Hold The Sunset. Edith (Alison Steadman). Copyright: BBC

Alison Steadman OBE is an English actor ranked no. 42 in a 2007 poll by Channel 4 on the "50 Greatest Actors". Known for early roles in Mike Leigh films, to whom she was married for 28 years, she is known for playing Pam Shipman on the BBC's Gavin And Stacey and for a variety of television and radio roles.

Year Production Role
2024 Here We Go - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Dad's Old Boat
  2. E2 - Granny's Street Fayre
  3. E3 - Amy's Valentine's Flowers
  4. E4 - Robin's Best Man
  5. E5 - Cherry's Wedding Dress
  6. E6 - Mum's New Tattoo
Sue
2024 Stitch Head Brand New Nan (Voice)
2023 Here We Go - Christmas Special Sue
2023 Alison And Larry: Billericay To Barry
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
Host / Presenter
2023 Bradley Walsh's Comedy Legends
View episodes
  1. E1 - Sitcoms
  2. E2 - Stand Ups
Self
2022 Relativity - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E4 - Episode Four
  4. E5 - Episode Five
  5. E6 - Episode Six
Margaret
2022 The Break - Series 4
  1. E6 - Some Like It Hut
Meg
2022 The Break - Series 4
  1. E5 - A Fight For Four Eyes
Corinne
2022 The Break - Series 4
  1. E1 - Carpe Leafletem
  2. E2 - Secrets and Fries
  3. E3 - Would Not Recommend
  4. E4 - A Fun Day Out
Joyce Rickles
2022 Here We Go - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Mum's Birthday Voucher
  2. E2 - Amy's Job Interview
  3. E3 - Cherry's Salsa Class
  4. E4 - Dad's Bronze Medal
  5. E5 - Granny's New Boyfriend
  6. E6 - Our Holiday To Scotland
Sue
2022 Mucking In
View episodes
  1. E1 - Secrets, Lies And Pointless Piles Of Paperwork
  2. E2 - Cold Discomfort Farm
  3. E3 - Pest Control
  4. E4 - Making Hay
  5. E5 - Feeling Sheepish
  6. E6 - Hold Your Horses
Cicely
2021 Skeletons In The Cupboard - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - A Midsummer Night's Scream
  2. E2 - See Me Afterwards
  3. E3 - Dial M For Maureen
  4. E4 - Killing David
Maureen
2020 Here We Go - Pandemonium Sue
2020 Celebrating The Life Of Roy Hudd Self
2020 Roald & Beatrix: The Tail Of The Curious Mouse Dora, Tea Shop Proprietor
2020 23 Walks Fern
2020 We Love...
  1. E1 - We Love Gavin & Stacey
Self
2020 Relativity - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Margaret
2020 The Break - Series 3
  1. E1 - Never the Twin
The Applegrath Twins
2020 The Break - Series 3
  1. E3 - The Haunting Of Jeffrey Whittaker
  2. E6 - Fly Flamford!
Joyce Rickles
2020 The Break - Series 3
  1. E2 - Five Benches Outside Yatterby Hall, Flamford
Dowager Mother
2020 The Break - Series 3
  1. E4 - The Agreement
Dr. Coulson
2020 The Break - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E5 - Strangers And A Drain
Corinne
2020 Housebound
  1. E12 - Episode Twelve
Jane
2019 Gavin & Stacey - Christmas Special
  1. Christmas Special
Pam
2019 Skeletons In The Cupboard - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E2 - Escape
  2. E3 - Voices
  3. E4 - Hairy Moments
Maureen
2019 Hold The Sunset - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Sale
  2. E2 - The Disappearance
  3. E3 - Aunty Joan
  4. E4 - The Lemming Family
  5. E5 - Damage Limitation
  6. E6 - Doing A Bunk
Edith
2019 Relativity - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
Margaret
2019 Sick Evelyn
2018 Hold The Sunset - Christmas Special
  1. If I Were A Wise Man
Edith
2018 The Reluctant Landlord - Series 1
  1. E3 - Mama's Boy
Debbie
2018 Gloomsbury - Series 5
View episodes
  1. E1 - Prejudice and Persuasion
Ginny Fox
2018 Gloomsbury - Series 5
View episodes
  1. E1 - Prejudice and Persuasion
Mrs Gosling
2018 The Break - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Longest Day
  2. E2 - Van Crazy
Ensemble Actor
2018 The Break - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Longest Day
  2. E2 - Van Crazy
Corinne
2018 Hold The Sunset - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Bubbly
  2. E2 - Birthday
  3. E3 - The Marriage Counsellor
  4. E4 - The Burglary
  5. E5 - Roger The Carer
  6. E6 - Old Flames
Edith
2017 Static Cath
2017 Relativity - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
Margaret
2017 Our Hylda Hylda Baker
2017 Woof - Chris Neill - Woof - One Man's Search For A Dog Or A Boyfriend Ensemble Actor
2017 Gloomsbury - Series 4
  1. E6 - Venice the Menace
Italian maid
2017 Byron And The Curse Of Sintra Lady ex-Byron
2017 Byron And The Curse Of Sintra Queen Joanna the Mad
2017 Gloomsbury - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Digging the Dirt
  2. E2 - Your Very Very Humble Servant
  3. E3 - Honestly, Darling
  4. E4 - Bosom Chums
  5. E5 - The Celtic Cringe
Mrs Gosling
2017 Gloomsbury - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Digging the Dirt
  2. E2 - Your Very Very Humble Servant
  3. E3 - Honestly, Darling
  4. E4 - Bosom Chums
  5. E5 - The Celtic Cringe
  6. E6 - Venice the Menace
Ginny Fox
2017 Sweats Aunt Lois
2017 We Have Been Watching
