Alison Steadman
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Midsomer Murders
Abigail Tonev
1997
Series
The One Show
Self
2006
Series
GMTV
Self
1993
Series
Crown Court
1972
Series
Countryfile
Self
1988
Series
Play for Today
Nonie
1970
Series
Play for Today
Veronica
1970
Series
Play for Today
Jan Blincoe
1970
Series
Play for Today
Kay Pasmore
1970
Series
Play for Today
Susan
1970
Series
Lewis
Rev. Martha Seager
2007
Series
Great British Menu
Self - Guest Judge
2006
Series
Screen Two
Brenda Ogdon
1985
Series
Orphan Black
Kendall Malone
2013
Series
ITV Playhouse
Norma Hardy
1967
Series
Inside No. 9
Anne
2014
Series
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant
2011
Series
Dalziel and Pascoe
Marion Mattis
1996
Series
DNA Journey
2019
Series
Pride and Prejudice
Mrs. Bennet
1995
Series
The BAFTA Awards
Self
1949
Series
ScreenPlay
Marjorie
1986
Series
Remembers…
2022
Series
Remembers…
Self
2022
Series
Gavin & Stacey
Pam Shipman
2007
Film
The King's Man
Rita
2021
Series
Screen One
Jackie Johns
1989
Comedy Blaps
2011
Series
Playhouse Presents
Tina
2012
Series
Kavanagh Q.C.
Evelyn Marie Kendall
1995
Series
Fat Friends
Betty Simpson
2000
Series
The Jim Henson Hour
Perriwinkle
1989
Second City Firsts
Jackie
1973
Second City Firsts
Helen
1973
Series
The Syndicate
Rose Wilson
2012
Series
Yonderland
Barbara
2013
Series
Here We Go
Sue Jessop
2022
Film
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Daisy
1988
Series
Little Crackers
Alison's Mother
2010
Series
Little Crackers
Mrs. O'Grady
2010
Series
The Worst Week of My Life
Angela Cook
2004
Film
Better Man
Betty
2024
Series
The Singing Detective
Mrs Marlow
1986
Series
The Singing Detective
Mrs Marlow / Lili
1986
Series
Life
Gail Reynolds
2020
Series
Gadget Man
2012
Series
Twisted Tales
Margery Faversham
2005
Series
Crapston Villas
1995
Series
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Self - Contestant
2012
Series
Gone to the Dogs
Lauren Patterson
1991
Series
Boomers
Joyce
2014
Series
Let Them Eat Cake
1999
Series
Karaoke
Mrs Haynes
1996
Series
Stressed Eric
1998
Film
Stitch Head
Nan (voice)
2025
Series
Hold the Sunset
Edith
2018
Series
Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig
Self
2021
Film
Secrets & Lies
Woman with Dog
1996
Series
No Bananas
Evelyn Hamilton
1996
Series
The Great War: The People's Story
Hallie Eustace Miles
2014
Film
Joke
Vet
2026
Series
Gone to Seed
Hilda Plant
1992
Series
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
Pauline Mole
2001
Series
Butterfly
Barbara
2018
Series
Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale
Mrs. Meisling
2002
Film
Topsy-Turvy
Madame Leon
1999
Series
The Secrets
Angela
2014
Series
Selling Hitler
Edda Goering
1991
Series
Oil Strike North
1975
Film
Shirley Valentine
Jane
1989
Series
The Wimbledon Poisoner
Elinor Farr
1994
Series
The Missing Postman
Christine Peacock
1997
Series
Rules of the Game
Anita Jenkins
2022
Bel Ami
Fencer (as Allison Steadman)
1971
Series
Fanny Hill
Mrs. Brown
2007
Film
Dad's Army
Mrs. Fox
2016
Film
Life Is Sweet
Wendy
1991
Series
The Wackers
Bernadette Clarkson
1975
Film
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Casting Agent
2004
Lenny Henry in Pieces
2000
Series
Red Letter Day
Margaret Hudson
1976
Film
Clockwise
Gwenda Stimpson
1986
Film
Blame It on the Bellboy
Rosemary Horton
1992
Film
Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie
Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
2001
Series
Gareth's All Star Choir
Self - Choir Member
2014
Series
Love and Marriage
