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Ashley Jensen

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
67

Gender
Female

Birthday
August 11, 1969 (56 years old)

Place of Birth
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK

Ashley Jensen

Biography

Ashley Jensen (born August 11, 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

2025Man vs Babyas Janet
2025City Lights: Pure Dead Brilliantas Self - Narrator
2024Rikkias Narrator
2022Mayfliesas Anna
2022Christmas on Mistletoe Farmas Ms Fletcher
2022Dog Squadas Meagaidh (voice)
2021Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbyeas Agatha Raisin
2021Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotelas Self - Narrator
2019Lady and the Trampas Jock (voice)
2019After Lifeas Emma
2019How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Worldas Phlegma (voice)
2018Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Clausas
2018Summer Camp Islandas Miss Mary (voice)
2018Sherlock Gnomesas Nanette (voice)
2017Love, Lies & Recordsas Kate Dickenson
2017DuckTalesas Downey McDuck (voice)
2017DuckTalesas Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)
2017Trust Meas Debbie Dorrell
2016The Secret Life of Kittensas Narrator
2016Agatha Raisinas Agatha Raisin
2016Facelifts and Fillersas Narrator
2015The Lobsteras Biscuit Woman
2015The Legend of Barney Thomsonas Detective Inspector June Robertson
2015Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personalas Narration
2015Catastropheas Fran
2014Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Deathas Agatha Raisin
2014Small Timeas Gail
2013The Escape Artistas Kate Burton
2013All Starsas Gina
2013Shetlandas DI Ruth Calder
2012The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
2011Arthur Christmasas Bryony (voice)
2011Hysteriaas Fanny
2011Gnomeo & Julietas Nanette (voice)
2011The Reckoningas Sally Wilson
2010Wallace & Gromit's World of Inventionas Self - Narrator
2010How to Train Your Dragonas Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
2009Nativity!as Jennifer Lore
2009Accidentally on Purposeas Olivia
2009A Shot To The Mouthas (archive footage)
2009No Holds Bardas Isobel
2008Free Radioas Self
2007Embarrassing Bodiesas Self - Narrator (voice)
2007Taping Nigel II: The Gimpeningas Self
2007The Art of Breaking Characteras Self
2007The Graham Norton Showas Self
2007Taking Libertiesas Narration
2006Ugly Bettyas Christina McKinney
2006Eleventh Houras Rachel Young
2005Extrasas Maggie Jacobs
2005A Cock and Bull Storyas Lindsey
2005The Friday Night Projectas Self - Host
2000Rebusas Mhairi Henderson
1999Topsy-Turvyas Miss Tringham
1998City Centralas
1996Bad Boysas Morag Hood
1996Silent Witnessas
1995Waitingas Amanda Cookson
1994Takin' Over the Asylumas Kathleen
1994Roughnecksas Heather
1993Down Among the Big Boysas Claire Donnelly
1992Rab C. Nesbitt Liveas Isobel / Rena
1991Tickets for the Zooas Eleanor
1991Dreamingas Betting Shop Cashier
1988This Morningas Self
1986Casualtyas Jess
1986Casualtyas Stella

Production