Jackie Collins wasn't afraid of death.

The late author, who tragically died from breast cancer aged 77 on Saturday (19.09.15), revealed in her final interview - conducted just days before her death - that she didn't fear the end of her life due to her belief in Buddhism.

The practicing Buddhist told PEOPLE magazine: ''Death is peaceful and maybe you come back as something and maybe you don't.''

She added that she wanted her gravestone to read: ''She gave a great deal of people a great deal of pleasure.''

Jackie - the sister of legendary actress Joan Collins - kept her six-year cancer battle a secret from the public, admitting she didn't want ''sympathy''.

She explained: ''I didn't want to make it public and I didn't want people's sympathy. I don't live my life that way. I like to be in control and so I took control of the situation.''

The author continued working right up until her death and feels that she lived life to the fullest despite her cancer battle.

Jackie said: ''I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I've written five books since the diagnosis, I've lived my life, I've travelled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it.''

Jackie is survived by her three daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46.