Actor profile

Alison Steadman

26th August 1946 Liverpool, England, UK 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).

89 Movies 60 TV Shows 149 Credits

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Joke poster

Joke 6th February 2026 as Vet

Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza poster

Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza 31st December 2025 as Sue Jessop

Stitch Head poster

Stitch Head 16th October 2025 as Nan (voice)

Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell poster

Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell 1st January 2025 as Self

Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale 24th December 2024 as Self

Better Man poster

Better Man 6th December 2024 as Betty

The 1970s Dinner Party poster

The 1970s Dinner Party 28th December 2023 as Self - Narrator (voice)

Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas poster

Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas 22nd December 2023 as Sue Jessop

Wake poster

Wake 10th March 2023 as Grace

Queen and Country poster

Queen and Country 10th September 2022 as Narrator (voice)

The King's Man poster

The King's Man 22nd December 2021 as Rita

Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse poster

Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse 24th December 2020 as Dora

We Love Gavin and Stacey 15th August 2020

23 Walks poster

23 Walks 30th July 2020 as Fern

Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas poster

Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas 25th December 2019 as Pam Shipman

Off Grid poster

Off Grid 13th December 2019 as Grace Tanner

Care poster

Care 9th December 2018 as Mary

Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs) poster

Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs) 22nd November 2017

Becky Watts Killed for Kicks poster

Becky Watts Killed for Kicks 18th October 2017 as Narrator

We Can Be Heroes poster

We Can Be Heroes 24th June 2017 as Granny Evans

Burn Burn Burn poster

Burn Burn Burn 28th October 2016 as Diana

Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood poster

Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood 14th May 2016 as Self

Dad's Army poster

Dad's Army 5th February 2016 as Mrs. Fox

Peterman poster

Peterman 1st April 2015 as Auntie Jean

The One and Only Mike Leigh 24th November 2014 as Self

A Civil Arrangement 6th May 2012 as Isobel

French Exchange poster

French Exchange 14th July 2011 as Mrs. Phillips

Come Rain Come Shine poster

Come Rain Come Shine 20th December 2010 as Dora Mitchell

Fry and Laurie Reunited poster

Fry and Laurie Reunited 24th November 2010 as Self - Narrator (voice)

Caravans: A British Love Affair poster

Caravans: A British Love Affair 25th February 2009 as Narrator

Who Gets the Dog poster

Who Gets the Dog 2nd December 2007 as Jenny Evans

All About 'Abigail's Party' poster

All About 'Abigail's Party' 28th October 2007 as Self

Fanny Hill poster

Fanny Hill 22nd October 2007 as Mrs. Brown

The Dinner Party poster

The Dinner Party 9th September 2007 as Juliet

The Man from Montevideo poster

The Man from Montevideo 24th May 2007 as Karen Horner

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas poster

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas 3rd February 2007 as Self

Loony in the Woods poster

Loony in the Woods 7th August 2006 as Crazy Butcher

Confetti poster

Confetti 5th May 2006 as Sam's Mum

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers poster

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 1st October 2004 as Casting Agent

Chunky Monkey poster

Chunky Monkey 19th March 2003 as Beryl

D.I.Y. Hard poster

D.I.Y. Hard 30th September 2002 as Woman

Ivor the Invisible 24th December 2001 as Auntie Barbara (voice)

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie poster

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie 22nd October 2001 as Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)

Happy Now poster

Happy Now 20th August 2001 as Bronwyn Race

Topsy-Turvy poster

Topsy-Turvy 15th December 1999 as Madame Leon

Jack and the Beanstalk poster

Jack and the Beanstalk 11th October 1999 as Mother / Veronica

Santa's Last Christmas poster

Santa's Last Christmas 1st January 1999 as Mrs Whatnot (voice)

The Ugly Duckling poster

The Ugly Duckling 4th September 1997 as The Hen (voice)

