Alison Steadman Alison Steadman 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 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
Mike Leigh wonderful little episodes in Ozu's "Tokyo Story", in a hairdressing salon and a bar, must have been in Leigh's subconscious memory when he made "The Short and Curlies" (1987), one of his most devastatingly funny pieces of work, and the pub scene in "Life is Sweet"..." In September 1973, he married actress Alison Steadman; they have two sons: Toby (born February 1978) and Leo (born August 1981). Steadman appeared in seven of his films and several of his plays, including "Wholesome Glory" and "Abigail's Party". They divorced in 2001. The actress Marion Bailey is his partner. Leigh is a Distinguished