Pauline Fowler

Name: Pauline Fowler
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Last Appeared: 11th February 2025
Played by: Wendy Richard

Pauline Fowler was a cornerstone of Albert Square, born on 11 March 1945, alongside her twin brother Pete, to Albert and Lou Beale. Growing up at number 45 Albert Square, Pauline attended Walford High School and shared an unbreakable bond with Pete. As kids, Pete was utterly lost when Pauline went to the hospital for her tonsils; he wandered around aimlessly, feeling like a part of him was missing. In 1956, Pauline met local boy Arthur Fowler, and their love story began. They married in 1965, the same year her father died, and went on to have three children: Mark, Michelle, and Martin.

Pauline’s life was never short on drama. She discovered she was pregnant with Martin at the age of forty, much to the disapproval of her mother, Lou. Her husband Arthur’s unemployment and later mental breakdown, her son Mark’s rebellious phase, and her daughter Michelle’s teenage pregnancy added to her challenges. Lou’s death in 1988 left Pauline as the head of the family. In 1989, chronic fatigue led to a health scare when she was diagnosed with fibroids, but she survived after undergoing a hysterectomy.

The early 90s brought more turmoil when Mark returned with an HIV diagnosis. In 1993, Pauline’s seemingly stable marriage was rocked by Arthur’s affair with Christine Hewitt. Pauline famously hit Arthur with a frying pan and threw him out, but they later reconciled. The 90s also saw the arrival of conman Willy Roper, who framed Arthur for embezzlement, leading to his imprisonment. Arthur’s release in 1996 was short-lived as he died from a brain haemorrhage shortly after, leaving Pauline devastated and increasingly bitter.

Pauline’s later years were marked by her struggles with her son Martin’s criminal behaviour and her efforts to be a part of her granddaughter Rebecca’s life, leading to a feud with Sonia Jackson. In 2006, she married Joe Macer, but their relationship soured quickly. Pauline’s final days were spent misleading her family into believing she had a brain tumour, which led to her dying alone after an argument with Joe, who had hit her. Pauline collapsed and died of a brain haemorrhage in the snow by Arthur’s bench. Joe eventually confessed to causing her death and later died during a confrontation with Dot Branning. Pauline’s ashes were buried at Arthur’s grave in 2007, marking the end of an era in Albert Square. Her legacy of resilience and motherly advice left a lasting impact on the Square’s residents.