alison steadman (born 26 august 1946) is an english actress. she received 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 42.