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 Finale as Pam Shipman
- Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale as Self
2023
- Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry as Alison Steadman
- Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas as Sue Jessop
- Wake as Grace
- The 1970s Dinner Party as Self - Narrator (voice)
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
- We Love Gavin and Stacey
- 23 Walks as Fern
2019
- DNA Journey
- Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas as Pam Shipman
- Off Grid as Grace Tanner
2018
- Hold the Sunset as Edith
- Butterfly as Barbara
- Care as Mary
2017
- Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
- We Can Be Heroes as Granny Evans
- Becky Watts Killed for Kicks as Narrator
2016
- Dad's Army as Mrs. Fox
- Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood as Self
- Burn Burn Burn as Diana
2015
- Peterman as Auntie Jean
2014
- Inside No. 9 as Anne
- The Great War: The People's Story as Hallie Eustace Miles
- Boomers as Joyce
- The Secrets as Angela
- 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
- Love and Marriage as Pauline Paradise
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
- French Exchange as Mrs. Phillips
- All Roads Lead Home as Herself
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
2008
- Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008 as Pam Shipman
2007
- Lewis as Rev. Martha Seager
- Gavin & Stacey as Pam Shipman
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- The 50 Greatest Television Dramas as Self
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- Who Gets the Dog as Jenny Evans
- All About 'Abigail's Party' as Self
- The Man from Montevideo as Karen Horner
- The Dinner Party as Juliet
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
- Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie as Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
- Happy Now as Bronwyn Race
- 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 Missing Postman as Christine Peacock
- The Ugly Duckling as The Hen (voice)
- The Missing Postman as Christine Peacock
1996
- Dalziel and Pascoe as Marion Mattis
- Secrets & Lies as Woman with Dog
- Karaoke as Mrs Haynes
- 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
- 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
- Gone to the Dogs as Lauren Patterson
- Selling Hitler as Edda Goering
- Life Is Sweet as Wendy
1990
- News Hounds as Jackie Johns
1989
- Screen One as Jackie Johns
- The Jim Henson Hour as Perriwinkle
- Shirley Valentine as Jane
- 7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting as Janista Maine
- Monster Maker as Perriwinkle
- Wilt as Eva
- A Small Mourning as Marjorie
- Virtuoso as Brenda
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
- ScreenPlay as Marjorie
- Clockwise as Gwenda Stimpson
1985
- Screen Two as Brenda Ogdon
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle as Kato/Natella/Aniko
- Coming Through as Kate
- Number One as Doreen
1984
- A Private Function as Mrs. Allardyce
- Champions as Mary Hussey
1983
- Tartuffe, or The Imposter as Elmire
1982
- Mike Leigh: Making Plays as Self
- P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang as Miss Land
1981
- The Muscle Market as Susan
1980
- Pasmore as Kay Pasmore
1978
- Two Days That Shook the Branch as Norma Hardy
1977
- Our Flesh and Blood as Jan Blincoe
- Abigail's Party as Beverley
1976
- Red Letter Day as Margaret Hudson
- Nuts in May as Candice Marie
- Bag of Yeast as Margaret Hudson
1975
- Oil Strike North
- The Wackers as Bernadette Clarkson
- Through the Night as Christine Potts
- Early to Bed as Helen
1974
- Taking Leave as Nonie
- Girl as Jackie
1973
- Second City Firsts as Jackie
- 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