Acting · Liverpool, England, UK · Born August 26, 1946
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).
MovieJoke
2026
as Vet
MovieHere We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
2025
as Sue Jessop
MovieStitch Head
2025
as Nan (voice)
MovieGavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell
2025
as Self
Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale
2024
as Self
MovieBetter Man
2024
as Betty
MovieThe 1970s Dinner Party
2023
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieHere We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
2023
as Sue Jessop
TVAlison & Larry: Billericay To Barry
2023
as Alison Steadman
MovieWake
2023
as Grace
MovieQueen and Country
2022
as Narrator (voice)
TVRemembers…
2022
TVHere We Go
2022
as Sue Jessop
TVRules of the Game
2022
as Anita Jenkins
MovieThe King's Man
2021
as Rita
TVExtraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig
2021
as Self
MovieRoald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
2020
as Dora
TVLife
2020
as Gail Reynolds
We Love Gavin and Stacey
2020
Movie23 Walks
2020
as Fern
MovieGavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas
2019
as Pam Shipman
MovieOff Grid
2019
as Grace Tanner
TVDNA Journey
2019
MovieCare
2018
as Mary
TVButterfly
2018
as Barbara
TVHold the Sunset
2018
as Edith
MovieYours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
2017
MovieBecky Watts Killed for Kicks
2017
as Narrator
MovieWe Can Be Heroes
2017
as Granny Evans
MovieBurn Burn Burn
2016
as Diana
MovieLet's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood
2016
as Self
MovieDad's Army
2016
as Mrs. Fox
MoviePeterman
2015
as Auntie Jean
The One and Only Mike Leigh
2014
as Self
TVGareth's All Star Choir
2014
as Self - Choir Member
TVBoomers
2014
as Joyce
TVThe Great War: The People's Story
2014
as Hallie Eustace Miles
TVInside No. 9
2014
as Anne
TVYonderland
2013
as Barbara
TVOrphan Black
2013
as Kendall Malone
TVGadget Man
2012
A Civil Arrangement
2012
as Isobel
TVPlayhouse Presents
2012
as Tina
TVThe Syndicate
2012
as Rose Wilson
TVThe Great Sport Relief Bake Off
2012
as Self - Contestant
Comedy Blaps
2011
TVCelebrity Antiques Road Trip
2011
as Self - Participant
TVAll Roads Lead Home
2011
as Herself
MovieFrench Exchange
2011
as Mrs. Phillips
MovieCome Rain Come Shine
2010
as Dora Mitchell
TVLittle Crackers
2010
as Alison's Mother
MovieFry and Laurie Reunited
2010
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieCaravans: A British Love Affair
2009
as Narrator
MovieWho Gets the Dog
2007
as Jenny Evans
MovieAll About 'Abigail's Party'
2007
as Self
MovieFanny Hill
2007
as Mrs. Brown
TVFanny Hill
2007
as Mrs. Brown
MovieThe Dinner Party
2007
as Juliet
MovieThe Man from Montevideo
2007
as Karen Horner
TVGavin & Stacey
2007
as Pam Shipman
TVLewis
2007
as Rev. Martha Seager
MovieThe 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007
as Self
TVThe One Show
2006
as Self
MovieLoony in the Woods
2006
as Crazy Butcher
MovieConfetti
2006
as Sam's Mum
TVGreat British Menu
2006
as Self - Guest Judge
TVTwisted Tales
2005
as Margery Faversham
MovieThe Life and Death of Peter Sellers
2004
as Casting Agent
TVThe Worst Week of My Life
2004
as Angela Cook
Bosom Pals
2004
MovieChunky Monkey
2003
as Beryl
MovieD.I.Y. Hard
2002
as Woman
TVHans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale
2002
as Mrs. Meisling
Ivor the Invisible
2001
as Auntie Barbara (voice)
MovieBob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie
2001
as Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
MovieHappy Now
2001
as Bronwyn Race
TVAdrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
2001
as Pauline Mole
Lenny Henry in Pieces
2000
TVFat Friends
2000
as Betty Simpson
MovieTopsy-Turvy
1999
as Madame Leon
MovieJack and the Beanstalk
1999
as Mother / Veronica
TVLet Them Eat Cake
1999
MovieSanta's Last Christmas
1999
as Mrs Whatnot (voice)
TVStressed Eric
1998
MovieThe Ugly Duckling
1997
as The Hen (voice)
TVThe Missing Postman
1997
as Christine Peacock
MovieThe Missing Postman
1997
as Christine Peacock
TVMidsomer Murders
1997
as Abigail Tonev
MovieSecrets & Lies
1996
as Woman with Dog
TVNo Bananas
1996
as Evelyn Hamilton
TVKaraoke
1996
as Mrs Haynes
MovieThe Snow Queen's Revenge
1996
as Pearl
TVCrapston Villas
1995
TVPride and Prejudice
1995
as Mrs. Bennet
TVKavanagh Q.C.
