Gavin and Stacey’s Alison Steadman hits out at ‘absolute nonsense’ of ‘young and sexy’ actresses dominating TV roles
GAVIN and Stacey star Alison Steadman has spoken out against TV favouring 'young and sexy' stars.
The iconic actress shared her feelings of dismay about older stars being cast aside once hitting a certain age.
The former Abigail's Party star spoke out about how the industry was so ageist - and how it is turning in the right direction.
The 74-year-old star told : "We all used to say if you can get past the age of 40 and still be working, you’re OK.
"So many actresses' careers at 40 just went.
"Not because they are not good or talented, but because there weren't the roles.
"It's that idea that you have to be young and sexy to get work, which is absolute nonsense.
"So it's great that roles are being written for all ages all the time now."
The star previously addressed the subject back in 2016: “It has seemed like life stopped at 35 in everything on TV or films.
"No one carried on living until 70 or 80. It’s nice that people have suddenly said. ‘Do you know what? People do have interesting lives beyond 35 and it is important to chart that.'”
The Gavin and Stacey star recently said she ‘would run back to Cardiff’ for a new special episode of the award-winning sitcom.
Speaking to the Radio Times, she said: "I don't take any notice of rumours, but there's no way I wouldn't do it.
"I'd run to Cardiff to be involved."
However Alison's co-star Rob Brydon - who plays Uncle Bryn - isn't in the same boat, having previously urged writers James Corden and Ruth Jones to leave viewers wanting more.
The Christmas Special was watched by a whopping 17.1 million, becoming the most-watched scripted show of the decade.
Meanwhile writer and star James Corden, 42, has said there are no plans for the show to return.
The actress recently fronted the first trailer for BBC’s Doctor Foster spin-off Life.
A BBC announcement on the series also teased: "Life also features Elaine Paige and Susannah Fielding in key roles."
It added: "Life follows the stories of the residents of a large house divided into four flats.
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"As each of the four stories unfold and intertwine in surprising ways, they tell a larger story about what happens when we step out of our personal space and take a closer look into other people’s lives.
"Life explores love, loss, birth, death, the ordinary, the extraordinary and everything in between."