The role was originated by Joan Collins in the first episode of the show's second season in 1981, though the character appeared briefly in the first-season finale, non-speaking and face unseen.

Alexis' schemes to destroy ex-husband Blake, undermine his marriage to Krystle (Linda Evans), and control her children drive much of the action over the series' run.

Alexis marries three additional times, to Cecil Colby (Lloyd Bochner), Dex Dexter (Michael Nader), and Sean Rowan (James Healey).

Alexis is romantically linked to a number of men over the years, including oilman Rashid Ahmed (John Saxon); tennis pro (and Krystle's first husband) Mark Jennings (Geoffrey Scott); King Galen of Moldavia (Joel Fabiani); shipping tycoon Zach Powers (Ricardo Montalbán); Congressman Neal McVane (Paul Burke); Blake's brother Ben Carrington (Christopher Cazenove); Dirk Maurier (Jon Cypher) and his nephew Gavin Maurier (Neil Dickson); Cecil's brother Jason Colby (Charlton Heston); and even a near-reconciliation with an amnesiac Blake.

In 2015, executive producer Lee Daniels noted that Taraji P. Henson's character Cookie Lyon in his TV series Empire was partially based on Alexis.

In the first-season finale episode, "The Testimony", Blake Carrington is on trial for murder, and a female mystery witness in a large hat and veil appears.

[1] Writers Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock, brought in for season two, were told by series creators Richard and Esther Shapiro that the character would be Blake's ex-wife Madeline, who would be played by Sophia Loren for four to six episodes.

[1][2] The Pollocks renamed her Alexis, told executive producer Aaron Spelling that Loren was not right for the part, and warned him that "If you get rid of this character in four episodes, you are throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars.

[10]Though Maggie Wickman appeared briefly at the end of the first-season finale as the veiled surprise witness, the role of Alexis was originated by Joan Collins in the first episode of the show's second season in 1981.

[12][13][14][15] The addition of Alexis, as well as the Pollocks' change in the writing, were credited with lifting Dynasty in the ratings, and the character "quickly set off a host of female imitators in other prime-time soaps.

[19][20][21][22] Brought on for season nine, executive producer David Paulsen found that there was no money left in the budget for any shoots outside of the studio, which he felt were important for the show.

[23] The ninth-season finale ended with several characters in peril, including Alexis and Dex plunging from a balcony, which Paulsen said "meant that the following year we could get rid of anybody we wished.

Fallon says to her mother: You're even more beautiful and more ugly than that grand English lady I vaguely remember, and whom I've tried very hard to forget existed these past sixteen years.Alexis soon sparks the ire of Blake's wife Krystle, and brazenly moves into a cottage on the Carrington estate: her former art studio which she still owns, thanks to a technicality.

Fallon, although not openly hostile, keeps an icy distance from Alexis and the two trade subtle barbs; Steven is seduced by his mother's apparent devotion to him, but soon gets a taste of her poison.

Alexis' consistent meddling and intrusions help improve Krystle's relationship with Fallon, Joseph, and the rest of the household staff, and they soon accept her unconditionally as Blake's wife.

Adam warns his mother that if she betrays him, he will implicate her in the scheme, since Alexis used Jeff's poor health to trick him into signing over his son's shares in Denver-Carrington to her.

Also around this time, Alexis meets a formidable new adversary in Dominique Deveraux, a glamorous, wealthy black woman who comes to Denver to reveal she is in fact Blake's secret half-sister.

Calling herself Caress, the younger Morell comes to Denver and hopes to make a fortune by writing a scathing tell-all book about Alexis and exposing her sister's darkest secrets.

It is revealed that Sean is actually the son of former Carrington majordomo Joseph Anders, and is bent on avenging his father (who committed suicide) and sister, Kirby (who had been ill-treated by Alexis).

Two years after her fall at the Carlton, in 1991, Alexis (who managed to turn in mid-air and land on top of Dex, who "didn't fare that well") meets Jeremy Van Dorn, head of Trans-Media Relations, who convinces her she needs to diversify her business.

"[11] Esther Shapiro said in the season one DVD commentary, "When Alexis came into it, it changed the tenor ... And that's the way they are now on television: you have your traditional villain, and I think that plays to a different denominator.

[30] In 2015, executive producer Lee Daniels noted that Taraji P. Henson's character Cookie Lyon in his TV series Empire was partially based on Alexis.

[41] She later said "We knew Alexis was coming before we even started shooting the pilot, which allowed us to pave the way for her ... throughout the season, we hear Blake, Steven, and Fallon's memories about the woman who abandoned their family.

[58] In the story, Alexis's vengeful son Adam (Sam Underwood) pushes her face into a fire,[57] and then arranges for her plastic surgeon to make her look like Fallon.

"[68] Sheridan called Alexis "a force to be reckoned with", explaining that "She's a complicated person who is driven by power, money, and the dichotomy of an overwhelming desire to protect her children to have them flourish.

"[68] Noting that in the 1980s series Alexis (Joan Collins) marries wealthy Cecil Colby (Lloyd Bochner) but he dies, Hendrix said "I love Sam Adegoke, so I'm really hoping the same thing doesn't happen to Jeff.

[82] Things go awry in "Dead Scratch" when Fallon is unexpectedly promoted to CEO of the company, and Alexis loses influence over Jeff and Monica, who are determined to take from the Carringtons what they believe is owed to them.

In exchange for talking Fallon out of trying to obtain the Swan House for her wedding venue, Mimi Rose Prescott has promised Alexis a place in the Peachtree Preservation Society.

In "Miserably Ungrateful Men", Alexis's face is bandaged up and she is unable to speak, and the only people who express any interest in her predicament are Adam and Jeff Colby.

Realizing that Jeff wants children, Alexis ends their marriage amicably and forms an alliance with Dominique, who owns the mineral rights to everything beneath the Carringtons' property.