The Missing Postman poster

The Missing Postman 28th March 1997 as Christine Peacock

Secrets & Lies poster

Secrets & Lies 24th May 1996 as Woman with Dog

The Snow Queen's Revenge poster

The Snow Queen's Revenge 1st January 1996 as Pearl

Gotta Get Out poster

Gotta Get Out 1st January 1995 as Maggie

Do You Remember the First Time? poster

Do You Remember the First Time? 1st May 1994

Degas and Pissario Fall Out poster

Degas and Pissario Fall Out 1st March 1994 as Emma Dumay

Selling Hitler poster

Selling Hitler 20th April 1993 as Edda Goering

Blame It on the Bellboy poster

Blame It on the Bellboy 24th January 1992 as Rosemary Horton

Life Is Sweet poster

Life Is Sweet 22nd March 1991 as Wendy

News Hounds poster

News Hounds 2nd September 1990 as Jackie Johns

A Small Mourning poster

A Small Mourning 20th September 1989 as Marjorie

Shirley Valentine poster

Shirley Valentine 30th August 1989 as Jane

Wilt poster

Wilt 12th May 1989 as Eva

Virtuoso poster

Virtuoso 12th February 1989 as Brenda

Monster Maker poster

Monster Maker 23rd January 1989 as Perriwinkle

7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting poster

7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting 17th January 1989 as Janista Maine

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 7th December 1988 as Daisy

Stormy Monday poster

Stormy Monday 1st May 1988 as Mayor

The Short & Curlies poster

The Short & Curlies 1st December 1987 as Betty

Clockwise poster

Clockwise 1st March 1986 as Gwenda Stimpson

Coming Through poster

Coming Through 27th December 1985 as Kate

Number One poster

Number One 1st March 1985 as Doreen

The Caucasian Chalk Circle poster

The Caucasian Chalk Circle 1st January 1985 as Kato/Natella/Aniko

A Private Function poster

A Private Function 9th November 1984 as Mrs. Allardyce

Champions poster

Champions 20th April 1984 as Mary Hussey

Tartuffe, or The Imposter poster

Tartuffe, or The Imposter 28th July 1983 as Elmire

P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang poster

P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang 3rd November 1982 as Miss Land

Mike Leigh: Making Plays poster

Mike Leigh: Making Plays 4th September 1982 as Self

The Muscle Market poster

The Muscle Market 13th January 1981 as Susan

Pasmore poster

Pasmore 21st October 1980 as Kay Pasmore

Two Days That Shook the Branch 9th May 1978 as Norma Hardy

Abigail's Party poster

Abigail's Party 1st November 1977 as Beverley

Our Flesh and Blood poster

Our Flesh and Blood 18th January 1977 as Jan Blincoe

Bag of Yeast poster

Bag of Yeast 22nd February 1976 as Margaret Hudson

Nuts in May poster

Nuts in May 13th January 1976 as Candice Marie

Through the Night poster

Through the Night 2nd December 1975 as Christine Potts

Early to Bed poster

Early to Bed 20th March 1975 as Helen

Taking Leave poster

Taking Leave 28th November 1974 as Nonie

Girl poster

Girl 25th February 1974 as Jackie

Hard Labour poster

Hard Labour 12th March 1973 as Veronica Thornley

King of the Teds poster

King of the Teds as Tina

Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry poster

Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry 14th August 2023 as Alison Steadman

Remembers… poster

Remembers… 29th June 2022 as Self

Here We Go poster

Here We Go 29th April 2022 as Sue Jessop

Rules of the Game poster

Rules of the Game 11th January 2022 as Anita Jenkins

Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig poster

Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig 10th February 2021 as Self

