Loading amazing content...
Loading amazing content...
Acting
August 11, 1969
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
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.
Narrator
2024
Anna
2022
Ms Fletcher
2022
Meagaidh (voice)
2022
Agatha Raisin
2021
Self - Narrator
2021
Jock (voice)
2019
Emma
2019
Phlegma (voice)
2019
2018
as Narrator
as Anna
as Ms Fletcher
as Meagaidh (voice)
as Agatha Raisin
as Self - Narrator
as Jock (voice)
as Emma
as Phlegma (voice)
as Miss Mary (voice)
as Nanette (voice)
as Kate Dickenson
as Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)
as Downey McDuck (voice)
as Debbie Dorrell
as Narrator
as Agatha Raisin
as Narrator
as Biscuit Woman
as Detective Inspector June Robertson
as Narration
as Fran
as Agatha Raisin
as Gail
as Kate Burton
as Gina
as DI Ruth Calder
as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
as Bryony (voice)
as Fanny
as Nanette (voice)
as Sally Wilson
as Herself - Narrator
as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
as Jennifer Lore
as Olivia
as (archive footage)
as Isobel
as Self - Narrator (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Narration
as Christina McKinney
as Rachel Young
as Maggie Jacobs
as Lindsey
as Self - Host
as Mhairi Henderson
as Miss Tringham
as Morag Hood
as Kathleen
as Heather
as Claire Donnelly
as Isobel / Rena
as Eleanor
as Betting Shop Cashier
as Self
as Jess
as Stella