Movies

Birds of a Feather Star Pauline Quirke Diagnosed with Dementia

BBG News

For the past four years, Pauline Quirke has been coping with dementia since she was diagnosed at age 61.

In a statement issued on Monday, it was declared by her spouse, Steve Sheen, that the popular Birds of a Feather actress, aged 65, will be taking a break from all business and work commitments.

According to Steve, the award-winning actress succumbed to the degenerative disease in 2021.

Steve shared the difficult news that his wife, Pauline, has decided to withdraw from all work and business responsibilities since she was diagnosed with Dementia in 2021.

Pauline has served as an inspiring figure due to her contributions in the film and television sector, her philanthropic activities, and by establishing the highly successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA).

Her unique blend of skill, devotion, and foresight has impacted numerous individuals significantly. This influence will persist as her work lives on and through PQA, an institution where her vision and mentorship have propelled many young artists forward, fostering their passion for the arts, and boosting their self-assurance.

In addition to her work on the sitcom Birds of a Feather, Pauline has also appeared in Emmerdale, Broadchurch, and delivered a BAFTA-nominated portrayal in The Sculptress.

Or:

Pauline is not only known for her role in Birds of a Feather but has also acted on Emmerdale, Broadchurch, and earned a BAFTA nomination for her performance in The Sculptress.

He noted: “Pauline might be most recognized for her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous in the long-running, side-splitting television series ‘Birds of a Feather,’ which aired for close to three decades.

In the realm of dramatic performances, she truly shone in ‘The Sculptress’, a role that earned a BAFTA nomination. Similarly, her portrayal of the enigmatic Susan Wright in ITV’s Broadchurch was equally noteworthy.

Showcasing her diverse acting talents, she has been featured in over 60 TV shows and movies, such as Carrie’s War, North and South, Casualty, Cold Blood, The Thieving Headmistress, My Family, You, Me and the Apocalypse, and not forgetting Emmerdale.

Over the span of half a century, Pauline has garnered numerous award nominations. These include recognition as Best TV Comedy Actress at the British Comedy Awards, Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards, and several nominations for Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Comedy Performer in the National Television Awards.

In 2022, Pauline received an MBE during the late Queen’s last Birthday Honors. This touching acknowledgment was given in recognition of her remarkable service with youth, significant impact on entertainment, and unwavering commitment to philanthropy.

Pauline Quirke, once a prominent actress, has concluded her career, but the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA), boasting around 250 academies and over 15,000 students nationwide in the UK, remains strong and will carry on functioning as usual, adhering to Pauline’s philosophies.

The seasoned senior leadership team will continue the Academies’ prosperity and development, expanding upon the principles, spirit, and vision that Pauline instilled since its inception in 2007.

Let’s show compassion and respect for Pauline and her family as they navigate through a challenging time, asking for discretion and empathy.

At this moment, we are refraining from granting interviews or issuing additional comments, as Pauline wishes to devote her time to her loved ones – her family, kids, and grandkids.

We greatly appreciate the assistance we’ve received from fellow students, the community, as well as our hardworking team members and school principals at PQA.

In 1996, Pauline tied the knot with her spouse Steve, and together they have a son named Charlie, who is now thirty years old. Just like his mother, Charlie has ventured into acting and even had a role in the revival of Birds Of A Feather in 2019.

The star also has daughter Emily, 40, from a previous relationship. 

Her most recent public outing occurred in February 2023, where she received an MBE from Prince William for her contributions to youth work, entertainment, and charitable causes.

On Tuesday, Hilary Evans-Newton, CEO of Alzheimer’s Research UK, expressed sympathy upon learning about Pauline’s diagnosis. Sending warmest regards to Pauline, Steve, and their extended family during this challenging time.

It’s commendable that the family chose to share their daughter’s diagnosis openly. This act not only brings more liberty for them as a family, but also sheds light on the critical importance of this condition, increasing public awareness significantly.

We’re truly appreciative that Pauline and Steve have agreed to back our efforts when the opportunity arises. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with them to increase understanding about dementia, as well as to generate more resources for research in this field.

The popular TV comedian is most recognized for portraying Sharon Theodopolopodous, a character from the successful series Birds of A Feather.

Pauline was a cast member with Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph from 1988 to 1999, and again during the show’s revival from 2014 to 2017.

In this comedy series, characters Pauline and Linda portray sisters, Sharon and Tracy, who find themselves living under one roof after their husbands, both involved in an armed robbery case, get arrested.

