SHE was once part of smash hit BBC series Birds of a Feather but these days you'd be more likely to find her serving the teas at children's drama class.

Actress Pauline Quirke played brash Sharon Theodopolopoudos in the hit show which saw two very different sisters brought together after their spouses are jailed.

The show by writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran bucked the trend in that it was probably the first successful British sitcom to revolve around the misadventures of three female lead characters.

Since the show finished in 1998 mum of two, Pauline is finally beginning to realise her dream of opening up drama to youngsters of all abilities and backgrounds.

At an Open Day to launch the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts in Bournemouth at the weekend, Pauline took some time to chat to the Echo about her hopes for the project.

The academies which already operate in such places as Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Huddersfield and Belfast, run at weekends aimed at six to 18 year olds teaching drama and comedy, musical theatre, film and television. There are some free places for financially-challenged youngsters.

PQA Bournemouth holds its first classes at Glenmoor School, Beswick Avenue, Bournemouth, on April 5 2008.

Pauline said: "I've been thinking about doing it for a long while. I have always enjoyed doing workshops. I have already been involved in doing them with teenagers.

"I am not a qualified drama teacher but I have been acting for 40 years so I have got a bit of experience," she joked.

The aim is not to turn youngsters into little Shirley Temples but for them to discover a love of drama while building up their self-confidence explained Pauline.

"I just wanted to take the pressure off kids. We are just taking all the competitiveness out of it and they can basically come along and enjoy themselves and don't have to worry about getting a part.

"We don't do learning lines and we have got some kids who are dyslexic.

"It isn't about training children for future stardom. We are getting children who are extremely shy. These are kids who never get picked for anything. My son gets picked for everything whereas my daughter doesn't so I see it from both ends of the scale," she added.

As well as her involvement in PQA Pauline is still acting and recently had a part in an episode of BBC comedy My Family.

The children who attend the academies usually have no idea who Pauline is as Birds of a Feather finished around ten years ago.

She jokes: "The kids haven't got a clue who I am. They just think I'm this mad, fat, middle-aged woman. But that's fine, it's not about me."

For further information or to register a place at Bournemouth PQA visit pqacademy.com or call PQA on 08456 732022.