Menu
Ashley Jensen

Ashley Jensen

Known For Acting
Birthday Aug 11, 1969 (56)
Birthplace Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
Popularity 2 (history)
Updated Sep 10, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Ashley Jensen (born August 11, 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 Shetla ... nd (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.

Known For

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Filmography

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm

2022

as Ms Fletcher

Lady and the Tramp

Lady and the Tramp

2019

as Jock (voice)

Sherlock Gnomes

Sherlock Gnomes

2018

as Nanette (voice)

The Legend of Barney Thomson

The Legend of Barney Thomson

2015

as Detective Inspector June Robertson

The Lobster

The Lobster

2015

as Biscuit Woman

Small Time

Small Time

2014

as Gail

All Stars

All Stars

2013

as Gina

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

2012

as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)

Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas

2011

as Bryony (voice)

Hysteria

Hysteria

2011

as Fanny

Gnomeo & Juliet

Gnomeo & Juliet

2011

as Nanette (voice)

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon

2010

as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)

Nativity!

Nativity!

2009

as Jennifer Lore

No Holds Bard

No Holds Bard

2009

as Isobel

Taking Liberties

Taking Liberties

2007

as Narration

A Cock and Bull Story

A Cock and Bull Story

2005

as Lindsey

Topsy-Turvy

Topsy-Turvy

1999

as Miss Tringham

Rab C. Nesbitt Live

Rab C. Nesbitt Live

1992

as Isobel / Rena

Tickets for the Zoo

Tickets for the Zoo

1991

as Eleanor

No data available

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Ugly Betty

as Christina McKinney

Episodes: 25

First Aired: Sep 28, 2006

Agatha Raisin

as Agatha Raisin

Episodes: 25

First Aired: Jun 07, 2016

Catastrophe

as Fran

Episodes: 24

First Aired: Jan 19, 2015

Accidentally on Purpose

as Olivia

Episodes: 18

First Aired: Sep 21, 2009

After Life

as Emma

Episodes: 18

First Aired: Mar 08, 2019

Dog Squad

as Meagaidh (voice)

Episodes: 15

First Aired: Nov 07, 2022

Roughnecks

as Heather

Episodes: 13

First Aired: Jun 16, 1994

Extras

as Maggie Jacobs

Episodes: 12

First Aired: Jul 21, 2005

Shetland

as DI Ruth Calder

Episodes: 12

First Aired: Mar 10, 2013

Bad Boys

as Morag Hood

Episodes: 6

First Aired: May 29, 1996

Takin' Over the Asylum

as Kathleen

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Sep 27, 1994

Love, Lies & Records

as Kate Dickenson

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Nov 16, 2017

Eleventh Hour

as Rachel Young

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Jan 19, 2006

Trust Me

as Debbie Dorrell

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Aug 08, 2017

The Escape Artist

as Kate Burton

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Oct 29, 2013

Summer Camp Island

as Miss Mary (voice)

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jul 07, 2018

The Secret Life of Kittens

as Narrator

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jun 13, 2016

The Reckoning

as Sally Wilson

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 06, 2011

Casualty

as Stella

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 06, 1986

Mayflies

as Anna

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Dec 28, 2022

DuckTales

as Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 12, 2017

Rebus

as Mhairi Henderson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 26, 2000

Casualty

as Jess

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 06, 1986

DuckTales

as Downey McDuck (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 12, 2017

Embarrassing Bodies

as Self - Narrator (voice)

Episodes: 93

First Aired: May 17, 2007

City Central

Episodes: 32

First Aired: Apr 04, 1998

Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention

as Herself - Narrator

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Nov 03, 2010

Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel

as Self - Narrator

Episodes: 4

First Aired: May 21, 2021

The Graham Norton Show

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Feb 22, 2007

Silent Witness

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 21, 1996

This Morning

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1988

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 15 26 9
2024 7 24 39 11
2024 8 19 31 6
2024 9 17 25 5
2024 10 9 19 5
2024 11 10 17 4
2024 12 14 23 9
2025 1 17 36 9
2025 2 7 14 1
2025 3 5 10 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 1 0
2025 8 3 13 0
2025 9 0 1 0
2025 10 1 2 1

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2025 9 786 631

Return to Top