(née '''Beale''') is a
Fictional Character in the popular
BBC Soap Opera ''
EastEnders ''. She is played by
Wendy Richard and is one of the series' remaining original characters.
Pauline is the matriarchal stalwart of
Albert Square . Fiercely loyal to her family, she is never afraid to speak her mind. However, the family that she has always held so dear has dwindled in recent years, perhaps partly due to Pauline's overbearing ways.
Pauline is the daughter of
Lou Beale , twin sister to
Pete Beale and since her mother's passing, is the undisputed matriarch of the
The Fowler Family . She has lived in the same house, Number Forty-Five Albert Square, all her life and is still known for her infamous
Cardigans .
Pauline has worked in the
Launderette on Bridge Street for many years. She likes to think of herself as a family woman and often refers to the importance of family values, but in recent years her precious family has dwindled significantly. Daughter
Michelle left to work in
America with her daughter
Vicki , in
1995 and brother Pete, eldest son
Mark and beloved husband
Arthur have all suffered untimely deaths. Pauline loved her husband deeply and has never been able to get over the pain of losing him. Several eligible bachelors have expressed their interest in Pauline, (including
Jeff Healy and
Eddie Skinner ), but it was only
Joe Macer who was able to win her hand in marriage, in
2006 ; Pauline having previously remained staunchly faithful to her late-husband's memory.
Pauline was horrified to discover that her eldest son
Mark was
HIV positive in
1991 . She tried everything she could to protect him, often smothering him in the process and found it especially difficult when Mark made the decision to spend his last few months travelling the world, instead of with his family in Albert square. His death in
2004 hit her hard, and has perhaps made her more protective of her last remaining son
Martin .
As Pauline has grown older, her tendency to interfere in everyone's business has increased. She takes after her
Mother as a traditionalist, with strict rules and beliefs; and although she may be the first to criticise, she will defend her family to the hilt. She has been particularly hostile to the many women that have featured in her sons lives (including
Lisa Fowler and
Ruth Fowler ), coming to epitomise the archetypal mother-in-law. Even now she continues to meddle in the lives of son and daughter-in-law,
Sonia . After discovering that Sonia planned to give her illegitimate grandchild Chloe (now Rebecca) up for
Adoption , Pauline fought hard to gain custody of her son's child; eventually accepting the fact that she would never be part of Chloe's life. However, her interference continued after Martin and Sonia's marriage; secretly visiting her granddaughter against Sonia's wishes. Pauline still clashes regularly with her daughter-in-law, and her son's recent marriage-split has hit her hard.
She can be a stubborn and strong-willed character and makes her opinion known. Her arch-enemy was
Den Watts ; a family-friend who got her daughter Michelle pregnant at just 16. She was unhappy when he 'returned from the dead' in 2002, but perhaps quietly pleased upon discovering that it was her doorstop which marked his eventual death in 2005.
Throughout her time in Albert Square she has remained good friends with neighbour
Dot Branning ,
In the late
1990s , Pauline discovered that she had a sister, Maggie Flaherty, who was conceived before her parents married, and thus forced to be given up for adoption to a strict
Irish family. Pauline travelled to their home, and Maggie's husband made a drunken, rejected pass at her. Pauline ended up going back home with her nephew, Connor, and his daughter, Mary, in tow. As well as Mary, Pauline has housed many other waifs and strays over the years including
Naima Jeffery ,
Aidan Brosnan ,
Derek Harkinson , her life long friend
Ethel Skinner (who came back to Albert square to die in
2000 ) and not to mention Pauline's
Cairn Terrier Betty , who is now her inseparable sidekick.
In August
2005 , Pauline made a close friend with
Joe Macer , whom she met whilst attending salsa dance classes. Although Joe was obviously drawn to Pauline, as usual he was kept at bay by Pauline's unwillingness to betray Arthur's memory. Pauline eventually allowed him to get closer to her and it wasn't long before Joe had fallen in love with Pauline and proposed to her in a crowded
Queen Vic . She said no but Joe did not give up (since he knew that Pauline was fond of him and daren't admit so) and asked her again in
February 2006 after falsely telling her that he would leave for
Dubai unless she would commit to their relationship; this time she said yes.
Pauline had her hen night in her small living room with
Jane ,
Little Mo ,
Big Mo ,
Sonia ,
Naomi ,
Pat ,
Peggy ,
Dot and
Yolande . Joe's daughter
Megan was also there. Although Pauline was hostile towards Megan at first, she eventually warmed to her slightly and she was instrumental in persuading Pauline to go through with the wedding when she was having second thoughts about remarrying. Just as Joe was about to cancel the wedding, Pauline changed her mind, however, and the happy couple were married on
17th February 2006 . Pauline's son
Martin was Joe's best man, her great-neice
Lucy and her granddaughter
Rebecca were bridesmaids, whilst her best pal Dot Branning was the matron of honour.
Pauline chose to keep her surname as Fowler since she felt that she had lived most of her life with the name and didn't want 'a new identity'.
Just two months on in their marriage, in late April 2006, Pauline gave Joe an ultimatum after discovering his criminal past with Bert – his marriage to Pauline or his friendship with Bert. Also she was appalled that her best friend Dot had lied to her about Betty being run over by Bradley.
- Parents: ''Albert Beale'' (deceased) and '' Lou Beale '' (deceased)
- First husband: '' Arthur Fowler '' (deceased)
- Second husband: '' Joe Macer ''
- Children: '' Mark Fowler '' (deceased), '' Michelle Fowler '', '' Martin Fowler ''
- Grandchildren: '' Vicki Fowler '', ''Mark Fowler Jnr.'', '' Rebecca Miller ''
- Brothers: '' Pete Beale '' (deceased), '' Kenny Beale '', ''Ronnie Beale'' (deceased)
- Sisters: ''Maureen Beale'' (deceased), '' Maggie Flaherty ''
- Aunts: ''Flo'', ''Mabel''
- Nephews: '' Ian Beale '', '' Conor Flaherty '', '' David Wicks '', '' Simon Wicks '', '' Eamonn Flaherty ''
- Nieces: '' Elizabeth Beale '',
- Grand nephews: '' Joe Wicks '', '' Peter Beale '', '' Bobby Beale '', '' Steven Beale '', '' Eamonn Flaherty Jr. ''
- Grand nieces: '' Bianca Jackson '', '' Mary Flaherty '', '' Lucy Beale '', ''Karen Wicks'' (''deceased''), '' Colette Flaherty ''
- Great-grand nephew: '' Liam Butcher ''
- Stepdaughters: '' Megan Macer '', ''Shelly Macer''
- Daughter-in-law: '' Sonia Fowler ''
45 Albert Square
The Fowler/Beale Family
