Alison Steadman
Born
August 26, 1946 (78 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Liverpool, England, UK
Alison Steadman (born 26 August 1946) is an English actor. She won the 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for the Mike Leigh (her husband 1973-2001) film Life is Sweet, and the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role as Mari in the original production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. In a 2007 Channel 4 poll, the "50 Greatest Actors" voted for by other actors, she was ranked No. 42.
Steadman made her professional stage debut in 1968 and went on to establish her career in Mike Leigh's 1970s TV plays Nuts in May (1976) and Abigail's Party (1977). She received BAFTA TV Award nominations for the 1986 BBC serial The Singing Detective, and in 2001 for the ITV drama series Fat Friends (2000–05). Other television roles include Pride and Prejudice (1995), Gavin & Stacey (2007–10, 2019) and Orphan Black (2015–16). Her other film appearances include A Private Function (1984), Clockwise (1986), Shirley Valentine (1989), Topsy Turvy (1999), and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004).
Known For
Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell
Self
2025
Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale
Self
2024
Better Man
Betty
2024
The 1970s Dinner Party
Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
Wake
2023
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
Dora
2020
23 Walks
Fern
2020
DNA Journey
(1 episode)
2019
Butterfly
Barbara · (3 episodes)
2018
Inside No. 9
Anne · (1 episode)
2014
Caravans: A British Love Affair
Narrator
2009
Fanny Hill
Mrs. Brown · (2 episodes)
2007
Gavin & Stacey
Pam Shipman · (19 episodes)
2007
The One Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2006
The Worst Week of My Life
Angela Cook · (17 episodes)
2004
Bosom Pals
(2 episodes)
2004
Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie
Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
2001
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
Pauline Mole · (6 episodes)
2001
Lenny Henry in Pieces
(15 episodes)
2000
Fat Friends
Betty Simpson · (25 episodes)
2000
Let Them Eat Cake
(6 episodes)
1999
Stressed Eric
(13 episodes)
1998
The Missing Postman
Christine Peacock · (2 episodes)
1997
No Bananas
Evelyn Hamilton · (10 episodes)
1996
The Snow Queen's Revenge
Pearl
1996
Coogan's Run
(1 episode)
1995
Crapston Villas
(20 episodes)
1995
Pride and Prejudice
Mrs. Bennet · (6 episodes)
1995
GMTV
Self · (1 episode)
1993
7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting
Janista Maine
1989
The Singing Detective
Mrs. Marlow · (6 episodes)
1986
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Kato/Natella/Aniko
1985
Pasmore
Kay Pasmore
1980
King of the Teds
Tina
Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry
Alison Steadman · (3 episodes)
2023
Queen and Country
Narrator (voice)
2022
Here We Go
Sue Jessop · (12 episodes)
2022
Rules of the Game
Anita Jenkins · (4 episodes)
2022
The King's Man
Rita
2021
Life
Gail Reynolds · (6 episodes)
2020
We Love Gavin and Stacey
2020
Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas
Pam Shipman
2019
Off Grid
Grace Tanner
2019
Care
Mary
2018
Hold the Sunset
Edith · (12 episodes)
2018
Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
2017
Becky Watts Killed for Kicks
Narrator
2017
We Can Be Heroes
Granny Evans
2017
Burn Burn Burn
Diana
2016
Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood
Self
2016
Dad's Army
Mrs. Fox
2016
Peterman
Auntie Jean
2015
The One and Only Mike Leigh
Self
2014
Gareth's All Star Choir
