Pauline Fleming was born in 1960 in Wavertree, Liverpool and trained at the Elliot Clarke School of Dance and Drama. Since leaving drama school her theatre appearances include Alan Ayekbourne's 'Chorus of Disapproval' (2006) for Theatr Clwyd. She played both Maria and Antonio in Kaboodles Production of 'Twelfth Night', which opened at the Liverpool Everyman and then did an international tour which included many years touring Children's Theatre productions performing the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Her TV credits began with the part of a 'woman in a bar' in the TV series 'Scene' (1993) and then in 'All Quiet on the Preston Front' (1994) before 4 episodes in 'Brookside' (1996) playing the part of Val Walker, Jackie Corkhill's sister. Following an appearance in 'Heartbeat' (1999) and 'Nice Guy Eddie' (2002), with Ricky Tomlinson, she had a role for which she is possibly best remembered. As Penny King she was in ITV's longest-running soap opera 'Coronation Street' (2003-2006). Beginning with a one-off appearance as the wife of businessman Preston King, she returned in what became a regular role from December 2003 onwards when her screen husband was killed off, appearing in storylines which saw her becoming the latest in a long line of girlfriends for Mike Baldwin. However, when Johnny Briggs elected to leave the programme, her character became redundant and she made her final appearance on the 17th of April 2006.
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| With Jennie McAlpine and William Roach at Liverpool Town Hall celebrating ITV Granada being awarded the Freedom Of Liverpool. |
After she gave up her role as Penny King in 2006 she went to work on The Grand Theatre, Blackpool production of 'The Vagina Monologues' in November then in Sunderland. That was a big hit and a sell–out and she did it with Corrie’s Nikki Sanderson and Beth Cordingly from 'The Bill'. Pauline went from that to Panto in Billington playing the Fairy in 'Jack and the Beanstalk' with Darren Day and in 2007 was starring alongside Lisa Riley and Jo Farrell in 'The Naked Truth', a touring comedy about five women learning to pole-dance for a breast cancer charity event, playing Sarah whose character already has breast cancer at the opening at the top of the play. It was written by Dave Simpson who she had worked with before when, in 1996, she was in his play, 'I Married Robbie Fowler'. Living in Childwall, Liverpool with her two cats, two dogs and daughter Cornelia, during her Coronation Street days, was approached by a local breast cancer charity called 'The Lily Foundation'. Pauline says, "I attended a few charity events and done a few things for them and in a way that was all the research that I wanted because I wanted to base my character spirit wise on them. My character has got spirit, that’s why she arranges to do this charity pole dance event. She’s not one that submits to the condition. She basically says in the play – 'I'm not going to let it get to me, I'm going to beat it no matter what.' From that spirit, I drew on the women from the Lily Foundation – they are a fabulous inspiration to anybody." She does a lot of other work for charity, particularly Pets As Therapy and recently lent her support and attended the re-launch of the Birkenhead Royal British Legion branch, the first British Legion branch in the world. In 2013, she played Margie in the BBC comedy-drama 'Being Eileen' and also set up set up a free drama and fitness summer school in the city in 2013. The sessions, funded by Liverpool PCT and Liverpool youth services Splash programme, take place at the Belvedere Community Centre in Toxteth, offering activities including boxing, skipping and trampolining in between rehearsals for a variety show. She said, "Because of my drama background I have to keep myself fit so I thought why not combine the two. I thought about the idea a few years ago, obesity was getting out of control and this is a way of getting kids to improve their mental strength by focusing on their physical strength. I invite children to attend the drama school and at the end of the week they showcase their talents by performing for their mums and dads. We have a choreographer and my 19-year-old daughter Cornelia Nelson helps the groups and solo performers to practice their acts."
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| The Menlove Avenue Murder |
She went on to read English at Liverpool University and her motivation was a fear of Shakespeare, which she finally overcame: she now regularly co-tutors on many workshops for Liverpool University. In 2017 she was in Jeff Pope’s 'Cilla the Musical', based on his critically acclaimed 2014 TV drama starring Sheridan Smith. At The Palace Theatre, Manchester it was said, "Pauline Fleming and Neil MacDonald provide the perfect balance of humour as Mr and Mrs White." In 2019 she appeared in 'The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery' at Liverpool's Royal Court, a comedy crime caper inspired by a real-life case from 1931. Pauline has now moved to Prenton on the Wirral.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/05/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-vince.html
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