Alison Steadman
Known for
Alison Steadman is one of the defining actresses of British social comedy. Born in Liverpool in 1946, she created the monstrous hostess Beverly in Mike Leigh's 'Abigail's Party' (1977), a landmark of television theater, and continued with Leigh in 'Life Is Sweet' (1990). Costume-drama audiences adored her shrieking Mrs. Bennet in 'Pride and Prejudice' (1995), while a new generation embraced her as Pam, the excitable mother of 'Gavin & Stacey' (2007-2024). She also appeared in 'The King's Man' (2021). Suburban pretension, observed with forensic affection, has been her lifelong territory.
Alison Steadman
48 Movies
42 Series
Alison Steadman is one of the defining actresses of British social comedy. Born in Liverpool in 1946, she created the monstrous hostess Beverly in Mike Leigh's 'Abigail's Party' (1977), a landmark of television theater, and continued with Leigh in 'Life Is Sweet' (1990). Costume-drama audiences adored her shrieking Mrs. Bennet in 'Pride and Prejudice' (1995), while a new generation embraced her as Pam, the excitable mother of 'Gavin & Stacey' (2007-2024). She also appeared in 'The King's Man' (2021). Suburban pretension, observed with forensic affection, has been her lifelong territory.
Movies
Plays Rita
The King's Man
2021
Plays Betty
Better Man
2024
Plays Daisy
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988
Plays Woman with Dog
Secrets & Lies
1996
Plays Nan (voice)
Stitch Head
2025
Plays Mrs. Fox
Dad's Army
2016
Plays Wendy
Life Is Sweet
1991
Plays Mrs. Brown
Fanny Hill
2007
Plays Madame Leon
Topsy-Turvy
1999
Plays Casting Agent
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
2004
Plays Mayor
Stormy Monday
1988
Plays Bronwyn Race
Happy Now
2001
Plays Jane
Shirley Valentine
1989
Plays Mrs. Allardyce
A Private Function
1984
Plays Sam's Mum
Confetti
2006
Plays Gwenda Stimpson
Clockwise
1986
Plays Rosemary Horton
Blame It on the Bellboy
1992
Plays The Hen (voice)
The Ugly Duckling
1997
Plays Auntie Jean
Peterman
2015
Plays Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)
Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie
2001
Plays Woman
D.I.Y. Hard
2002
Plays Eva
Wilt
1989
Plays Fern
23 Walks
2020
Plays Jackie
Girl
1974
Plays Dora
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
2020
Plays Mary Hussey
Champions
1984
Plays Diana
Burn Burn Burn
2016
Plays Pearl
The Snow Queen's Revenge
1996
Plays Mother / Veronica
Jack and the Beanstalk
1999
Plays Perriwinkle
Monster Maker
1989
Plays Crazy Butcher
Loony in the Woods
2006
TV Shows
Plays Betty Simpson
Fat Friends
2000
Plays Pam Shipman
Gavin & Stacey
2007
Plays Sue Jessop
Here We Go
2022
Plays Angela Cook
The Worst Week of My Life
2004
Plays Joyce
Boomers
2014
Plays Edith
Hold the Sunset
2018
Plays Evelyn Hamilton
No Bananas
1996
Plays Bernadette Clarkson
The Wackers
1975
Plays Mrs. Bennet
Pride and Prejudice
1995
Plays Pauline Mole
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
2001
Plays Rose Wilson
The Syndicate
2012
Plays Lauren Patterson
Gone to the Dogs
1991
Plays Hilda Plant
Gone to Seed
1992
Plays Gail Reynolds
Life
2020
Plays Pauline Paradise
Love and Marriage
2013
Plays Kendall Malone
Orphan Black
2013
Plays Anita Jenkins
Rules of the Game
2022
Plays Barbara
Butterfly
2018
Plays Hallie Eustace Miles
The Great War: The People's Story
2014
Plays Mrs Marlow
The Singing Detective
1986
Plays Christine Peacock
The Missing Postman
1997
Plays Mrs. Brown
Fanny Hill
2007
Plays Elinor Farr
The Wimbledon Poisoner
1994
Plays Mrs. Meisling
Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale
2002
Plays Mrs Haynes
Karaoke
1996
Plays Nonie
Play for Today
1970
Plays Anne
Inside No. 9
2014
Plays Alison's Mother
Little Crackers
2010
Plays Rev. Martha Seager
Lewis
2007
Plays Abigail Tonev
Midsomer Murders
1997
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Stitch Head
Full Filmography
Joke
Vet
2026
Film
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
Sue Jessop
2025
Film
Stitch Head
Nan (voice)
2025
Film
Better Man
Betty
2024
Film
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
Sue Jessop
2023
Film
Wake
Grace
2023
Film
Rules of the Game
Anita Jenkins · 4 episodes
2022
TV
Here We Go
Sue Jessop · 19 episodes
2022–
TV
The King's Man
Rita
2021
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Alison Steadman and where are they from?
Alison Steadman is 79 years old, born on August 26, 1946 in Liverpool, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Alison Steadman?
Alison Steadman is best known for roles in The King's Man, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Better Man.
How many movies has Alison Steadman been in?
Over a 53-year career (since 1973), Alison Steadman has appeared in 48 movies and 41 TV shows.
What was Alison Steadman's first movie?
The career of Alison Steadman began with Hard Labour (1973).
What is Alison Steadman's most recent movie or series?
Alison Steadman's most recent release is Joke, which premiered on February 6, 2026.
What TV shows has Alison Steadman appeared in?
On television, Alison Steadman has appeared in Orphan Black, Pride and Prejudice, Midsomer Murders, Inside No. 9.
Alison Steadman
1946-08-26 · Liverpool, England, UK
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).