CineScope
Ashley Jensen picture

Ashley Jensen

Acting
Known For

55 Years Old

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.

Born

Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK on 11th August 1969

All Credits

The Graham Norton Show Image
The Graham Norton Show
Self
DuckTales Image
DuckTales
Downey McDuck (voice)
DuckTales Image
DuckTales
Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)
Silent Witness Image
Silent Witness
How to Train Your Dragon Image
How to Train Your Dragon
Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
Summer Camp Island Image
Summer Camp Island
Miss Mary (voice)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Image
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Phlegma (voice)
Shetland Image
Shetland
DI Ruth Calder
Casualty Image
Casualty
Stella
Casualty Image
Casualty
Jess
Ugly Betty Image
Ugly Betty
Christina McKinney
No Image
City Central
Extras Image
Extras
Maggie Jacobs
Accidentally on Purpose Image
Accidentally on Purpose
Olivia
After Life Image
After Life
Emma
Agatha Raisin Image
Agatha Raisin
Agatha Raisin
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention Image
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
Self - Narrator
Mayflies Image
Mayflies
Anna
Catastrophe Image
Catastrophe
Fran
Takin' Over the Asylum Image
Takin' Over the Asylum
Kathleen
Rebus Image
Rebus
Mhairi Henderson
Trust Me Image
Trust Me
Debbie Dorrell
Dog Squad Image
Dog Squad
Meagaidh (voice)
The Escape Artist Image
The Escape Artist
Kate Burton
Love, Lies & Records Image
Love, Lies & Records
Kate Dickenson
Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel Image
Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel
Self - Narrator
No Image
Bad Boys
Morag Hood
Embarrassing Bodies Image
Embarrassing Bodies
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Lobster Image
The Lobster
Biscuit Woman
Gnomeo & Juliet Image
Gnomeo & Juliet
Nanette (voice)
The Secret Life of Kittens Image
The Secret Life of Kittens
Narrator
Arthur Christmas Image
Arthur Christmas
Bryony (voice)
Lady and the Tramp Image
Lady and the Tramp
Jock (voice)
Sherlock Gnomes Image
Sherlock Gnomes
Nanette (voice)
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! Image
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
The Reckoning Image
The Reckoning
Sally Wilson
Hysteria Image
Hysteria
Fanny
This Morning Image
This Morning
Self
The Friday Night Project Image
The Friday Night Project
Self - Host
Roughnecks Image
Roughnecks
Heather
Topsy-Turvy Image
Topsy-Turvy
Miss Tringham
Eleventh Hour Image
Eleventh Hour
Rachel Young
A Cock and Bull Story Image
A Cock and Bull Story
Lindsey
Nativity! Image
Nativity!
Jennifer Lore
Small Time Image
Small Time
Gail
The Legend of Barney Thomson Image
The Legend of Barney Thomson
Detective Inspector June Robertson
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm Image
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm
Ms Fletcher
All Stars Image
All Stars
Gina
Facelifts and Fillers Image
Facelifts and Fillers
Narrator
Down Among the Big Boys Image
Down Among the Big Boys
Claire Donnelly
Dreaming Image
Dreaming
Betting Shop Cashier
Taking Liberties Image
Taking Liberties
Narration
Rikki Image
Rikki
Narrator
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death Image
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Agatha Raisin
No Image
The Art of Breaking Character
Self
No Image
Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personal
Narration
No Holds Bard Image
No Holds Bard
Isobel
Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus Image
Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus
Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye Image
Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye
Agatha Raisin
Tickets for the Zoo Image
Tickets for the Zoo
Eleanor
Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening Image
Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening
Self
Rab C. Nesbitt Live Image
Rab C. Nesbitt Live
Isobel / Rena
A Shot To The Mouth Image
A Shot To The Mouth
(archive footage)