They establish a strong relationship with their neighbor Dorien, portrayed by Lesley, who tends to prefer younger males.

In the year 2022, there were reports suggesting Pauline was involved in a dispute with her ex-colleague Linda. However, Pauline later refuted these allegations.

Responding to the rumors, Linda clarified: “That talk about us having a disagreement is pure nonsense. To set the record straight, there has never been any rift between us. In fact, I’ve been friends with her since we were ten years old and that friendship remains unchanged.

In 2022, Linda, Pauline, and their fellow “Birds of a Feather” cast member Lesley got together again to explore the prospect of returning to the show.

On that particular day, Linda shared with the Daily Mirror: “Pauline and I were having lunch in London on Friday, specifically at The Delaunay restaurant, and we talked about something.

For over five decades, these long-standing companions have graced the screen together in twelve different TV shows and a pair of festive episodes entitled “Birds of a Feather.

Yet, Pauline didn’t attend the 2020 Birds of a Feather event, which fueled speculation about a disagreement or misunderstanding.

However, it has been established earlier that Pauline made the decision herself to skip the one-time episode in 2021, and the cast was obliged to honor her choice.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but feel the void left by Pauline’s absence from Loose Women. However, in acknowledging our longing for her, we must remember and honor her decision to step back. It was her choice, after all.

She’s focused on her academy right now. When they inquired about our plans, we responded enthusiastically that we’d like to continue with the project. We’re not quite ready to bring it to a close yet.

‘I think it worked really well as they did a good script, and we did the best we could with it.’

Pauline was prominently featured on Emmerdale from 2010 to 2012, portraying Hazel Rhodes, who was the mother of Aaron Livesy’s partner, Jackson Walsh, during that timeframe.

In the heart-wrenching plot twist I simply couldn’t get enough of, my beloved character found herself entangled in a contentious tale about assisted suicide. Alongside Aaron, we helped Jackson make peace with his fate when a devastating train accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Even though they initially hesitated, Aaron (Danny Miller) and Hazel eventually agreed to fulfill Jackson’s (Marc Silcox) wish, as he was terrified at the prospect of living out the remainder of his days confined to a wheelchair.

However, as Hazel grappled with administering a potentially fatal mix of medications to her son, it was Aaron who stepped up to the task. Heartbroken, Hazel was left in tears following her son’s tragic demise.

or

While Hazel faced difficulties giving her son a dangerous concoction of drugs, it was Aaron who assumed the role, ultimately resulting in Hazel weeping upon her son’s death.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but use slightly different word choices and sentence structures to create variety and maintain reader engagement.

In May 2011, Pauline left her role, and by January 2012, both Aaron was exonerated from euthanasia charges and Hazel decided to leave the village for a new beginning.

Regardless of Emmerdale’s intention to spark meaningful discussion on a delicate topic, its intense storyline faced widespread criticism from viewers and organizations such as Aspire, a spinal cord injury support group. They claimed that the ITV soap was guilty of sensationalist distortion in its portrayal.

After receiving numerous complaints, Ofcom eventually looked into Emmerdale, yet ultimately decided not to pursue action. According to an Ofcom representative, they discovered that no explicit or graphic content was depicted on the screen.

Yet, the narrative itself garnered acclaim for its role in promoting awareness, as Pauline and Danny received award nominations following their poignant performances as a mourning mother and her supportive boyfriend.

In addition, she played the role of Susan Wright in the 2013 ITV drama Broadchurch. This series was set in a quiet coastal town and featured David Tennant and Olivia Colman as its main characters. The storyline revolved around the events that unfolded after the discovery of a dead body on the beach, which belonged to a schoolboy named Danny Latimer.

In a secluded caravan community, I found myself living as Susan, raising eyebrows among the locals due to my solitary existence. However, it wasn’t long before the suspicions surrounding me were proven unfounded, as my innocence came to light.

2009 saw Pauline enduring a hip replacement surgery due to persistent leg discomfort, which left her in tears upon learning about the upcoming procedure.

At that point, she mentioned: “I portrayed Det. Supt. Mary Jane Croft and featured in all scenes. However, it grew progressively challenging for me to access and exit my police vehicle, traverse the staircases, or quickly enter one of the numerous detective rooms.

In a manner that seemed quite absurd, given my position as a seasoned detective, I was limping around due to the intense discomfort.

After a trip to her GP, Pauline was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

“Finding out about it gave me quite a jolt, but the revelation that I needed a hip replacement left me utterly stunned – I couldn’t help but break down in tears.

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2025-01-22 12:39

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