Out of Character
From Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey, and Everything in Between
Published on 22. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-00-866544-9 (ISBN)
Description
A Waterstones Best Book of 2024
'Marriage to Mike Leigh, the minutiae of working on Gavin and Stacey: it's a tribute to her range that there's something here to interest everybody' Telegraph
The first memoir from the national treasure, critically acclaimed actress and much-loved Gavin and Stacey star.
Candice Marie in Nuts in May. Beverly in Abigail's Party. Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Betty in Fat Friends. Sue in Here We Go and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey - we can all name a beloved, iconic character brought to life by the magnificent Alison Steadman.
Growing up in post-war, working-class Liverpool, the young Alison - ever the entertainer - would address the world from the stage of her bedroom window, until she got a taste for performing in front of an actual audience at her progressive 1960s drama school. By the time she left, her mind was made up: she was going to be an actress! If only she could conquer the onstage giggling ...
Always pushing boundaries - reclining naked on a sofa in her first role, embracing groundbreaking female characters from day one - Alison has deservedly found acclaim and recognition, succeeding in her TV and theatre career while juggling family life - a difficult feat for any working mother, but particularly for an actress in the twentieth century.
From the nervy Mrs Bennet to the robo-dancing Pam-el-aah, Alison has proved herself again and again to be a comedy genius. Here, with her distinctive warmth and humour, she vividly recalls all the must-read moments of a life spent in and out of character.
'Marriage to Mike Leigh, the minutiae of working on Gavin and Stacey: it's a tribute to her range that there's something here to interest everybody' Telegraph
The first memoir from the national treasure, critically acclaimed actress and much-loved Gavin and Stacey star.
Candice Marie in Nuts in May. Beverly in Abigail's Party. Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Betty in Fat Friends. Sue in Here We Go and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey - we can all name a beloved, iconic character brought to life by the magnificent Alison Steadman.
Growing up in post-war, working-class Liverpool, the young Alison - ever the entertainer - would address the world from the stage of her bedroom window, until she got a taste for performing in front of an actual audience at her progressive 1960s drama school. By the time she left, her mind was made up: she was going to be an actress! If only she could conquer the onstage giggling ...
Always pushing boundaries - reclining naked on a sofa in her first role, embracing groundbreaking female characters from day one - Alison has deservedly found acclaim and recognition, succeeding in her TV and theatre career while juggling family life - a difficult feat for any working mother, but particularly for an actress in the twentieth century.
From the nervy Mrs Bennet to the robo-dancing Pam-el-aah, Alison has proved herself again and again to be a comedy genius. Here, with her distinctive warmth and humour, she vividly recalls all the must-read moments of a life spent in and out of character.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
30 col plates (16pp)
Dimensions
Height: 188 mm
Width: 122 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
249 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-866544-9 (9780008665449)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2024
HarperCollins
€7.79
Available for download
Person
Alison Steadman is one of Britain's best-loved actresses. She has achieved recognition across television (Gavin & Stacey, the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, Fat Friends), film (Life Is Sweet) and stage (Abigail's Party and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice). She has won an Olivier, a National Society of Film Critics Award, and has been nominated for two BAFTAs. She lives in London with her partner, Michael, and is a keen birdwatcher and patron for the RSPB. Alison was awarded an OBE in 2000.