Michelle Collins Movies

Irreverent British comedian Paul Kaye unexpectedly turned out to be a credible romantic leading man on the BBC1 comedy-drama series 2000 Acres of Sky. The setting was the Scottish island of Ronansay, which housed a bed-and-breakfast and a small school, but little else. When the authorities threatened to close the school because it was two students shy of the required quota, the locals advertised in the London papers for a married-with-children couple to move to Ronansay and take charge of the "B and B." Although Abby Wallace (Michelle Collins) had the necessary two kids, she was bereft of a husband. Still, she needed the income, thus Abby persuaded her friend Kenny Marsh (Paul Kaye) to pose as her hubby and move with her to Ronansay. The first of the series' six 50-minute episodes was telecast on January 1, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When the weekly, 50-minute British drama series Sunburn first aired on January 16, 1999, the action took place in Cyprus, and dealt with the men and women working for Janus Holidays, a successful British-owned travel agency. Upon launching its second season, the series shifted locales to Portugal, Janus' home office. In addition, several new cast members were introduced, among them the previously unseen but much-talked-about David Janus (Paul Nicholas). Michelle Collins starred as chief holiday representative Nicki Matthews, and all sang the series' title tune. Created by Mike Bullen, Sunburn ran for 14 episodes, the last of which aired over BBC1 in late 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Haunted is a Fox Network TV-movie purportedly based on eyewitness testimony. The story goes that in the mid-1980s, the Smurl family of Pittston, Pennsylvania began noticing something askew in their four-bedroom Victorian home. Apparently there are agents of Satan at work, bedeviling the family and smashing the crockery. None of the Smurls believes in ghosts--"until," as the ad copy for this film proclaims, "they have no choice." Since this film was shown on Fox, the "standards and practices" people were a wee more lax than they would have been on another network; hence the "Parental Discretion Advised" tag on the film's original telecast. The Haunted is some distance removed from believability, but stars Sally Kirkland and Jeffrey DeMunn seem to be having a high old time playing scared. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This comedy was inspired by the true story of Cynthia Payne, a former waitress who gained fame as England's best-known (and best-liked) madame. Christine Painter (Julie Walters) is a working-class single mother who sub-leases a few inexpensive flats as a way of bringing in extra money. Christine has no particular interest in selling her body, but when she finds herself in a tight spot financially -- and notices that the prostitutes who rent her apartments are the only ones who consistently pay on time -- she decides to open a brothel. With the help of Shirley (Shirley Stelfox), an experienced prostie, and Morton (Alec McCowen), a former RAF commander with a fondness for women's undergarments, Christine opens a little place where elderly businessmen can indulge their fondness for kinky lingerie and being spanked by younger women. Soon Christine's business is booming and everyone is happy -- until the police pay her a visit. Personal Services was directed by Terry Jones, best known as a member of the Monty Python troupe; the real-life Cynthia Payne served as a technical advisor. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi