Joan Collins reveals she clashed with police in Ikea after swapping her face mask for a visor

Joan Collins has revealed she was ‘yelled at’ by police in France after swapping her face mask for an illegal plastic visor during a shopping trip to Ikea.

The film legend, 87, who has been holidaying in St. Tropez with loved ones and pals including Piers Morgan, said she was ‘pounced upon’ when an official spotted her wearing a clear, plastic visor which she found easier to breathe in than a mask.

Face masks have been mandatory in indoor public spaces in France since July 21.

In her column for the Spectator, Joan wrote of her visor: ‘An officious gendarme became deeply offended by it, and while I was mulling over the benefits of Ikea’s gravadlax vs its smoked salmon, he pounced.

‘Gesticulating in Gallic fashion, he yelled at me to put on a proper mask, because visors aren’t legal. Chastised, I slunk away, muttering an Anglo-Saxon expletive under my breath, which, as he glared at me, I feared he might have understood.

‘I then tried wearing a clear plastic facemask, of the sort which all the staff at the Byblos were wearing, but although it was easier to speak and to be understood, it forced my face into a hideous rictus.’

In May, Dame Joan criticised the UK government for being ‘ageist’ to those over the age of 70 amid the ongoing crisis.

In her column for The Spectator, the actress claimed government advice saying elderly people needed to stay indoors during the global pandemic was ‘utter discrimination’.

Holding nothing back, she said: ‘I’ve always thought Western society was terribly ageist, and I don’t just mean showbiz folk but across the board.

‘Then the UK government insisted the over-70s, horrible expression, were part of the vulnerables, an even more horrible expression, and should remain in lockdown, the most horrible expression of all, until a vaccine is found.

‘That was utter discrimination against the hardy individuals who have no health issues. But more harmful was bolstering the existing belief among the general public that the old should keep out of everyone’s way.’

The Dynasty star added that she declared ‘stunningly healthy’ by her GP on her most recent visit, and has never limited herself by her age, which was true of others too.

Picking out fellow elderly actors, Joan said it was a shame 88-year-old Coronation Street star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, was not allowed to return to work because of the government’s advice.

She also detailed her shock when pal Christopher Biggins, 71, was stopped by members of the public during a run, because they believed he should remain inside.

Joan previously declared she’d ‘settle’ at living til she’s 100 – and brushed off the age difference between her and Percy.

Joan married Percy in 2002, and said in a new interview that ‘people make too much fuss about age, which is just a number.’

Speaking to The Mirror, Joan said: ‘I think there’s a big difference between biological age and the age you’re supposed to be.

‘As you know, [Percy] is somewhat younger than me. At first people would always say, “What are you going to do about the age difference?” I’d say, “Well, if he dies he dies!”‘ She mused: ‘Will I outlive you all? No, I don’t want that.’