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).
88 movies · 66 shows
Joke
2026·6.0
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
2025·0.0
Stitch Head
2025·7.0
Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell
2025·7.5
Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale
2024·0.0
Better Man
2024·7.6
The 1970s Dinner Party
2023·0.0
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
2023·0.0
Wake
2023·0.0
Queen and Country
2022·0.0
The King's Man
2021·6.7
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
2020·6.0
We Love Gavin and Stacey
2020·9.0
23 Walks
2020·6.8
Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas
2019·9.3
Off Grid
2019·10.0
Care
2018·6.5
Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)
2017·8.0
Becky Watts Killed for Kicks
2017·0.0
We Can Be Heroes
2017·0.0
Burn Burn Burn
2016·6.5
Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood
2016·0.0
Dad's Army
2016·5.0
Peterman
2015·6.7
The One and Only Mike Leigh
2014·9.0
A Civil Arrangement
2012·0.0
French Exchange
2011·6.5
Come Rain Come Shine
2010·5.0
Fry and Laurie Reunited
2010·6.8
Caravans: A British Love Affair
2009·0.0
Who Gets the Dog
2007·5.0
All About 'Abigail's Party'
2007·6.3
Fanny Hill
2007·5.8
The Dinner Party
2007·6.0
The Man from Montevideo
2007·0.0
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007·0.0
Loony in the Woods
2006·2.1
Confetti
2006·5.4
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
2004·6.6
Chunky Monkey
2003·4.5
D.I.Y. Hard
2002·9.0
Ivor the Invisible
2001·7.0
Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie
2001·7.7
Happy Now
2001·6.0
Topsy-Turvy
1999·6.6
Jack and the Beanstalk
1999·6.8
Santa's Last Christmas
1999·5.0
The Ugly Duckling
1997·5.7
The Missing Postman
1997·5.0
Secrets & Lies
1996·7.6
The Snow Queen's Revenge
1996·5.7
Gotta Get Out
1995·8.0
Do You Remember the First Time?
1994·7.0
Degas and Pissario Fall Out
1994·8.0
Selling Hitler
1993·8.0
Blame It on the Bellboy
1992·5.4
Life Is Sweet
1991·7.0
News Hounds
1990·0.0
A Small Mourning
1989·9.0
Shirley Valentine
1989·6.3
Wilt
1989·6.4
Virtuoso
1989·10.0
Monster Maker
1989·6.7
7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting
1989·0.0
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988·7.0
Stormy Monday
1988·5.7
The Short & Curlies
1987·6.4
Clockwise
1986·6.2
Coming Through
1985·4.7
Number One
1985·6.7
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
1985·0.0
A Private Function
1984·6.4
Champions
1984·6.6
Tartuffe, or The Imposter
1983·7.0
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
1982·7.1
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
1982·8.0
The Muscle Market
1981·7.0
Pasmore
1980·0.0
Two Days That Shook the Branch
1978·0.0
Abigail's Party
1977·7.4
Our Flesh and Blood
1977·0.0
Bag of Yeast
1976·0.0
Nuts in May
1976·7.1
Through the Night
1975·0.0
Early to Bed
1975·3.0
Taking Leave
1974·0.0
Girl
1974·5.5
Hard Labour
1973·6.7