Ashley Jensen
1969-
Actress and campaigner
Ashley Jensen is an Emmy nominated actress. She was nominated for an Emmy for her role on the television series Extras, on which she appeared from 2005–2007. She was also a cast member of the ABC show Ugly Betty.
Ashley was born in Annan, Scotland. She trained as an actress at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh as well as being a member of the Scottish Youth Theatre.
Ashley's first big television role was as eccentric secretary Rosie McConnichy in the final series of BBC comedy May to December. Ashley went on to star 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, Ashley 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, alongside Patrick Stewart. Later that year she played Steve Coogan's agent in the filmA Cock and Bull Story. September 2006 saw Ashley's first major role on American television when she took the role of regular character Christina McKinney on the ABC series Ugly Betty. Originally an American character, the show's producers changed the nationality of Christina McKinney as they liked Ashley’s real accent.
In January 2009, Ashley starred in No Holds Bard a BBC Scotland one-off special comedy shown on Burns Night as part of a line-up of special programming to mark the 250th Birthday of Robert Burns. 2009 also saw Ashley star in the comedy Nativity as Jennifer Lore, a Hollywood producer's secretary and the love interest of Paul Maddens played by Martin Freeman.
Ashley has supported Save the Children since 2011 with fundraising appeals, media campaigns and corporate partnerships. In 2011, she toured the slums in Delhi, India to see Save the Children-trained midwives and mobile clinics in action.
Interesting Facts
- Ashley is a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Holder.
- She is the narrator of Channel 4's Embarrassing Illnesses and Embarrassing Bodies.
- She narrates Bank of Scotland's current advertisement campaign and Persil detergent adverts for both television and radio.
To make your own nomination download the nomination form here