Pauline Quirke retires from acting following dementia diagnosis

Pauline Quirke, best known for her role in the sitcom Birds of a Feather, has retired from acting after being diagnosed with dementia, according to her husband, Steve Sheen.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step away from all professional and business activities due to her dementia diagnosis in 2021," Sheen said. At the time, her condition was not made public.

Beyond her television and film career, Quirke was known for her philanthropic work and for founding the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA), which now has around 250 academies and more than 15,000 students across the UK. Sheen emphasized the academy’s positive impact on young people and assured that it would continue operating in line with Pauline’s vision.

Quirke, 65, became a household name for her portrayal of Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather, a role that earned her a British Comedy Award in 1990. The series, which aired between 1989 and 2020, followed sisters Tracey and Sharon, whose husbands were imprisoned for armed robbery.

In addition to this role, Quirke was nominated for a BAFTA in 1997 for her performance in The Sculptress, starred in Maisie Raine, Broadchurch, and Emmerdale, and received four National Television Award nominations. In 2022, she was appointed MBE for her contributions to the entertainment industry, young people, and charitable causes.

Sheen requested privacy for the family and stated that no further comments would be made. According to him, Pauline now wishes to spend time with her children and grandchildren.

The family also reaffirmed their support for Alzheimer’s Research UK to help raise awareness and funds for dementia research. Leaders of the organization praised their decision to go public with the diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness, particularly for early-onset dementia.

Sheen also acknowledged the work of Scott Mitchell, widower of actress Barbara Windsor, who became an advocate for dementia awareness following his wife’s diagnosis.