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Narrator
2016 Brian Butterfield sitcom Development Secretary
2016 Yonderland - Series 3
  1. Special - It's The Thought That Counts
Barbara
2016 We Have Been Watching Narrator
2016 Burn Burn Burn Diana
2016 Rumblings From The Rafters Various
2016 The Break - Series 1
  1. E2 - Cold Mountain
Joyce Rickles
2016 The Break - Series 1 Ensemble Actor
2016 The Break - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Key
  2. E2 - Cold Mountain
Corinne
2016 Let's Do It: A Tribute To Victoria Wood Self
2016 Chain Reaction - Series 11
  1. E6 - Roy Hudd interviews Alison Steadman
Guest
2016 Boomers - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Camping
  2. E2 - Matt & Seb
  3. E3 - Naming Ceremony
  4. E4 - Mick's Return
  5. E5 - Murder Mystery
  6. E6 - Wedding
Joyce
2016 Broken Biscuits Brenda
2016 Dad's Army Mrs. Fox
2015 Incredible Women - Series 4
  1. E3 - Mandy Fenwick
Mandy's Mum
2015 Boomers - Christmas Special Joyce
2015 John Finnemore's Double Acts - Series 1
  1. E2 - Wysinnwyg
Adele
2015 Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Self
2015 Inside No. 9 - Series 2
  1. E6 - Séance Time
Anne
2014 Gossip From The Garden Pond Dragonfly
2014 Boomers - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Joyce
2014 Bird Island - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E3 - Episode Three
  3. E4 - Episode Four
Mother
2014 Gloomsbury - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Anarchy Looms Over Staplehurst
  2. E2 - Desperate For A Thumbs-Up
  3. E3 - Bonfire Of The Jealousies
  4. E4 - Ever Decreasing Literary Circles
  5. E5 - The Theory and Practice of Hanky Panky
Mrs Gosling
2014 Gloomsbury - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Anarchy Looms Over Staplehurst
  2. E2 - Desperate For A Thumbs-Up
  3. E3 - Bonfire Of The Jealousies
  4. E4 - Ever Decreasing Literary Circles
  5. E5 - The Theory and Practice of Hanky Panky
  6. E6 - Two Broads Broadcasting
Ginny Fox
2013 Ed Reardon's Week - Series 9
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Personal Statement
  2. E2 - The Intern
  3. E3 - The Berkhamstead Job
  4. E4 - Blood of the Reardons
  5. E5 - Intellectual Fireworks
  6. E6 - The Bride of Auntie
Pearl
2013 Love And Marriage
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
Pauline Paradise
2012 Little Crackers - Little Crackers 2012
  1. E9 - Paul O'Grady's Little Cracker
Paul's Mum
2012 Little Crackers - Little Crackers 2012
View episodes
  1. E5 - Alison Steadman's Little Cracker
Writer
2012 Little Crackers - Little Crackers 2012
View episodes
  1. E5 - Alison Steadman's Little Cracker
Alison's Mum
2012 Living With Mother - Series 2 Tilly
2012 Gloomsbury - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Trials Of Attempting An Elopement
  2. E2 - Desperately Seeking Peace And Quiet
  3. E4 - Trying To Avoid Unpleasantness
  4. E6 - He's Got To Be Stopped
Mrs Gosling
2012 Gloomsbury - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Trials Of Attempting An Elopement
  2. E2 - Desperately Seeking Peace And Quiet
  3. E3 - The St Ives School Of Painting
  4. E5 - A Desperate Attempt To Have Fun
  5. E6 - He's Got To Be Stopped
Ginny Fox
2012 Bird Island - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Mother
2012 A Civil Arrangement Isobel
2012 Tidal Talk From The Rockpool - Series 2 The Anemone
2011 Sitcom Does...
  1. E2 - Sitcom Does Romance With Joanna Page
Self
2011 Living With Mother - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Spilt Milk
Susan
2010 Fry And Laurie: Reunited Narrator
2009 Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off - Series 4
  1. E3 - The Orient Express
Lady Flench
2009 Gavin & Stacey - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. Special - The Outtakes
Pam
2009 Beauty Of Britain - Series 1
  1. E4 - Pastor Dave
Mrs Blanchard
2009 Cabin Pressure - Series 2
  1. E1 - Helsinki
Ruth Gregson
2009 The Many Faces Of... Self
2008 Gavin & Stacey - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. Special - Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special
Pam
2007 The Omid Djalili Show - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Mrs. Dashett
2007 The Dinner Party Juliet
2007 Miranda Hart's Joke Shop - Pilot
  1. Pilot
Penny
2007 Gavin & Stacey - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Pam
2007 Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation - Series 7
  1. E2 - How To Believe
Ensemble Actor
2006 The Worst Week Of My Life - The Worst Christmas Of My Life
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
Angela
2006 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Gambling Fever
  2. E2 - There's Something About Mrs Naughtie
  3. E3 - The Subsidence Adventure
  4. E4 - Inverurie Jones And The Thimble Of Doom
  5. E5 - Look Who's Stalking
  6. E6 - Porridge Votes
  7. Special - Burns Night
Mrs Naughtie
2006 Grumpy Old Women - Series 2 Narrator
