Dame Joan Collins was told to "drop six pounds immediately" when she first arrived in Hollywood

She told Platinum magazine: "As a teenager, I struggled with self-confidence. When I first went to Hollywood in 1955 after being signed by 20th Century Fox, I was mocked because I had fine, thin hair and what they called a 'moon face'. I thought it was rather unkind because all the women who worked in the make-up department were all much older than me.

"When I went to Hollywood I was told I needed to drop six pounds immediately, so I was put on different diets. One was the banana and milk and cottage cheese diet and the other was just meat and vegetables. I tried both of those. They were both awful!"

Nowadays, Joan's diet includes lots of meats, salads, and fruit - but she avoids chocolate because of her sweet tooth.

The 'Dynasty' star said: "I'd describe my diet now as sensible. I've just had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, I'll probably have coronation chicken and salad for lunch, then some chicken or meat for dinner. I eat meat two or three times a week and don't believe in depriving the body of food we were meant to eat, although I suffer from an addiction to sweets and in particular chocolate, so I can't have them in the house!"