Growing into her roles

Since she left acting school in the late 60s, British actress Alison Steadman has barely stopped working. Her career spans theatre, film, television and radio, including several Mike Leigh productions, The Singing Detective, Pride and Prejudice and Gavin & Stacey. She most recently appeared in the comedy series Hold the Sunset.

The title Hold the Sunset could almost apply to your career – you’re on hold for retirement, too?

Actors don’t retire unless it retires them, so I’m going to keep going as long as I