Mark Lawson talks to the much-loved actress Alison Steadman about her life and career. In this rare in-depth interview she explores her early gift for mimicry, passion for improvisation and her joy of working with some of the greatest writers in the country. Steadman won over both theatre and television audiences alike as the grotesquely comic Essex hostess Beverly in Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party. Alongside her beloved Candice-Marie in Nuts in May, her propensity for sharp wit and characterisation soon established her as a rising star in British television. Steadman has gone on to draw accolades in every decade with standout performances in The Singing Detective, Pride and Prejudice, The Worst Week of My Life and, as another Essex icon, Pamela in Gavin and Stacey.