Alison Steadman

Biography

Alison Steadman is an English actress who trained at East 15 Acting School and began in regional repertory theaters, making her professional stage debut in 1968. She established her career in Mike Leigh's television plays, including Nuts in May (1976) and Abigail's Party (1977), in which she created the role of Beverly. Her awards include an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Abigail's Party, a National Society of Film Critics Award for Leigh's Life Is Sweet (1991) and a Laurence Olivier Award for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. On screen she has appeared in A Private Function (1984), Clockwise (1986), Shirley Valentine (1989), Confetti (2006), Dad's Army (2016) and Better Man (2024), and she earned BAFTA TV nominations for The Singing Detective and Fat Friends. Her television work also takes in Pride and Prejudice, Gavin & Stacey and Here We Go.

80years old

Turns 81 on August 26in 317 days

Born August 26, 1946Liverpool
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22

Movie Career

Films: 18
Career span: 49 years1976 to 2025

Genres

Comedy72%, 13 films
Drama44%, 8 films
Biography17%, 3 films
Romance17%, 3 films
Adventure11%, 2 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Steadman's first professional role, after leaving East 15 Acting School, came at Lincoln in 1968, where she played the schoolgirl Sandy in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Early training
Steadman met Mike Leigh during her second year at East 15 Acting School, which she entered in the autumn of 1966.

Alison Steadman movies on Netflix

Stitch Head2025IMDb rating 5.8as Nan (voice)
Better Man2024IMDb rating 7.5as Betty
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse2020IMDb rating 6.6as Dora
Dad's Army2016IMDb rating 5.2as Mrs. Fox
Fanny Hill2007IMDb rating 6.6as Mrs. Brown
Confetti2006IMDb rating 5.7as Sam's Mum
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers2004IMDb rating 6.9as Casting Agent
Blame It on the Bellboy1992IMDb rating 5.6as Rosemary Horton
Life Is Sweet1991IMDb rating 7.4as Wendy
Shirley Valentine1989IMDb rating 7.3as Jane
The Misadventures of Mr. Wilt1989IMDb rating 6.1as Eva Wilt
Stormy Monday1988IMDb rating 6.2as Mayor
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988IMDb rating 7.1as Daisy
Clockwise1986IMDb rating 6.6as Gwenda Stimpson
A Private Function1984IMDb rating 6.5as Mrs Allardyce
Champions1984IMDb rating 6.5as Mary Hussey
Abigail's Party1977IMDb rating 7.9as Beverley
Nuts in May1976IMDb rating 7.8as Candice Marie

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Better Man2024 Biography, Fantasy, Musicalas Betty
IMDb rating 7.548K votes
Life Is Sweet1991 Comedy, Dramaas Wendy
IMDb rating 7.412K votes
Clockwise1986as Gwenda Stimpson
IMDb rating 6.615K votes
Shirley Valentine1989as Jane
IMDb rating 7.310K votes
Abigail's Party1977as Beverley
IMDb rating 7.92.6K votes
Nuts in May1976as Candice Marie
IMDb rating 7.82.4K votes
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988as Daisy
IMDb rating 7.160K votes
Stormy Monday1988as Mayor
IMDb rating 6.25.0K votes

Most often with

Mike Leigh directed three of these films. Bill Paterson appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Bill Paterson

Jim Carter

Richard Griffiths

Penelope Wilton

Rob Brydon

StingMike LeighDirector, 3 films

Films together

Bill Paterson3 films together, 1984 to 2016
Bill Paterson's page
- Dad's Army2016IMDb rating 5.2Steadman as Mrs. FoxPaterson as Private Frazer
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988IMDb rating 7.1Steadman as DaisyPaterson as Henry Salt
- A Private Function1984IMDb rating 6.5Steadman as Mrs AllardycePaterson as Wormold
Jim Carter2 films together, 1984 to 1992
Jim Carter's page
- Blame It on the Bellboy1992IMDb rating 5.6Steadman as Rosemary HortonCarter as Rossi
- A Private Function1984IMDb rating 6.5Steadman as Mrs AllardyceCarter as Inspector Noble
Richard Griffiths2 films together, 1984 to 1992
Richard Griffiths's page
- Blame It on the Bellboy1992IMDb rating 5.6Steadman as Rosemary HortonGriffiths as Maurice Horton
- A Private Function1984IMDb rating 6.5Steadman as Mrs AllardyceGriffiths as Allardyce
Penelope Wilton2 films together, 1986 to 1992
Penelope Wilton's page
- Blame It on the Bellboy1992IMDb rating 5.6Steadman as Rosemary HortonWilton as Patricia Fulford
- Clockwise1986IMDb rating 6.6Steadman as Gwenda StimpsonWilton as Pat Garden
Rob Brydon2 films together, 2020 to 2025
Rob Brydon's page
- Stitch Head2025IMDb rating 5.8Steadman as NanvoiceBrydon as Professorvoice
- Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse2020IMDb rating 6.6Steadman as DoraBrydon as William Heelis
Sting2 films together, 1988
Sting's page
- Stormy Monday1988IMDb rating 6.2Steadman as MayorSting as Finney
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988IMDb rating 7.1Steadman as DaisySting as Heroic Officer
Mike LeighDirector, 3 films, 1976 to 1991
All films by Mike Leigh
- Life Is Sweet1991IMDb rating 7.4Steadman as Wendy
- Abigail's Party1977IMDb rating 7.9Steadman as Beverley
- Nuts in May1976IMDb rating 7.8Steadman as Candice Marie
Also two films together5 more actors
- Jessica HynesRoald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse (2020) and Confetti (2006)
- Steve PembertonBetter Man (2024) and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
- Charles McKeownThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) and A Private Function (1984)
- Felicity MontaguDad's Army (2016) and Confetti (2006)
- John NormingtonThe Misadventures of Mr. Wilt (1989) and A Private Function (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.