Alison Steadman: Even perfect lives can shatter!
Like teacups, marriages can break! Alison Steadman talks about why her new show rings true – and how, despite the ‘strange, scary times’ we’re living in, she tries to find joy in every day
The wonderfully ‘unstarry’ Alison Steadman celebrates 50 years in acting this year. And what a year it’s been. Hilariously, the acclaimed Liverpudlian, whose partner is Welsh actor Michael Elwyn [she has grown-up kids Toby and Leo from her previous marriage to director Mike Leigh], has admitted that G&Ts with Michael from 6.30pm, making puppets to entertain her grandson Freddy and video calls
Life
with pals have sustained her. Alison’s new show Life, which started last week on BBC One - from the creator of hit drama DrFoster – is set in Manchester and involves four interweaving stories about love, parenthood, loss and self-discovery. Alison is the oncemeek Gail, who has an epiphany on her 70th birthday about her patronising husband, leading to a radical decision. As the 74-yearold says with a laugh, ‘It’s messy – but that’s Life!’
Hi Alison, so tell us about your character in Life?
So, Gail is married to Henry, a former top surgeon, with two lovely children. They were well-off but lost all their money – they had this huge house, didn’t want to sell it and, in the end, made it into flats. They got the middle flat and rented the other three. Gail’s an intelligent lady who fell for a man she ended up looking after all his life. But her perfect life isn’t how it seems on the outside. But as she turns 70, she’s thinking: ‘Should I change?’
You’re 74 now – how did you feel when you hit your 70s?
It was a big deal. It’s a major milestone in your life. Yes, there’s 40, 50, 60 – but suddenly, 70, wow – that’s a big one. It’s a number that really
makes you really reflect on your life, about the time you have left and how you move forward. But I truly celebrated turning 70, I remember I had the loveliest birthday party. I can’t multitask as well in my 70s, and I do get tired, but I’m here, living life and every day is a new day – that’s how I see it.
Do you recognise yourself in your character?
No – gladly, I think! Because I have led a very busy, active life. From the day I left drama school until now, I’ve been working as an actress, and I’ve got two lovely sons. So yes, I have had a very full life and I’ve been lucky to have that. I don’t identify with Gail, but I do have a lot of empathy for her.
In one scene, Gail is seen driving erratically – how are your driving skills?!
Well, I absolutely hate speeding. And the older I’ve got, the slower I’ve got on the road. I’ve been driving since I was in my mid-20s. I’m very respectful on the road and I do NOT get distracted like Gail. Nope. I do like her, though. I think we’d probably be friends in real life.
Have you known many ‘Gails’ in your life?
I have – and witnessed men who aren’t consciously unkind or making fun of their wives, but that’s exactly what they are doing. Henry is very intelligent – he’s quite full of himself. He doesn’t see what he’s doing; he just thinks he’s being jokey and that Gail always laughs every time he says something about her. My father was the kindest man, but some of my parents’ friends had a relationship in which the husband would put his wife down. My mother would say, ‘How dare he speak to her like that?’
Hopefully this story speaks to women in that situation…
Oh, there’ll be women either in that situation in their marriage, or who know someone in that position. Maybe there’ll even be some watching who feel for Henry and say, ‘I think she should shut up and get on with it, she’s had a brilliant life, what is she talking about?’ People will either side with Gail or Henry and be shouting ‘Don’t you say that!’ at their telly!
‘Turning 70 was a big deal – it’s a major milestone in your life. It makes you reflect about the time you have left’
Life continues on BBC One, Tuesdays at 9pm.