NEW YORK -- Christmas will be bittersweet for Dame Joan Collins coming so soon after the death of her sister, Jackie.
"I'm still missing my sister a lot," she said, her voice softening during an interview Tuesday. "Her children and her grandchildren miss her terribly, as does our brother, Bill."
Jackie Collins lost her battle with breast cancer Sept. 19 at age 77. Older sister Joan will be with Jackie's three children and other loved ones for the holidays.
"We were three siblings. We used to call ourselves the Three Musketeers," Collins said. "Her children are wonderful and we're all going to be together in London for Christmas having the traditional family Christmas with the turkey and the cake and the presents. It won't be the same without Jackie, but we're gonna do it."
At 82, the "Dynasty" star who built a badass reputation on her vengeful Alexis Carrington Colby character is as busy as ever on the professional front.
She has a recurring role as the sassy Grand Duchess Alexandra of Oxford on E!'s over-the-top "The Royals." The author of numerous books, Collins released "The St. Tropez Lonely Hearts Club" in November. It's a satirical murder-mystery novel that unfolds during high season among the rich and richer on the Cote d'Azur.
And she's been busy, too, in her closets. She's putting about 450 personal and professional items on the auction block, including some of her "Dynasty" dresses, elegant furniture and jewelry. The sale will be held Dec. 16 by the Beverly Hills, California, house Julien's Auctions.
"I'm very into clothes, I'm very into fashion and I never buy anything unless I really, really love it so it's always a little difficult for me to get rid of things," Collins said. "But you can't hang on to things."
Also included in the sale: Two love letters written to her by Warren Beatty in 1960.
"I was engaged to Warren and we were both quite young," she recalled. "He had to go off and do his national service ... and we used to write to each other every two or three days. ... We had quite a hot relationship."
The two never married.
Collins may have looked back while rummaging for auction items, but she stays firmly committed to keeping up with pop culture. She counts herself a fan of the Fox hit "Empire," which packs a family-drama punch just as "Dynasty" did. She's even met Taraji P. Henson.
"I think it's fabulous. She said that she had used some of Alexis's character for Cookie," Collins said.
As for her duchess on "The Royals," Collins is having fun.
"I just don't want the queen to see it," she laughed.
