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IMDbPro

Alison Steadman

  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Alison Steadman
A singular profile of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.
Play trailer2:29
Better Man (2024)
16 Videos
33 Photos
The acclaimed Alison Steadman was born in 1946 in Liverpool, the daughter of George Percival Steadman and Marjorie Evans. Educated at Childwall Valley High School, she studied at the East-15 Acting School from 1966-1969, then toiled as a secretary at the Liverpool Probation Service before deciding on a full-time acting career. She made her professional stage debut in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" at the Theatre Royal in 1968, where she also played Ophelia in "Hamlet."

Following repertory experience she met playwright Mike Leigh and appeared in his plays "The Jaws of Death" and "Wholesome Glory," the latter making her London debut in 1973. She won the London Evening Standard Theatre Award in 1977 playing the lead role in "Abigail's Party" and appeared in a definitive TV version of the play directed by her husband that same year. Over the years Alison came to be known for her quirky roles and such dazzling stage work in "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" (winning an Olivier Award in 1992), The Memory of Water (1999), Joe Orton's "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" (2001) and "The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband" (2002), playing a wronged wife who does the unthinkable, only served to prove the extent of her versatility.

Although her film appearances have been spotty, she greatly enhanced the few she has done in support, including Porc royal (1984), Coming Through (1985), Clockwise (1986), Les aventures du baron de Munchausen (1988), and Shirley Valentine (1989), not to mention her director-husband's critically lauded pictures Life Is Sweet (1990), for which she won the National Society of Film Critics Award, Secrets et Mensonges (1996), and Topsy-Turvy (1999). She and Leigh divorced in 2001. Alison has also entertained in many classy TV costumers, including The Singing Detective (1986), as the mother of Michael Gambon, and Orgueil et préjugés (1995).
BornAugust 26, 1946
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BornAugust 26, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos33

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    Known for

    Jane Horrocks and Claire Skinner in Life Is Sweet (1990)
    Life Is Sweet
    7.4
    • Wendy
    • 1990
    Better Man (2024)
    Better Man
    7.6
    • Betty
    • 2024
    Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in Orgueil et préjugés (1995)
    Orgueil et préjugés
    8.8
    TV Mini Series
    • Mrs. Bennet
    Fat Friends (2000)
    Fat Friends
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Betty Simpson

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Pandemonium
      • Sue
      • Sue Jessop
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2020
    • Stitch Head
      • (voice)
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • Wake
      • Grace
      • Completed
      • Short



    • Alison Steadman and Sadie Clark in Picky (2024)
      Picky
      Short
      • Julie
      • 2024
    • James Corden, Ruth Jones, Joanna Page, and Mathew Horne in Gavin & Stacey (2007)
      Gavin & Stacey
      8.2
      TV Series
      • Pam Shipman
      • 2007–2024
    • Better Man (2024)
      Better Man
      7.6
      • Betty
      • 2024
    • Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith in Inside No. 9 (2014)
      Inside No. 9
      8.5
      TV Series
      • Party Guest
      • Anne
      • 2015–2024
    • Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures (2023)
      Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Mrs. Armitage
      • 2024
    • Alison Steadman, Jim Howick, Katherine Parkinson, Tom Basden, Freya Parks, and Tori Allen-Martin in Pandemonium (2020)
      Pandemonium
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Sue Jessop
      • 2020–2024
    • Maxine Peake, Kieran Bew, Rakhee Thakrar, and Ben Batt in Rules of the Game (2022)
      Rules of the Game
      6.3
      TV Series
      • Anita Jenkins
      • 2022
    • The King's Man : Première Mission (2021)
      The King's Man : Première Mission
      6.3
      • Rita
      • 2021
    • Dawn French and Harry Tayler in Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse (2020)
      Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
      6.6
      TV Movie
      • Dora
      • 2020
    • Life (2020)
      Life
      7.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Gail Reynolds
      • 2020
    • Dave Johns and Alison Steadman in 23 Walks (2020)
      23 Walks
      6.1
      • Fern
      • 2020
    • Karen Ascoe, Kenneth Collard, Tim Downie, Priyanga Burford, Judy Flynn, Lloyd Hutchinson, Pearce Quigley, Jeremy Swift, and Stewart Wright in Housebound (2020)
      Housebound
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Jane
      • 2020
    • Unprecedented: Real Time Theatre from a State of Isolation (2020)
      Unprecedented: Real Time Theatre from a State of Isolation
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Liz's Mum
      • 2020
    • Off Grid (2019)
      Off Grid
      5.9
      Short
      • Grace Tanner
      • 2019
    • John Cleese, Alison Steadman, and Jason Watkins in Hold the Sunset (2018)
      Hold the Sunset
      5.8
      TV Series
      • Edith
      • 2018–2019

    Writer



    • Little Crackers (2010)
      Little Crackers
      6.5
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 2012

    Additional Crew



    • The Many Faces of... (2009)
      The Many Faces of...
      6.4
      TV Series
      • archivist
      • 2009–2016

    Videos16

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:56
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    Official Trailer
    Official Teaser
    Trailer 1:12
    Official Teaser
    Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:44
    Official Trailer

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 1.63 m
    • Born
      • August 26, 1946
      • Liverpool, England, UK
    • Spouse
      • Mike LeighAugust 15, 1973 - 2001 (divorced, 2 children)
    • Children
      • Leo Leigh
    • Parents
        George Percival Steadman
    • Other works
      Plays Hilary in "The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband" play by Debbie Isitt (New Ambassadors Theater, London, England, UK).
    • Publicity listings
      • 5 Interviews
      • 1 Article
      • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of British Empire) in the 2000 Queen's Millennium Honors List for her services to drama.
    • Quotes
      The more channels we get the more hours there are to fill so you get more reality shows. I hate things like Big Brother (2000). They're out of date and a waste of time on the part of people in the show and of the viewers. Life's too short to be watching that. If you see me on one of those shows you'll know I've lost the plot.

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Alison Steadman?
      78 years old
    • When was Alison Steadman born?
      August 26, 1946
    • Where was Alison Steadman born?
      Liverpool, England, UK
    • How tall is Alison Steadman?
      5 feet 4 inches, or 1.63 meters
    • What is Alison Steadman known for?
      Life Is Sweet, Pride and Prejudice, Fat Friends, and Better Man

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