2006 Confetti Sam's Mum
2005 The Worst Week Of My Life - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Monday
  2. E2 - Tuesday
  3. E3 - Wednesday
  4. E4 - Thursday
  5. E5 - Friday
  6. E6 - Saturday
  7. E7 - Sunday
Angela
2005 Grumpy Old Women - Series 1 Narrator
2005 Fat Friends - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Enough To Go Around
  2. E2 - Second Helpings
  3. E3 - Angel's Delight
  4. E4 - Get Out of the Kitchen
  5. E5 - Healthy Options
  6. E6 - Icing on the Cake
Betty Simpson
2004 Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation - Series 6
  1. E2 - How To Argue Your Position
Ensemble Actor
2004 Elephants To Catch Eels - Series 2
  1. E6 - Mother
'Lizabeth
2004 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E4 - The Poison Pen Letters
Mrs MacAlister
2004 The Worst Week Of My Life - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Monday
  2. E2 - Tuesday
  3. E3 - Wednesday
  4. E4 - Thursday
  5. E5 - Friday
  6. E6 - Saturday
  7. E7 - Sunday
Angela
2004 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 2
  1. E3 - The Fitness Club
Monika Diesel
2004 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Vampire Of The Glen
  2. E2 - Fame Idol
  3. E3 - The Fitness Club
  4. E4 - The Poison Pen Letters
  5. E5 - The Monster In The Loch
  6. E6 - Trapped!
  7. Special - Hamish And Dougal's Hogmanay Frolic
Mrs Naughtie
2004 Bosom Pals Joan (Voice)
2004 Fat Friends - Series 3
View episodes
  1. Special - Eat Your Heart Out
  2. E2 - Leggs Over Easy
  3. E5 - Afters
  4. E6 - Food of Love
Betty Simpson
2003 French And Saunders - 2003 Specials
  1. Special - Harry Potter And The Secret Chamberpot Of Azerbaijan
Professor McGonagall
2002 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 1
  1. E3 - Romance In The Glen
Lady Caroline Fitz-Neatleigh
2002 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E2 - The Murder Mystery
Mrs MacAlister
2002 Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Musical Evening
  2. E2 - The Murder Mystery
  3. E3 - Romance In The Glen
  4. E4 - The Shooting Party
Mrs Naughtie
2002 Celeb
  1. E5 - The Love Child
Grandma
2002 Fat Friends - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Full Belly
  2. E2 - Peaches and Dreams
  3. E3 - Forty and In-Fat-Uated
  4. E4 - Sweet and Sour
  5. E5 - Sticky Fingers
  6. E6 - In Full Bloom
  7. E7 - Hunger Pangs
Betty Simpson
2001 Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Pauline Mole
2000 Fat Friends - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Love Me Slender
  2. E2 - Fat Chance
  3. E3 - Fat Free
  4. E4 - Growing Pains
  5. E5 - Face the Fat
  6. E6 - When the Fat Lady Sings
Betty Simpson
1999 Let Them Eat Cake
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Pox
  2. E2 - Murder
  3. E4 - Making Voopee
  4. E6 - The Royal Command Performance
Madame de Plonge
1997 Tidal Talk From The Rockpool - Series 1 The Anemone
1997 The Missing Postman Christine Peacock
1996 Secrets & Lies Dog Owner
1995 Coogan's Run
  1. E6 - The Curator
Annette
1992 Gone To Seed
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E6 - Episode Six
Hilda Plant
1992 Gone To Seed Hilda Plant
1991 Gone To The Dogs
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
Lauren Patterson
1991 Gone To The Dogs Lauren Patterson
1990 The Short & Curlies Betty
1990 Life Is Sweet Wendy
1989 Wilt Eva
1989 Shirley Valentine Jane
1988 The Mausoleum Club - The Fall Of The Mausoleum Club
  1. E2 - The Charge Of The Boys' Brigade
Miss Primrose
1988 Saturday Night Fry - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Ensemble Actor
1986 In Sickness & In Health - Series 2
  1. Special - Christmas Special
Mother
1986 Clockwise Gwenda Stimpson
1985 Week Ending - Series 50
  1. E1 - Episode One
Ensemble Actor
1984 A Private Function Mrs Allardyce
1983 Week Ending - Series 44
  1. E1 - Episode One
Ensemble Actor
1983 Week Ending - Series 42
  1. E12 - Episode Twelve
Ensemble Actor
1982 Week Ending - Series 40
  1. E4 - Episode Four
  2. E5 - Episode Five
Ensemble Actor
1982 Week Ending - Series 39
  1. E10 - Episode Ten
Ensemble Actor
1982 P'Tang Yang Kipperbang Estelle Land
1981 Week Ending - Series 37
  1. E1 - Episode One
Ensemble Actor
1980 Week Ending - Series 35
  1. E8 - Episode Eight
Ensemble Actor
1980 Week Ending - Series 33
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E4 - Episode Four
  3. E5 - Episode Five
  4. E6 - Episode Six
  5. E8 - Episode Eight
Ensemble Actor
1980 Week Ending - Series 32
  1. E12 - Episode Twelve
Ensemble Actor
1979 Two's Company - Series 4
  1. E5 - The Silence
Pamela
1977 Abigail's Party Beverly
1976 Nuts In May Candice-Marie
1975 The Wackers
View episodes
  1. E1 - Out Of The Frying Pan
  2. E2 - A Licence To Love
  3. E3 - Everybody's Doing It
  4. E4 - The Root Of All Evil
  5. E5 - No Rest For The Wicked
  6. E6 - Nearly Gone But Not Forgotten
Bernadette Clarkson
1973 Frost's Weekly Actor

