‘There's lots of parts for OLDER WOMEN'

Actor Alison Steadman reveals why she never watches herself on TV

- HAYLEY MINN

Alison Steadman has starred in many much-loved television shows over the years, including Fat Friends and, more recently, Hold the Sunset. But her most memorable role is as lovable Essex mum Pam Shipman in Gavin & Stacey, who she played from 2007 until 2010, before reprising it for the Christmas special with the rest of the cast last year.

And, along with the rest of the country, Alison sat down with her family over the festive period to watch the episode with her partner, Michael Elwyn, her grown-up sons, Toby, 41, and Leo, 38, and two-year-old grandson, Freddy.

Surprisingly, it turns out it’s the only role the 73-year-old actor has ever watched herself back in – and not just the once!

Speaking of the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, she reveals, ‘I watched it several times, which I don’t normally do. Anything I’m in, I don’t watch because I think I look old and fat. But with that, I loved it so much that I had to watch it again.’

Despite the self-deprecation, Alison is grateful there are ‘certainly more parts for older women than there used to be,’ and definitely doesn’t see any reason to change the way she looks.