Herself - Choir Member · (2 episodes)
2014
Boomers
Joyce · (12 episodes)
2014
The Great War: The People's Story
Hallie Eustace Miles · (3 episodes)
2014
Yonderland
Barbara · (1 episode)
2013
Orphan Black
Kendall Malone · (5 episodes)
2013
Gadget Man
(1 episode)
2012
A Civil Arrangement
Isobel
2012
The Syndicate
Rose Wilson · (6 episodes)
2012
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2012
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant · (1 episode)
2011
All Roads Lead Home
Herself · (3 episodes)
2011
French Exchange
Mrs. Phillips
2011
Come Rain Come Shine
Dora Mitchell
2010
Little Crackers
Alison's Mother · (1 episode)
2010
Fry and Laurie Reunited
Self - Narrator (voice)
2010
Who Gets the Dog
Jenny Evans
2007
All About 'Abigail's Party'
Self
2007
Fanny Hill
Mrs. Brown
2007
The Dinner Party
Juliet
2007
Lewis
Rev. Martha Seager · (2 episodes)
2007
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
Self
2007
Loony in the Woods
Crazy Butcher
2006
Confetti
Sam's Mum
2006
Great British Menu
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2006
Twisted Tales
(1 episode)
2005
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Casting Agent
2004
Chunky Monkey
Beryl
2003
D.I.Y. Hard
Woman
2002
Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale
Mrs. Meisling · (2 episodes)
2002
Ivor the Invisible
Auntie Barbara (voice)
2001
Happy Now
Bronwyn Race
2001
Topsy-Turvy
Madame Leon
1999
Jack and the Beanstalk
Mother / Veronica
1999
Santa's Last Christmas
Mrs Whatnot (voice)
1999
The Ugly Duckling
The Hen (voice)
1997
The Missing Postman
Christine Peacock
1997
Midsomer Murders
Abigail Tonev · (1 episode)
1997
Cold Lazarus
Mrs. Haynes · (4 episodes)
1996
Secrets & Lies
Woman with Dog
1996
Karaoke
Mrs. Haynes · (4 episodes)
1996
Dalziel & Pascoe
Marion Mattis · (1 episode)
1996
Kavanagh Q.C.
Evelyn Marie Kendall · (1 episode)
1995
Gotta Get Out
Maggie
1995
The Wimbledon Poisoner
Elinor Farr · (2 episodes)
1994
Do You Remember the First Time?
1994
Degas and Pissario Fall Out
Emma Dumay
1994
Selling Hitler
Edda Goering
1993
Gone to Seed
Hilda Plant · (6 episodes)
1992
Blame It on the Bellboy
Rosemary Horton
1992
Gone to the Dogs
Lauren Patterson · (6 episodes)
1991
Life Is Sweet
Wendy
1990
News Hounds
Jackie Johns
1990
A Small Mourning
Marjorie
1989
Shirley Valentine
Jane
1989
Wilt
Eva
1989
The Jim Henson Hour
Perriwinkle · (1 episode)
1989
Virtuoso
Brenda
1989
Monster Maker
Perriwinkle
1989
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Daisy
1988
Countryfile
Self · (1 episode)
1988
Stormy Monday
Mayor
1988
The Short & Curlies
Betty
1987
Clockwise
Gwenda Stimpson
1986
Coming Through
Kate
1985
Number One
Doreen
1985
A Private Function
Mrs. Allardyce
1984
Champions
Mary Hussey
1984
Tartuffe, or The Imposter
Elmire
1983
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
Miss Land
1982
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
Self
1982
The Muscle Market
Susan
1981
Two Days That Shook the Branch
Norma Hardy
1978
Abigail's Party
Beverley
1977
Our Flesh and Blood
Jan Blincoe
1977
Bag of Yeast
Margaret Hudson
1976
Nuts in May
Candice Marie
1976
Through the Night
Christine Potts
1975
Oil Strike North
(1 episode)
1975
Early to Bed
Helen
1975
The Wackers
Bernadette Clarkson · (7 episodes)
1975
Taking Leave
Nonie
1974
Girl
Jackie
1974
Hard Labour
Veronica Thornley
1973
Crown Court
(1 episode)
1972
Play for Today
Nonie · (1 episode)
1970
Play for Today
Veronica · (1 episode)
1970
Play for Today
Jan Blincoe · (1 episode)
1970
Play for Today
Kay Pasmore · (1 episode)
1970
Play for Today
Susan · (1 episode)
1970
The BAFTA Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1949