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