Pauline Quirke, best known for her roles in Birds of a Feather and Emmerdale, has stepped away from her 50-year acting career following a diagnosis of dementia in 2021
Pauline Quirke has ‘touched countless lives’ with her successful business venture.
The Birds of a Feather star was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and has made the sad decision to step back from all work, her husband, Steve Sheen, announced today. She is best known for playing Sharon Theodopolopodous in the ITV sitcom and has also appeared in the likes of Emmerdale, Broadchurch and The Sculptress.
The Hackney-born actor was awarded an MBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to young people, the entertainment industry and charity. Despite her battle with the cruel condition, Pauline made a rare appearance to collect the special honour at Windsor Castle in February 2023, where she met Prince William.
How old is Pauline Quirke?
Pauline is 65 years old and was diagnosed with dementia in 2021, when she would have been 61. Her husband Steve said in his statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of dementia in 2021.”
Pauline married her husband Steve in 1996, and the couple share a son, Charlie, 30, who is also an actor and even starred in the Birds Of A Feather trivial in 2019. The soap actress also has a daughter, Emily, 40, from a previous relationship.
What is Pauline Quirke famous for?
Pauline has had an incredibly successful 50-year career on television, having been nominated for many awards including Best TV Comedy Actress in the British Comedy Awards and Best Newcomer in the British Soap Awards. She is most famous for her role in Birds of a Feather, though many will be familiar with her inspiring performing arts academy.
In 2007, Pauline and Steve delved into the world of business and launched The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, an extracurricular centre for young people who want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Since its launch, Pauline has opened over 200 branches across the UK and seen the likes of alumni Lenny Rush go on to succeed.
The company’s website states that they set up the academy after being “unable to find somewhere that ticked all the boxes for their son Charlie”. “Having both worked in the performing arts industry, they knew exactly how the arts could have a positive impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people,” it reads.
The couple wanted to ensure they “covered drama, and of course, comedy and filmmaking classes”. The website adds: “When 130 young people turned up for the opening of their first academy, they knew that they were on to something! Today there are over 200 academies nationwide, offering unique performing arts classes for children and teens.”
Steve commended Pauline’s acting career and their academy in his statement this morning. He said: “Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA). Her talent, dedication, and vision have touched countless lives and will continue to do so through the legacy of her work and through PQA where her vision and guidance has facilitated many young peoples’ progression and interest in the Arts and enhanced their self-confidence.”
He went on to add: “Her acting career has now come to a close, but Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA), with its network of approximately 250 academies and over 15,000 students across the UK, remains robust and will continue to operate as normal in accordance with Pauline’s ideology. Our experienced senior leadership team will maintain the Academies’ success and growth, building on the foundations, ethos and philosophy that Pauline has inspired from the beginning in 2007.”