Life poster

Life 29th September 2020 as Gail Reynolds

DNA Journey poster

DNA Journey 10th November 2019

Butterfly poster

Butterfly 14th October 2018 as Barbara

Hold the Sunset poster

Hold the Sunset 18th February 2018 as Edith

Gareth's All Star Choir poster

Gareth's All Star Choir 3rd November 2014 as Self - Choir Member

Boomers poster

Boomers 15th August 2014 as Joyce

The Great War: The People's Story poster

The Great War: The People's Story 10th August 2014 as Hallie Eustace Miles

Inside No. 9 poster

Inside No. 9 5th February 2014 as Anne

Yonderland poster

Yonderland 10th November 2013 as Barbara

Orphan Black poster

Orphan Black 30th March 2013 as Kendall Malone

Gadget Man poster

Gadget Man 19th November 2012

Playhouse Presents poster

Playhouse Presents 12th April 2012 as Tina

The Syndicate poster

The Syndicate 27th March 2012 as Rose Wilson

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off poster

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 10th January 2012 as Self - Contestant

Comedy Blaps 11th November 2011

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip poster

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 24th October 2011 as Self - Participant

All Roads Lead Home poster

All Roads Lead Home 5th October 2011 as Herself

Little Crackers poster

Little Crackers 19th December 2010 as Alison's Mother

Fanny Hill poster

Fanny Hill 22nd October 2007 as Mrs. Brown

Gavin & Stacey poster

Gavin & Stacey 13th May 2007 as Pam Shipman

Lewis poster

Lewis 18th February 2007 as Rev. Martha Seager

The One Show poster

The One Show 14th August 2006 as Self

Great British Menu poster

Great British Menu 10th April 2006 as Self - Guest Judge

Twisted Tales poster

Twisted Tales 16th January 2005 as Margery Faversham

The Worst Week of My Life poster

The Worst Week of My Life 12th March 2004 as Angela Cook

Bosom Pals 26th January 2004

Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale poster

Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale 8th September 2002 as Mrs. Meisling

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years poster

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years 2nd February 2001 as Pauline Mole

Lenny Henry in Pieces 30th December 2000

Fat Friends poster

Fat Friends 12th October 2000 as Betty Simpson

Let Them Eat Cake poster

Let Them Eat Cake 9th September 1999

Stressed Eric poster

Stressed Eric 20th April 1998

The Missing Postman poster

The Missing Postman 29th March 1997 as Christine Peacock

Midsomer Murders poster

Midsomer Murders 23rd March 1997 as Abigail Tonev

No Bananas poster

No Bananas 5th May 1996 as Evelyn Hamilton

Karaoke poster

Karaoke 28th April 1996 as Mrs Haynes

Coogan's Run poster

Coogan's Run 17th November 1995

Crapston Villas poster

Crapston Villas 27th October 1995

Pride and Prejudice poster

Pride and Prejudice 24th September 1995 as Mrs. Bennet

Kavanagh Q.C. poster

Kavanagh Q.C. 3rd January 1995 as Evelyn Marie Kendall

The Wimbledon Poisoner poster

The Wimbledon Poisoner 11th December 1994 as Elinor Farr

GMTV poster

GMTV 1st January 1993 as Self

Gone to Seed poster

Gone to Seed 13th November 1992 as Hilda Plant

Gone to the Dogs poster

Gone to the Dogs 29th November 1991 as Lauren Patterson

Selling Hitler poster

Selling Hitler 11th June 1991 as Edda Goering

The Jim Henson Hour poster

The Jim Henson Hour 14th April 1989 as Perriwinkle

Countryfile poster

Countryfile 24th July 1988 as Self

The Singing Detective poster

The Singing Detective 16th November 1986 as Mrs Marlow / Lili

Oil Strike North poster

Oil Strike North 26th August 1975

The Wackers poster

The Wackers 19th March 1975 as Bernadette Clarkson

Crown Court poster

Crown Court 11th October 1972

Bel Ami 8th May 1971 as Fencer (as Allison Steadman)

Play for Today poster

Play for Today 15th October 1970 as Susan

ITV Playhouse poster

ITV Playhouse 25th September 1967 as Norma Hardy

The BAFTA Awards poster

The BAFTA Awards 29th May 1949 as Self