STAR'S STRUGGLE
Pauline Quirke ‘struggling to identity her family members’ amid dementia battle as friend issues heartbreaking update
Pauline's husband recently announced her retirement from showbiz
ACTRESS Pauline Quirke’s friend has issued an update on her dementia battle, saying she’s ‘struggling to identity her family members.’
The actress, 65, starred in Birds of a Feather, The Sculptress and Broadchurch during a glittering 50-year career.
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She was also awarded an MBE in the late Queen’s final Birthday Honours in 2022, receiving the award from Prince William at Buckingham Palace.
But earlier this year it was announced that Pauline is stepping down from her professional duties after being diagnosed with dementia.
Her husband Steve Sheen issued a statement which read: “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).
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"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."
Now, a close friend of the star has revealed that she no longer recognises her family.
Maurice Gran, who wrote Birds of a Feather alongside Laurence Marks, said that Pauline’s co-star Lesley Joseph had rung him before Pauline’s showbiz retirement was announced.
Maurice told the Mirror: “Last month, Lesley [Joseph] phoned me to ask if Pauline’s husband, Steve Sheen, had been in touch.
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“I told her no. ‘Well,’ said Lesley, ‘he’s going to go public about Pauline to put a stop to all the speculation.’
Linda Robson breaks down in tears over Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis as she's comforted by Loose Women co-star Kelly Brook
“Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace.
“She’s still only 65 so your heart goes out to her. Initially, she felt she was beginning to lose her grip. Now, we understand she struggles to identify members of her own family."
Pauline starred as Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather, which ran on the BBC and then ITV across nearly 30 years.
She was also nominated for BAFTAs for her roles in The Sculptress and ITV's Broadchurch.
In total, Pauline appeared in more than 60 TV and films, including Emmerdale and Casualty.
Across her career, she was nominated for Best TV Comedy Actress in the British Comedy Awards, Best Newcomer in the British Soap Awards and had multiple nominations for Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Comedy Performer at the National Television Awards.
Since stepping down from acting, the actress launched the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
The academy now has 250 sites with 15,000 students across the UK.
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