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Alison Steadman on IMDb

Born
Monday 26th August 1946 (77 years-old)
Nationality
English

Alison Steadman OBE is a much-loved English actor ranked no. 42 in a [y]2007] poll by Channel 4 on the "50 Greatest Actors". Highly acclaimed throughout her career, she won the 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Mike Leigh film Life Is Sweet. (She would be married to Leigh from 1973 to 2001, when they filed for divorce.) Further accolades came with the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for playing Mari in the original production of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.

Steadman was born in Liverpool and educated at Childwall Valley High School for Girls, a state grammar school in the Liverpool suburb of Childwall, followed by East 15 Acting School. It was here that she met Mike Leigh during her second year of study.

After stage roles in several Mike Leigh's plays in the 1970s, including Nuts In May (1976) and Abigail's Party (1977), Steadman began a career in television, appearing in the BBC serial The Singing Detective and the ITV drama series Fat Friends.

Steadman is known for several radio roles in BBC Radio 4 sitcoms: Mother in Bird Island, about a scientist working in the Antarctic, Ginny Fox in Gloomsbury, about the Bloomsbury group, whose arty and adulterous adventures dominated the cultural scene in the early 20th century, Mrs Naughtie in Hamish And Dougal: You'll Have Had Your Tea, a spin-off from classic panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, and Angela in The Worst Week Of My Life about Howard Steel, a man who always manages to mess things up. She has also learnt huge legions of dedicated fans for her role as Pam Shipman on the much-loved BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey. An Essex wife who does not have to work and loves entertainment and a good party, Pam has been married to Mick for 26 years and adores her son, Gavin, whom she calls 'my little prince',

She also featured as 'Joyce' alongside Philip Jackson and Russ Abbot, among others, in the BBC One sitcom Boomers, about a trio of newly-retired couples in Norfolk who gradually learn the value of quality time with loved ones.

In 2018 Steadman returned to BBC One with John Cleese in the sitcom Hold The Sunset, which follows two retired neighbours, playing by Cleese and Steadman, who live in Twickenham yet plan to start a new life together in Gozo.

In 2016, Steadman became an ambassador for London Wildlife Trust.

National Comedy Awards, The 2023
Outstanding Supporting Role (Longlisted)
TV Times Awards 2022
Favourite Comedy Performance (Nominee)
RTS North West Awards 2016
Best Performance in a Comedy (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 2001
Best Actress (Nominee)
Olivier Awards 1993
Best Actress (Winner)
British Comedy Awards 1990
Best British Film Actress (Nominee)
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