Pauline Paradise
2013
Series
Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry
Alison Steadman
2023
Film
Confetti
Sam's Mum
2006
Film
Champions
Mary Hussey
1984
Film
Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell
Self
2025
Film
The Ugly Duckling
The Hen (voice)
1997
Film
A Private Function
Mrs. Allardyce
1984
Film
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
Self
1982
Film
Stormy Monday
Mayor
1988
Film
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
Self
2007
Film
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
Dora
2020
Film
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
Miss Land
1982
Series
All Roads Lead Home
Herself
2011
Film
Come Rain Come Shine
Dora Mitchell
2010
Film
Taking Leave
Nonie
1974
Film
Fanny Hill
Mrs. Brown
2007
Film
Fry and Laurie Reunited
Self - Narrator (voice)
2010
Film
Our Flesh and Blood
Jan Blincoe
1977
Film
Happy Now
Bronwyn Race
2001
Film
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Kato/Natella/Aniko
1985
Film
Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood
Self
2016
Bosom Pals
2004
Film
Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008
Pam Shipman
2008
Film
Jack and the Beanstalk
Mother / Veronica
1999
Film
King of the Teds
Tina
Film
7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting
Janista Maine
1989
Film
The Snow Queen's Revenge
Pearl
1996
Film
Do You Remember the First Time?
1994
Film
Care
Mary
2018
Ivor the Invisible
Auntie Barbara (voice)
2001
Film
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
Sue Jessop
2023
Film
Santa's Last Christmas
Mrs Whatnot (voice)
1999
Film
Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas
Pam Shipman
2019
Film
News Hounds
Jackie Johns
1990
Film
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
Sue Jessop
2025
Film
23 Walks
Fern
2020
Film
Burn Burn Burn
Diana
2016
Film
Who Gets the Dog
Jenny Evans
2007
Film
D.I.Y. Hard
Woman
2002
Film
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
Pam Shipman
2024
Film
Nuts in May
Candice Marie
1976
Film
Wilt
Eva
1989
Film
Through the Night
Christine Potts
1975
Film
Loony in the Woods
Crazy Butcher
2006
Film
The Muscle Market
Susan
1981
Film
Abigail's Party
Beverley
1977
Film
Tartuffe, or The Imposter
Elmire
1983
Film
Girl
Jackie
1974
Film
Off Grid
Grace Tanner
2019
Film
Monster Maker
Perriwinkle
1989
Film
A Small Mourning
Marjorie
1989
Film
Coming Through
Kate
1985
Film
The Man from Montevideo
Karen Horner
2007
Film
Virtuoso
Brenda
1989
Film
We Can Be Heroes
Granny Evans
2017
Film
The Dinner Party
Juliet
2007
We Love Gavin and Stacey
2020
Film
Chunky Monkey
Beryl
2003
Film
Selling Hitler
Edda Goering
1993
Film
French Exchange
Mrs. Phillips
2011
Film
Degas and Pissario Fall Out
Emma Dumay
1994
Film
Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
2017
Film
All About 'Abigail's Party'
Self
2007
Film
Becky Watts Killed for Kicks
Narrator
2017
Film
Wake
Grace
2023
Film
The Missing Postman
Christine Peacock
1997
Film
The Short & Curlies
Betty
1987
Film
Pasmore
Kay Pasmore
1980
The One and Only Mike Leigh
Self
2014
Film
Number One
Doreen
1985
Film
Peterman
Auntie Jean
2015
Film
Hard Labour
Veronica Thornley
1973
Film
Caravans: A British Love Affair
Narrator
2009
Film
The 1970s Dinner Party
Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
Two Days That Shook the Branch
Norma Hardy
1978
Film
Early to Bed
Helen
1975
Film
Gotta Get Out
Maggie
1995
Film
Bag of Yeast
Margaret Hudson
1976
A Civil Arrangement
Isobel
2012
Film
Queen and Country
Narrator (voice)
2022