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
2025
- Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell as Self
2024
- Better Man as Betty
- Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale as Self
2023
- Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry as Alison Steadman
- The 1970s Dinner Party as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Wake
2022
- 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
- 23 Walks as Fern
- Life as Gail Reynolds
- Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse as Dora
- We Love Gavin and Stacey
2019
- Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas as Pam Shipman
- DNA Journey
- Off Grid as Grace Tanner
2018
- Care as Mary
- Hold the Sunset as Edith
- Butterfly as Barbara
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
- The One and Only Mike Leigh as Self
- Boomers as Joyce
- The Great War: The People's Story as Hallie Eustace Miles
- Gareth's All Star Choir as Self - Choir Member
2013
- Orphan Black as Kendall Malone
- Yonderland as Barbara
2012
- 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
2007
- Lewis as Rev. Martha Seager
- Gavin & Stacey as Pam Shipman
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- The Dinner Party as Juliet
- Who Gets the Dog as Jenny Evans
- All About 'Abigail's Party' as Self
- Fanny Hill as Mrs. Brown
- The 50 Greatest Television Dramas as Self
- The Man from Montevideo as Karen Horner
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
- 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)
- Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years as Pauline Mole
2000
- Fat Friends as Betty Simpson
- Lenny Henry in Pieces
1999
- Topsy-Turvy as Madame Leon
- Jack and the Beanstalk as Mother / Veronica
- Let Them Eat Cake
- 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
- Dalziel & Pascoe as Marion Mattis
- Secrets & Lies as Woman with Dog
- Cold Lazarus as Mrs. Haynes
- Karaoke as Mrs. Haynes
- The Snow Queen's Revenge as Pearl
- No Bananas as Evelyn Hamilton
1995
- Pride and Prejudice as Mrs. Bennet
- Kavanagh Q.C. as Evelyn Marie Kendall
- Coogan's Run
- Crapston Villas
- Gotta Get Out as Maggie
1994
- Do You Remember the First Time?
- The Wimbledon Poisoner as Elinor Farr
- Degas and Pissario Fall Out as Emma Dumay
1993
- GMTV as Self
- Selling Hitler as Edda Goering
1992
- Blame It on the Bellboy as Rosemary Horton
- Gone to Seed as Hilda Plant
1991
- Gone to the Dogs as Lauren Patterson
1990
- Life Is Sweet as Wendy
- News Hounds as Jackie Johns
1989
- Virtuoso as Brenda
- Wilt as Eva
- Monster Maker as Perriwinkle
- Shirley Valentine as Jane
- The Jim Henson Hour as Perriwinkle
- 7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting as Janista Maine
- A Small Mourning as Marjorie
1988
- Countryfile as Self
- Stormy Monday as Mayor
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen as Daisy
1987
- The Short & Curlies as Betty
1986
- Clockwise as Gwenda Stimpson
- The Singing Detective as Mrs Marlow
1985
- Coming Through as Kate
- Number One as Doreen
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle as Kato/Natella/Aniko
1984
- Champions as Mary Hussey
- A Private Function as Mrs. Allardyce
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
- Abigail's Party as Beverley
- Our Flesh and Blood as Jan Blincoe
1976
- Bag of Yeast as Margaret Hudson
- Nuts in May as Candice Marie
1975
- Through the Night as Christine Potts
- Oil Strike North
- The Wackers as Bernadette Clarkson
- Early to Bed as Helen
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
1949
- The BAFTA Awards as Self