‘Birds Of A Feather’ star Pauline Quirke diagnosed with dementia

nme.com:

BAFTA nominated actor Pauline Quirke, best known for sitcom Birds Of A Feather, will step away from acting and public appearances due to a diagnosis of dementia, a statement has announced.Television producer Steve Sheen, who has been married to Quirke since 1996, said in a 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 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)” he continued. “Pauline is perhaps best known as Sharon Theodopolopodous from Birds of a Feather, the hilarious sitcom that ran for nearly 30 years.

In drama, her BAFTA-nominated role in The Sculptress, was outstanding, as was her role as the mysterious Susan Wright in ITV’s Broadchurch“.“Demonstrating her acting versatility, she also starred or appeared in more than 60 TV and film productions, including Carrie’s War, North and South, Casualty, Cold Blood, Thieving Headmistress, My Family, You, Me and the Apocalypse, and of course Emmerdale”.A much loved actor during her career, Quirke has also received nominations for the British Comedy Awards, British Soap Awards, and National Television Awards.

She was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to young people, entertainment, and charity. She has two children: actor Charlie, 30, and daughter Emily, 40.Birds Of A Feather, a comedy about two sister brought together when their husbands are imprisoned, originally ran from 1989 to 1998.