Ashley Jensen Biography: Ashley Jensen born 11 August 1969 is a Scottish actress, widely recognized for her roles as Maggie Jacobs in Extras (2005–2007), for which she earned an Emmy Award nomination, Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty (2006–2010), Agatha Raisin in Agatha Raisin (2014–present), and DI Ruth Calder in Shetland (2023–present).
Ashley Jensen Biography 2024
Jensen gained widespread recognition for her role as the socially awkward Maggie Jacobs in the BBC Two/HBO series Extras, alongside Ricky Gervais. Her performance in the first season earned her both Best Television Comedy Actress and Best Newcomer awards at the 2005 British Comedy Awards. She also received two British Comedy Awards in 2006 and a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Maggie.
Additionally, her role in the Extras 2007 Christmas Special earned her an Emmy Award nomination. In early 2006, Jensen starred in the short-lived ITV drama Eleventh Hour alongside Patrick Stewart. Later that year, she appeared in A Cock and Bull Story, playing Steve Coogan’s agent, and provided narration for the documentary Taking Liberties directed by Chris Atkins.
Ashley Jensen Biography 2024 Details
| Born | 11 August 1969 (age 55) Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland |
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| Occupation(s) | Actress and narrator |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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| Spouses | |
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| Children | 1 |
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| Category | Singers Bio |
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About Ashley Jensen
Ashley Jensen is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her roles as Maggie Jacobs in Extras, Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty, Agatha Raisin in Agatha Raisin, and DI Ruth Calder in Shetland.
- Born: 11 August 1969 (age 55 years), Annan, United Kingdom
- Spouse: Kenny Doughty (m. 2023), Terence Beesley (m. 2007–2017)
- Height: 1.6 m
- Parents: Ivar Jensen, Margaret Jensen
Early Life
Ashley Jensen was born in Annan, Scotland, to parents Margaret and Ivar Jensen. Raised by her mother, who was a special educational needs teacher, Ashley developed a passion for the arts at an early age. She trained at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and was an active member of the National Youth Theatre, where she honed her acting skills.
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Career
Jensen trained in drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University. Her breakthrough television role came in 1993, when she portrayed Clare Donnelly, the daughter of Glasgow criminal Jo-Jo Donnelly (played by Billy Connolly), in the BBC drama Down Among the Big Boys. In 1994, she appeared as the quirky secretary Rosie McConnichy in the final season of the BBC comedy May to December, replacing the character of Hilary (played by Rebecca Lacey). She also had roles in Roughnecks, a series about workers on a North Sea oil platform, and in the Dangerfield episode “Contact” as the mother of a young girl with meningitis. Additionally, Jensen appeared as Fiona Morris in EastEnders and in the 2003 BBC drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky.
Ashley Jensen Net Worth
Ashley Jensen, a Scottish actress, has a net worth of approximately $2 million. She is best known for her roles in popular television series such as Extras, Ugly Betty, Agatha Raisin, and Shetland. Jensen has also appeared in various other TV shows, including Roughnecks, EastEnders, Accidentally on Purpose, and After Life. Her film credits include Topsy-Turvy, The Legend of Barney Thomson, and voice roles in animated movies like How to Train Your Dragon and Arthur Christmas.
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Education
Ashley Jensen was born on August 11, 1969, in Annan, Scotland. She studied drama at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and was involved in the National Youth Theatre.
Television Career
Jensen began her TV career with a 1990 appearance in the Scottish sitcom City Lights. She went on to appear in several other British TV shows, including Rab C. Nesbitt, Screen One, May to December, Roughnecks, and EastEnders, among others. In 2005, she gained widespread recognition for her role as the socially awkward Maggie Jacobs in the Ricky Gervais comedy Extras, which ran until 2007. Her performance earned her Emmy and BAFTA nominations.
In 2006, Jensen starred opposite Patrick Stewart in the ITV drama Eleventh Hour and joined the cast of the American series Ugly Betty as Christina McKinney. She remained a regular on the show for its first three seasons and appeared in the final season in 2010. Jensen also narrated the British medical series Embarrassing Bodies from 2007 to 2015 and starred in the short-lived American sitcom Accidentally on Purpose in 2009.
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Film Career
Jensen made her film debut in Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy (1999). She returned to film in 2005, playing Lindsey in A Cock and Bull Story by Michael Winterbottom. She later appeared in Nativity! (2009) and lent her voice to animated films like How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and Arthur Christmas (2011). Her role in Arthur Christmas earned her an Annie Award nomination. Jensen continued voice acting in films like The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) and appeared in the dance film All Stars (2013) and the comedy Small Time (2014). She also had a role in The Lobster (2015) and appeared in The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015). More recently, Jensen voiced Jock the Scottish Terrier in Disney’s 2019 remake of Lady and the Tramp and starred in the 2022 Netflix film Christmas on Mistletoe Farm.
Personal Life
In 2007, Jensen married actor Terence Beesley, and the couple had a son named Frankie. Tragically, Beesley passed away in late 2017. In 2023, Jensen remarried English actor and director Kenny Doughty.
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Ashley Jensen’s Husband and Relationship History
Ashley Jensen was married to actor Terence Beesley, whom she met in 1999 while working on a theater production of King Lear. The couple tied the knot in 2007 and had one son together, Francis Jonathan Beesley. Tragically, Terence Beesley passed away in November 2017 at the age of 60, dying by suicide at his family home in Somerset. Jensen remarried English actor and director Kenny Doughty. The couple’s relationship marks a new chapter in Jensen’s personal life after the difficult loss of her first husband.
