Sharon Duce
Sharon Duce (born 17 January 1950) is a British actress. Born in Sheffield, she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art then became a stage actress at the Sheffield Repertory Theatre, the York Theatre Royal, and the Theatre in the Round, before joining Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridges Actors Company. Apart from her career in film and television, she has had leading roles at the Royal Court Theatre and other West End theatres. She has two children with the former actor Dominic Guard, with whom she appeared in the 1978 film "Absolution". Selected filmography. Her best  known screen role was with Ray Brooks in the BBC comedy drama "Big Deal" (1984). She has also appeared in: In 1992 she was reunited with Brooks to star in the BBC drama series "Growing Pains", in which they played middle-aged foster parents. She also guest starred for two episodes in February 1992 in ITV's BAFTA award-winning series for teenagers, "Press Gang", playing Spike Thomson's mother. Duce appeared in "Coronation Street" as Julie Carp's mother, Paula Carp, but she left the soap on 22 May 2009.