
Ashley Jensen
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1969-08-11 (55 years old)
Place of Birth
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
Ashley Jensen
Biography
Ashley Jensen (born August 10, 1969) is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her roles as Maggie Jacobs in Extras (2005–2007, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award), Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty (2006–2010), Agatha Raisin in Agatha Raisin (2014–present), and DI Ruth Calder in Shetland (2023–present). Jensen trained in Drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University.
Her first significant television role was as Clare Donnelly, daughter of Glasgow criminal Jo-Jo Donnelly (played by Billy Connolly) in the 1993 BBC drama Down Among the Big Boys. In 1994, she played eccentric secretary Rosie McConnichy in the final series of BBC comedy May to December, as a replacement for the character of secretary Hilary (Rebecca Lacey), and Heather in Roughnecks, a BBC television series about workers on a North Sea oil platform. Jensen had a small role in a Dangerfield episode "Contact" as the mother of a young girl with meningitis. She then appeared as Fiona Morris in EastEnders. She also appeared in the 2003 BBC drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky.
Jensen co-starred alongside Ricky Gervais in the BBC Two/HBO television programme Extras as the socially inept Maggie Jacobs. For her work on the first series, she received best television comedy actress and newcomer awards at the 2005 British Comedy Awards. In 2006, Jensen received two British Comedy Awards and a BAFTA nomination for her role in Extras. Her role in the 2007 Christmas Special earned her an Emmy Award nomination. In January 2006 she starred in the short-lived drama series Eleventh Hour on ITV. Later that year she played Steve Coogan's agent in A Cock and Bull Story. In 2007, she provided the narration for the film Taking Liberties.
In 2014, she played the eponymous lead character in the television film adaptation of the M. C. Beaton novel Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death for Sky1. She also starred in the eight-part series that first aired on Sky1 on 7 June 2016.
In 2017, she starred in a six-part TV series for BBC TV, Love, Lies & Records, depicting the gritty life and entwined storylines working in Leeds Registry Office. In March 2019, Jensen reunited with Gervais in the Netflix black comedy series After Life, a role she continued for all three series. In April 2019 she played Debbie Dorell in the second series of BBC TV drama Trust Me. When an injured soldier discovers patients in his hospital ward dying, he attempts to investigate the suspicious deaths. Also in 2019, she played the voice of Jacqueline in Lady and the Tramp.
Known For
Acting
The Inspiration of Alfie Swincross
as Lola Sinclair
(2024)
Rikki
as Narrator
(2022)
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm
as Ms Fletcher
(2021)
Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye
as Agatha Raisin
(2019)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
as Phlegma (voice)
(2019)
Lady and the Tramp
as Jock (voice)
(2018)
Sherlock Gnomes
as Nanette (voice)
(2018)
(2016)
Facelifts and Fillers
as Narrator
(2015)
The Lobster
as Biscuit Woman
(2015)
The Legend of Barney Thomson
as Detective Inspector June Robertson
(2015)
Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personal
as Narration
(2014)
Small Time
as Gail
(2014)
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
as Agatha Raisin
(2013)
All Stars
as Gina
(2012)
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
(2011)
Gnomeo & Juliet
as Nanette (voice)
(2011)
Arthur Christmas
as Bryony (voice)
(2011)
Hysteria
as Fanny
(2010)
How to Train Your Dragon
as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
(2009)
Nativity!
as Jennifer Lore
(2009)
No Holds Bard
as Isobel
(2009)
A Shot To The Mouth
as (archive footage)
(2007)
(2007)
Taking Liberties
as Narration
(2007)
(2005)
A Cock and Bull Story
as Lindsey
(1999)
Topsy-Turvy
as Miss Tringham
(1993)
Down Among the Big Boys
as Claire Donnelly
(1992)
Rab C. Nesbitt Live
as Isobel / Rena
(1991)
(1991)
Tickets for the Zoo
as Eleanor