Alison Steadman is one of those women that just garners respect. Wife of many years to Mike Leigh, she made a name for herself as one of the most naturalistic and personable actresses in England.
Just watch her work in any of Leigh's films, especially Abigail's Party, Life is Sweet, this weeks laugh – the short movie The Short and Curlies, and the Dennis Potter miniseries The Singing Detective.
But what do you think?