Actress Pauline Quirke, most famous for the sitcom Birds of a Feather, has retired from acting due to a dementia diagnosis that she received back in 2021. Her husband, Steve Sheen shared the news.
"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 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)," said Steve.
Pauline, 64 and Steve are pledging to raise money for the Alzheimer's Research UK charity, which funds research and raises awareness of the condition.
Dementia UK CEO and Chief Admiral Nurse Dr Hilda Hayo said: "By choosing to speak publicly about her condition, Pauline will raise vital awareness for young onset dementia.
"We hope this will encourage others to seek support if they are concerned about their brain health."
Steve has openly praised Scott Mitchell, Dame Barbara Windsor's widow, who also supports the charity.
If you or a family member is suffering from the condition, there's help and support for dementia out there.
Birds of a Feather
Pauline Quirke is best known for her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather, a sitcom about two sisters who move in together after their husbands are arrested for armed robbery.
She stars alongside Loose Women panellist, Linda Robson who plays her sister Tracey and Lesley Joseph who plays their their neighbour, Dorien Green.
The show initially aired on BBC One from October to December 1998, before being revived for ITV in January 2014. The last episode was broadcast on the 24th December 2020.
In 1990, Pauline won a British Comedy Award for her role as Sharon.
Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson
Pauline and Linda became friends when they were just 10 years old, when they were both attending Islington's Anna Scher Theatre School and they also went to the same primary school together, where Pauline was in the year below.
Pauline Quirke family
Pauline Quirke and her husband Steve Sheen got married in 1996 and have two children, Charlie Sheen and Emily Sheen.
Steve was an executive producer on Birds of a Feather and her son Charlie also starred as her character's nephew Travis Stubbs.
Pauline Quirke's MBE
At Windsor Castle in 2022, Prince William made Pauline Quirke an MBE for services to the entertainment industry, young people, and charities.
The Pauline Quirke Academy
The actress is passionate about getting the younger generation into the arts and, along with her husband, has founded PQA (The Pauline Quirke Academy), which currently has 250 academies and more than 15,000 students around the UK.
"It has been wonderful to see how many lives Pauline has touched through her work with PQA and in her 50-year career in film and television.
"Improving the lives of young people through the performing arts has been PQA's ethos since Pauline and Steve opened their first academy in 2007, and remains central to everything that we do." the PQA said in a social media post.
Pauline Quirke: Movies and TV shows
A well as Birds of a Feather, Pauline Quirke is a versatile actress who has appeared in many shows, including Broadchurch with Olivia Colman and David Tennant, and Emmerdale (as Hazel Rhodes).
The actress even fronted her own sketch show, Pauline's Quirkes, in 1976.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.