Alison Steadman

British actress, a favorite on TV from the mid-'70s. Steadman is legendary for her talent of mastering the minutiae of mannerisms, earning accolades and awards for her performances. A star in the improved-based play, "Abigail's Party," directed by her husband, Mike Leigh, she became linked with the role of the pretentious vamp Beverly. "Nuts in May" showed another dimension of her extraordinary acting talent. Steadman won an Olivier Award for "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" and acclaim for "The Singing Detective," 1986 as well as for her role as Mrs. Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice," 1995.

She had a 20-year personal and professional relationships with Mike Leigh, weathering his infamous black moods under stress. The media gave them a storm of attention during their breakup in April 1996, just after she had nursed her mother through a cancer bout.