Honorary Essex girl's new project
11:53am Friday 11th January 2008
ACTRESS Pauline Quirke regards herself as an honorary Essex girl and to prove it she is opening a performing arts school in the area.
The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) is about to be launched at Debden Park High School, Loughton.
But, said Pauline, the Academy is a world away from drama schools which train youngsters for a career on stage and screen.
"The emphasis at PQA is on fun not fame.
"I am really excited about the Academy. I will be there on the first day and will oversee the running of it."
Pauline chose Loughton as the base for the latest academy for youngsters because of its location.
"It is as near to Chigwell as we could get. It is great to be so close to Chigwell again, you could say I am an honorary Essex girl."
Just in case you don't remember, Pauline is best known for her role as Sharon in the TV series Birds of a Feather - which was set in Chigwell.
And to prove just how Essex Pauline and her family are, husband Steve couldn't help cracking an 'Is that you Dorien?' joke when I spoke to them earlier this week.
Dorien (Lesley Joseph) was a man-eating character who lived next door to the sisters in the long
Pauline's lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson, played her sister Tracey.
Pauline was born in Hackney and began acting at the age of eight when she appeared in Dixon of Dock Green - probably the forerunner of all 'cop' shows.
"I have been acting for 40 years this year and I feel the time is right for me to open the Academy. I really am so excited about it and I wish there had been something like this around when I was a girl.
"The PQA isn't like other performing arts schools. The emphasis is on fun. There is no pressure on the children, no end of term shows, no exams and everyone gets an equal chance to get up and have a go.
"This is important for children, they can get out and do something on a Saturday instead of being stuck at home in front of a computer.
"Having the chance to perform, discover how a film and TV show is made from scratch, and see all sides of how a play is produced will hopefully give youngsters confidence. It is lovely to see them join in.
"At the Academy we encourage the children listen to each other, this is very important.
"Because there are no shows, no exams and no pressure there won't be any competition or bitchiness. Every child gets an equal chance."
Pauline, who has appeared in numerous TV comedy shows and sit-coms, is also a fine dramatic actress, winning acclaim for her role as a convicted killer in the BBC drama The Sculptress. Her most recent TV role was as sarcastic Dective Inspector in the chilling series ITV Cold Blood.
"I enjoy acting in a good drama and enjoy watching one. I like being in a comedy but there aren't many good comedy sit-coms around at the moment."
Pauline might be about to celebrate 40 decades of stardom but she is as down to earth as you can get, and her family always come first.
"I didn't want to go into the theatre, I preferred having a job where I go to work, be someone else for a few hours then come home and be with the kids. I never got into the nanny cullture and have always been around to take them to and from school."
After being delayed on her flight home from a family holiday in Spain this week, Pauline was eager to get to the shops for some food. And like any other wife and mother she was dreading unpacking the suitcases. "The suitcases, yes I can smell the dirty washing from here."
Pauline said one of her proudest, but scariest moments was when her son Charlie (13) appeared in an episode of Casualty while her daughter Emily (23) worked as a technician in the show.
As well as Cold Blood Pauline played female detective Maisie Raine but she has just filmed an episode of a sit-com in which she plays a bank robber.
"It makes a change from being a detective."
If she had not become an actress what would she have done.
"I have no idea. I love cooking so I might have fancied catering. How about Quirke's Kitchen? Yes I like the sound of that. But I like the Academy better."
The PQA is set to open its doors to youngsters aged from six to 18 years later this month. For details visit the PQA website.