Alison Steadman
Born: 1946-08-26 in Liverpool, England, UK
Known For: Acting
Biography
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).
Filmography
2026
- Joke as Vet
2025
- Stitch Head as Nan (voice)
- Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell as Self
- Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza as Sue Jessop
2024
- Better Man as Betty
- Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale as Self
2023
- Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry as Alison Steadman
- Wake as Grace
- The 1970s Dinner Party as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas as Sue Jessop
2022
- Remembers…
- Here We Go as Sue Jessop
- Rules of the Game as Anita Jenkins
- Queen and Country as Narrator (voice)
2021
- The King's Man as Rita
- Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig as Self
2020
- Life as Gail Reynolds
- Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse as Dora
- 23 Walks as Fern
- We Love Gavin and Stacey
2019
- DNA Journey
- Off Grid as Grace Tanner
- Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas as Pam Shipman
2018
- Hold the Sunset as Edith
- Butterfly as Barbara
- Care as Mary
2017
- We Can Be Heroes as Granny Evans
- Becky Watts Killed for Kicks as Narrator
- Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
2016
- Dad's Army as Mrs. Fox
- Burn Burn Burn as Diana
- Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood as Self
2015
- Peterman as Auntie Jean
2014
- Inside No. 9 as Anne
- Boomers as Joyce
- The Great War: The People's Story as Hallie Eustace Miles
- Gareth's All Star Choir as Self - Choir Member
- The One and Only Mike Leigh as Self
2013
- Orphan Black as Kendall Malone
- Yonderland as Barbara
2012
- Playhouse Presents as Tina
- The Syndicate as Rose Wilson
- Gadget Man
- The Great Sport Relief Bake Off as Self - Contestant
- A Civil Arrangement as Isobel
2011
- Celebrity Antiques Road Trip as Self - Participant
- Comedy Blaps
- All Roads Lead Home as Herself
- French Exchange as Mrs. Phillips
2010
- Little Crackers as Alison's Mother
- Fry and Laurie Reunited as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Come Rain Come Shine as Dora Mitchell
2009
- Caravans: A British Love Affair as Narrator
2007
- Lewis as Rev. Martha Seager
- Gavin & Stacey as Pam Shipman
- The 50 Greatest Television Dramas as Self
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- Who Gets the Dog as Jenny Evans
- The Dinner Party as Juliet
- The Man from Montevideo as Karen Horner
- All About 'Abigail's Party' as Self
2006
- The One Show as Self
- Great British Menu as Self - Guest Judge
- Confetti as Sam's Mum
- Loony in the Woods as Crazy Butcher
2005
- Twisted Tales as Margery Faversham
2004
- The Worst Week of My Life as Angela Cook
- The Life and Death of Peter Sellers as Casting Agent
- Bosom Pals
2003
- Chunky Monkey as Beryl
2002
- Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale as Mrs. Meisling
- D.I.Y. Hard as Woman
2001
- Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years as Pauline Mole
- Happy Now as Bronwyn Race
- Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie as Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
- Ivor the Invisible as Auntie Barbara (voice)
2000
- Fat Friends as Betty Simpson
- Lenny Henry in Pieces
1999
- Let Them Eat Cake
- Topsy-Turvy as Madame Leon
- Jack and the Beanstalk as Mother / Veronica
- Santa's Last Christmas as Mrs Whatnot (voice)
1998
1997
- Midsomer Murders as Abigail Tonev
- The Ugly Duckling as The Hen (voice)
- The Missing Postman as Christine Peacock
- The Missing Postman as Christine Peacock
1996
- Karaoke as Mrs Haynes
- Secrets & Lies as Woman with Dog
- No Bananas as Evelyn Hamilton
- The Snow Queen's Revenge as Pearl
1995
- Pride and Prejudice as Mrs. Bennet
- Kavanagh Q.C. as Evelyn Marie Kendall
- Crapston Villas
- Coogan's Run
- Gotta Get Out as Maggie
1994
- The Wimbledon Poisoner as Elinor Farr
- Do You Remember the First Time?
- Degas and Pissario Fall Out as Emma Dumay
1993
- GMTV as Self
- Selling Hitler as Edda Goering
1992
- Gone to Seed as Hilda Plant
- Blame It on the Bellboy as Rosemary Horton
1991
- Selling Hitler as Edda Goering
- Gone to the Dogs as Lauren Patterson
- Life Is Sweet as Wendy
1990
- News Hounds as Jackie Johns
1989
- The Jim Henson Hour as Perriwinkle
- Shirley Valentine as Jane
- Wilt as Eva
- Monster Maker as Perriwinkle
- Virtuoso as Brenda
- 7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting as Janista Maine
- A Small Mourning as Marjorie
1988
- Countryfile as Self
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen as Daisy
- Stormy Monday as Mayor
1987
- The Short & Curlies as Betty
1986
- The Singing Detective as Mrs Marlow
- Clockwise as Gwenda Stimpson
1985
- Coming Through as Kate
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle as Kato/Natella/Aniko
- Number One as Doreen
1984
- A Private Function as Mrs. Allardyce
- Champions as Mary Hussey
1983
- Tartuffe, or The Imposter as Elmire
1982
- P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang as Miss Land
- Mike Leigh: Making Plays as Self
1981
- The Muscle Market as Susan
1980
- Pasmore as Kay Pasmore
1978
- Two Days That Shook the Branch as Norma Hardy
1977
- Abigail's Party as Beverley
- Our Flesh and Blood as Jan Blincoe
1976
- Nuts in May as Candice Marie
- Bag of Yeast as Margaret Hudson
1975
- Oil Strike North
- The Wackers as Bernadette Clarkson
- Early to Bed as Helen
- Through the Night as Christine Potts
1974
- Girl as Jackie
- Taking Leave as Nonie
1973
- Hard Labour as Veronica Thornley
1972
1971
- Bel Ami as Fencer (as Allison Steadman)
1970
- Play for Today as Nonie
1967
- ITV Playhouse as Norma Hardy
1949
- The BAFTA Awards as Self