
Joan has been married to her fifth husband, film producer Percy Gibson, since 2002.
She said of her growing family: “It’s really lovely to become a grandma again. It’s all these grandchildren that keeps me so young.”
Joan also has two daughters: writer Tara Newley, from her marriage to Anthony Newley, and actress Katyana Kass, from her third marriage to record executive Ron Kass.
Joan’s first marriage was to actor Maxwell Reed in 1952.
She later wed Anthony Newley in 1963, with their marriage ending in 1970.
Joan then married Ron Kass in 1972, and Swedish singer Peter Holm in 1985, before divorcing two years later.
With Percy, whom she met at a book signing in 2000, she has said she finally found stability, calling him “a wonderful, kind, truly good man” and “the love of her life”.
