Biography
Jenny Collins is a character from the American gothic soap opera Dark Shadows (1966-1971).
Born in 1869 to a Romani family, Jenny was later described by her older sister, Magda, as being "the fairest and happiest of us all." As an adult, she hid her heritage and began a career as a singer in New York. There she caught the eye of the wealthy young Quentin Collins, whom she eventually married.
After their marriage, she lived in Collinwood with the rest of Quentin's family, as well as her personal maid, Beth Chavez. However, Quentin was sent away to Egypt by his brother, Edward, and Edward's wife Laura followed him there shortly thereafter.
After Quentin's departure, Jenny's mental health deteriorated - the exact reason why is unknown but most likely due to the combined factors of Quentin's abandonment of her, his unfaithfulness in marriage, the pressure of hiding her true background, and her having twins (unbeknownst to her husband) without much support from her husband's family. Beth continued to care for Jenny all the while, including after she went fully insane and was locked in the tower room of Collinwood, away from the rest of the house's occupants. Sometime after her children were born, they were taken away from her and put in the care of a woman in town, and she was given two dolls to care for - in her deteriorated mental state, believing them to be her children.
In 1897, Jenny escaped her imprisonment and learned Quentin had returned - subsequently, she stabbed him to death. However, he was brought back to life by Barnabas Collins, and Jenny continued to escape captivity, usually in a dangerous mood. When she witnessed Quentin and Beth (who had fallen victim to his charms) in a romantic embrace, she flew into a rage and moved to attack them with a knife. Quentin blocked himself and Beth from harm, strangling Jenny and ultimately killing her.