Honorary Graduates

Orations and responses

Alison Steadman, OBE

Oration given on Thursday 10 July 2003

Chancellor, the Senate of the University has resolved that the degree of Doctor of the University be conferred upon Alison Steadman.

Alison Steadman is regarded as one of Britain’s foremost actresses, whose career extends from theatre, to film, TV, radio, and voice-overs in great abundance. She has performed (and sometimes created) some of the most memorable roles in British theatre for over 30 years.

Her television performances alone are like a catalogue of the Best of British TV Drama – including FAT FRIENDS, LET THEM EAT CAKE, NO BANANAS, Z CARS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE SINGING DETECTIVE, NUTS IN MAY and the now legendary ABIGAILS’S PARTY, which continuously appears on every list of the nation’s favourite performances.

Her film work is also extensive, again an encyclopaedia of British film: CHAMPIONS, CHUNKY MONKEY, P’TANG YANG KIPPER BANG, A PRIVATE FUNCTION, THE ADVENTURE OF BARON MUCHAUSEN, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, LIFE IS SWEET, TOPSY TURVY and many more.

Along the way she has worked with the best of British directors, including Mike Leigh, Sam Mendes, Howard Davies, Richard Eyre, Alan Ayckbourn, Ron Daniels, Bill Alexander, Jude Kelly, Dawn French, Alan Dossor, Peter Gill, Terry Johnson, Michael Apted, and Terry Gilliam, to name but a few.

Her theatre performances continue unabated after 30 years, with regular performances in the West End – where recent productions have included THE WOMAN WHO COOKED HER HUSBAND, ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, and MEMORY OF WATER.

Over the years, she has won numerous honours for her work – including The Best Actress in the Evening Standard Awards for "Abigail’s Party," and The Plays and Players Award for Best Actress, also for "Abigail’s Party." Then came the Society of London Theatre’s Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role in "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" at the National Theatre and in the West End. She has been nominated for the BAFTA awards as well as winning The Chicago Film Festival Gold Award for Best Actress for her role in "News Hounds" and The Society of American Film Critics Best Actress Award for "Life is Sweet."

And finally, in 2000 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to British Drama.

This was a fitting reward for a career spanning more than 30 years.

And it all started in a suburb of Liverpool, where she was born. The story goes that the young Alison Steadman harboured theatrical aspirations even as a teenager and "spent her evenings watching comedians on television and her days impersonating her teachers."

In an interview a few years ago, Alison said – " I’d put my doll’s to bed in our Scottish neighbour’s accent. I wasn’t particularly interested in drama, I just liked to impersonate people. I used to watch people on television – Hylda Baker and so on – and I thought that’s what acting is about."

She is also quoted as saying "I loved making people laugh. There was a lot of humour in our family – I was encouraged to lark about."

At age 15 she joined a youth theatre but was encouraged by her father to go to secretarial school. Alison said in a recent interview, "He thought that if I wanted to be an actress I should have something to fall back on."

Fortunately, she hasn’t had to use her secretarial skills since she was 20, at which age she came to London to audition for East 15 Acting School. The Founder of the school, Margaret Walker, offered her a place on the spot. The audition report says – "Worth Training – Will Blossom." And so she has…….

It was at East 15 that she started working with young Mike Leigh, leading to a 20-odd year creative partnership which produced some of Britain’s most important theatre, TV and films – as well as two sons.

The rest is history……

Her professional career started in the regional repertory system in 1968 – one of her first roles being at the Lincoln Theatre Royal in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" alongside Vanessa Redgrave.

In volumes of press cuttings I have seen, Alison Steadman has been variously described as a "National Treasure," "a phenomenon", "magnificent," "an unnerving presence," "a trooper," "incredibly sexy," "dazzlingly down to earth," and, perhaps reflecting the spirit which imbues her performances, "a very genuine person – the most "unstarriest person you could get."

The integrity of Alison’s Steadman’s performances is her hallmark – she appears to transform before your very eyes – each character seemingly crafted not only in detail but, more importantly, in spirit. This ability to transform – in fact her need to transform - reflects her love of people. Se is quoted in the Telegraph as saying "When you’re an actress, you have to be observing people. Hw else can you act? You’re observing life. When I’m playing a part, I’m not me. I’m somebody else. How can I be someone else if I am not looking at people and observing what they wear and how they talk."

Are these echoes of the theories of Stanislavsky we hear, or is it the god-given wisdom of a woman who was raised to love people and to celebrate their foibles?

Certainly, Alison Steadman has a reputation as an expert mimic, a chronicler of people as well as a collector of personalities. She couples these attributes with a razor sharp wit. Of course, all of has intimidated a number of journalists, for Alison Steadman is an expert observer and a careful listener – to such an extent that some journalists have remarked that in her presence they felt that they were being watched far too intently and their every word analysed. And many of her acquaintances have expressed their worry that something they might do or say will be reproduced on stage or the screen in one of Alison Steadman’s characters.

Whatever her secret, Alison Steadman stands out as one of this country’s greatest actresses.

She brings warmth and sensitivity to every role she plays.

She is a champion of the under dog

She is the true voice of the victim.

She brings thought, attention, love and integrity to every role she takes on.

Recently, she has taken on a new role – as a director and teacher. Only a few months ago, she returned to East 15 to work with third year acting students (some of whom are graduating today) in a series of scene study projects – resulting in her directing a previously unperformed play. The love and attention which she brought to the work was impressive. On the night the play was to be shared with an audience for the first time, Alison Steadman was excited and nervous – her first production as a director. If that production is anything by which to judge, she has opened up a whole new role for herself.

What impressed us all was the humility of this wonderful artist.

So today, we have the opportunity to say thank you and to celebrate Alison Steadman’s career to date.

She has brought honour to her roots.

She has brought honour to the school which trained her.

She has brought honour to her art.

And it is only right and proper that we honour her achievements today.

Chancellor, I present to you ALISON STEADMAN.

Orator: John Baraldi