1995
as Evelyn Marie Kendall
MovieGotta Get Out
1995
as Maggie
TVThe Wimbledon Poisoner
1994
as Elinor Farr
MovieDo You Remember the First Time?
1994
MovieDegas and Pissario Fall Out
1994
as Emma Dumay
MovieSelling Hitler
1993
as Edda Goering
TVGMTV
1993
as Self
TVGone to Seed
1992
as Hilda Plant
MovieBlame It on the Bellboy
1992
as Rosemary Horton
TVGone to the Dogs
1991
as Lauren Patterson
TVSelling Hitler
1991
as Edda Goering
MovieLife Is Sweet
1991
as Wendy
MovieNews Hounds
1990
as Jackie Johns
MovieA Small Mourning
1989
as Marjorie
TVScreen One
1989
as Jackie Johns
MovieShirley Valentine
1989
as Jane
MovieWilt
1989
as Eva
TVThe Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Perriwinkle
MovieVirtuoso
1989
as Brenda
MovieMonster Maker
1989
as Perriwinkle
Movie7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting
1989
as Janista Maine
MovieThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988
as Daisy
TVCountryfile
1988
as Self
MovieStormy Monday
1988
as Mayor
MovieThe Short & Curlies
1987
as Betty
TVThe Singing Detective
1986
as Mrs Marlow
TVScreenPlay
1986
as Marjorie
MovieClockwise
1986
as Gwenda Stimpson
MovieComing Through
1985
as Kate
MovieNumber One
1985
as Doreen
TVScreen Two
1985
as Brenda Ogdon
MovieThe Caucasian Chalk Circle
1985
as Kato/Natella/Aniko
MovieA Private Function
1984
as Mrs. Allardyce
MovieChampions
1984
as Mary Hussey
MovieTartuffe, or The Imposter
1983
as Elmire
MovieP'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
1982
as Miss Land
MovieMike Leigh: Making Plays
1982
as Self
MovieThe Muscle Market
1981
as Susan
MoviePasmore
1980
as Kay Pasmore
Two Days That Shook the Branch
1978
as Norma Hardy
MovieAbigail's Party
1977
as Beverley
MovieOur Flesh and Blood
1977
as Jan Blincoe
MovieBag of Yeast
1976
as Margaret Hudson
MovieNuts in May
1976
as Candice Marie
TVRed Letter Day
1976
as Margaret Hudson
MovieThrough the Night
1975
as Christine Potts
TVOil Strike North
1975
MovieEarly to Bed
1975
as Helen
TVThe Wackers
1975
as Bernadette Clarkson
MovieTaking Leave
1974
as Nonie
MovieGirl
1974
as Jackie
Second City Firsts
1973
as Jackie
MovieHard Labour
1973
as Veronica Thornley
TVCrown Court
1972
Bel Ami
1971
as Fencer (as Allison Steadman)
TVPlay for Today
1970
as Nonie
TVITV Playhouse
1967
as Norma Hardy
TVThe BAFTA Awards
1949
as Self
MovieKing of the Teds
as Tina
