Ashley Jensen

Ashley Jensen

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.

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Known For

Filmography

2024

Rikki
Rikki
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 12/31/2024

2022

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm
Christmas on Mistletoe Farm
as Ms Fletcher
Movie - Released: 11/23/2022
Mayflies
Mayflies
as Anna
TV - Released: 12/28/2022
Dog Squad
Dog Squad
as Meagaidh (voice)
TV - Released: 11/7/2022

2021

Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye
Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye
as Agatha Raisin
Movie - Released: 12/21/2021
Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel
Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel
as Self - Narrator
TV - Released: 5/21/2021

2019

Lady and the Tramp
Lady and the Tramp
as Jock (voice)
Movie - Released: 11/12/2019
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
as Phlegma (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/3/2019
After Life
After Life
as Emma
TV - Released: 3/8/2019

2018

Sherlock Gnomes
Sherlock Gnomes
as Nanette (voice)
Movie - Released: 3/15/2018
Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus
Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus
Movie - Released: 12/1/2018
Summer Camp Island
Summer Camp Island
as Miss Mary (voice)
TV - Released: 7/7/2018

2017

DuckTales
DuckTales
as Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)
TV - Released: 8/12/2017
Love, Lies & Records
Love, Lies & Records
as Kate Dickenson
TV - Released: 11/16/2017
DuckTales
DuckTales
as Downey McDuck (voice)
TV - Released: 8/12/2017
Trust Me
Trust Me
as Debbie Dorrell
TV - Released: 8/8/2017

2016

Facelifts and Fillers
Facelifts and Fillers
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 2/17/2016
The Secret Life of Kittens
The Secret Life of Kittens
as Narrator
TV - Released: 6/13/2016
Agatha Raisin
Agatha Raisin
as Agatha Raisin
TV - Released: 6/7/2016

2015

The Legend of Barney Thomson
The Legend of Barney Thomson
as Detective Inspector June Robertson
Movie - Released: 7/24/2015
Movie
Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personal
as Narration
Movie - Released: 1/21/2015
The Lobster
The Lobster
as Biscuit Woman
Movie - Released: 10/15/2015
Catastrophe
Catastrophe
as Fran
TV - Released: 1/19/2015

2014

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
as Agatha Raisin
Movie - Released: 12/26/2014
Small Time
Small Time
as Gail
Movie - Released: 4/18/2014

2013

All Stars
All Stars
as Gina
Movie - Released: 5/1/2013
The Escape Artist
The Escape Artist
as Kate Burton
TV - Released: 10/29/2013
Shetland
Shetland
as DI Ruth Calder
TV - Released: 3/10/2013

2012

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
Movie - Released: 3/12/2012

2011

Gnomeo & Juliet
Gnomeo & Juliet
as Nanette (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/13/2011
Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas
as Bryony (voice)
Movie - Released: 11/10/2011
Hysteria
Hysteria
as Fanny
Movie - Released: 6/6/2011
The Reckoning
The Reckoning
as Sally Wilson
TV - Released: 1/6/2011

2010

How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon
as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
Movie - Released: 3/18/2010
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
as Herself - Narrator
TV - Released: 11/3/2010

2009

Nativity!
Nativity!
as Jennifer Lore
Movie - Released: 11/27/2009
A Shot To The Mouth
A Shot To The Mouth
as (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 3/19/2009
No Holds Bard
No Holds Bard
as Isobel
Movie - Released: 1/25/2009
Accidentally on Purpose
Accidentally on Purpose
as Olivia
TV - Released: 9/21/2009

2007

Taking Liberties
Taking Liberties
as Narration
Movie - Released: 1/1/2007
Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening
Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/26/2007
Movie
The Art of Breaking Character
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/26/2007
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
TV - Released: 2/22/2007
Embarrassing Bodies
Embarrassing Bodies
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 5/17/2007

2006

Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
as Christina McKinney
TV - Released: 9/28/2006
Eleventh Hour
Eleventh Hour
as Rachel Young
TV - Released: 1/19/2006

2005

A Cock and Bull Story
A Cock and Bull Story
as Lindsey
Movie - Released: 7/17/2005
Extras
Extras
as Maggie Jacobs
TV - Released: 7/21/2005
The Friday Night Project
The Friday Night Project
as Self - Host
TV - Released: 2/4/2005

2000

Rebus
Rebus
as Mhairi Henderson
TV - Released: 4/26/2000

1999

Topsy-Turvy
Topsy-Turvy
as Miss Tringham
Movie - Released: 12/15/1999

1998

TV
City Central
TV - Released: 4/4/1998

1996

Silent Witness
Silent Witness
TV - Released: 2/21/1996
TV
Bad Boys
as Morag Hood
TV - Released: 5/29/1996

1994

Roughnecks
Roughnecks
as Heather
TV - Released: 6/16/1994
Takin' Over the Asylum
Takin' Over the Asylum
as Kathleen
TV - Released: 9/27/1994

1993

Down Among the Big Boys
Down Among the Big Boys
as Claire Donnelly
Movie - Released: 9/19/1993

1992

Rab C. Nesbitt Live
Rab C. Nesbitt Live
as Isobel / Rena
Movie - Released: 11/2/1992

1991

Tickets for the Zoo
Tickets for the Zoo
as Eleanor
Movie - Released: 8/27/1991
Dreaming
Dreaming
as Betting Shop Cashier
Movie - Released: 3/24/1991

1988

This Morning
This Morning
as Self
TV - Released: 10/3/1988

1986

Casualty
Casualty
as Jess
TV - Released: 9/6/1986
Casualty
Casualty
as Stella
TV - Released: 9/6/1986