Pauline Quirke went through an agonising health battle while filming one of her BBC dramas.
The Birds of a Feather star, 65, was living in pain for more than a year before deciding to seeking help from her GP. It is just one in a list of health problems for the star, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
It comes as her husband, Steve Sheen, announced that Pauline, who starred as Sharon Theodopolopodous in the sitcom’s original hit series and revival between 2014 and 2017, has had to step away from acting as her condition has worsened. Steve 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.”
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But it was in 2008, while filming the BBC’s afternoon drama Missing, that Pauline began to feel a “raging pain” in her leg. She was playing Det. Supt. Mary Jane Croft – an active role which saw her in and our of her police car and rush around to various offices.
At the time, she had brushed off persistent aches down her right side, relying on paracetamol for relief, but the pain became too much to bear as she struggled to cope with the demands of the job.. The actor, who also appeared in Broadchurch in 2013, eventually consulted her GP, fearing that her condition would impact her portrayal of a senior detective.
Pauline’s problems came to a head when she suffered a serious fall after visiting one of her drama schools – The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts. “I was talking to one of the children’s mothers, and as I turned away I slipped and fell badly. A couple of weeks later, I developed a terrible pain in my right knee, which was so bad it would keep me awake at night,” she disclosed.
Initially, she thought the pain would fade, but instead found herself requesting reduced movement in scenes, reports the Mirror. “I knew I had to see a doctor,” she confessed
Following a referral to a specialist and subsequent X-rays on her hip and knee, it became clear that her hip was the source of her pain, due to the absence of cartilage between the socket and cup. Pauline was then diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease.
After being told she required a hip replacement, Pauline burst into tears. A year later, she underwent surgery, finally finding relief from pain.
The road to recovery was arduous, relying on crutches and practicing movement exercises. As a result of her 17-stone weight, it was recommended she lose weight to alleviate strain on her joints.
“I haven’t bothered before, but I know it will be better for the joint if I do, so I shall try,” she added. “But apart from being fat, I’m in pretty good condition.”
After facing health issues, the Emmerdale star embarked on a weight loss journey in 2011, shedding an impressive 9 stone through the LighterLife programme, which involved cutting out sugar, giving up alcohol, and incorporating light exercise into her routine.
Despite initial struggles to maintain her new weight, Linda made a determined effort to overhaul her lifestyle in 2017 following doctors’ warnings about her drinking habits potentially leading to diabetes. Speaking to The Sun, she shared: “I’ve stopped weighing myself but I think I’ve lost about two and a half stone. I’ve gone from a 16 to 18 dress size down to a 12 to 14.”
Pauline, who tied the knot with husband Steve in 1996, has a son Charlie, 30, also an actor who appeared in the Birds Of A Feather revival in 2019, and a daughter Emily, 40, from a previous relationship. In a statement reported by Mail Online, Steve praised Pauline’s remarkable acting career, her charitable work, and her role as the founder of the successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA), as he discussed her decision to retire from acting.
“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. 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.”
“During her epic 50 year career, Pauline has been nominated for many awards, including Best TV Comedy Actress in the British Comedy Awards, Best Newcomer in the British Soap Awards and has received multiple nominations for Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Comedy Performer in the National Television Awards.”
“In 2022, Pauline was awarded an MBE in the late Queen’s final Birthday Honours. It was a heartfelt recognition of her incredible work with young people, her contributions to entertainment, and her dedication to charitable causes.”
“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.”
“We kindly request privacy and understanding for Pauline and our family during this difficult period. For the time being we will not be engaging in interviews or making further statements, since Pauline just wants to spend time with her family, children and grandchildren. We are deeply grateful for the support from her peers, the public, and the dedicated staff and Principals at PQA.”