Pauline James (formerly Devaney; born 8 July 1941) is an English actress with a career in theatre, film, television and radio.

Pauline James was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, under the name Pauline Devaney.^[1] After graduating from RADA, her TV career began in BBC2's Thirty-Minute Theatre, followed by the role of a drug addict in Z-Cars in 1967.^[2] She played Audrey Hargreaves in Coronation Street in 1967.^[3][4]

She is best known for her role as Beryl Hennessey in the first four series of the British sitcom The Liver Birds (1969–74), mostly alongside Nerys Hughes.^[5][6] She played Cicely Courtneidge in the biographical musical of the actress Once More with Music in 1976, and appeared as a soubrette in Alan Clarke's 1982 production of Baal. She played the role of Jane Hampden on "The Awakening" episode of Doctor Who in 1984.^[7] She appeared in the West End musicals I and Albert and Anne of Green Gables. In 1971, James appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Merchant of Venice with Judi Dench.^[8]

James appeared as Jenny Wren in the 1976 BBC adaptation of Dickens's Our Mutual Friend.^[9]

She is divorced^[10]

Polly was a pupil at the Convent of Notre Dame, Grammar School for Girls, Blackburn from Sept 1952-June 1957. Her name was Pauline Devaney.^{[citation needed]}