Ashley Jensen
Biography
Ashley Jensen is a Scottish actress born on August 11, 1969, in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. She trained in drama at Edinburgh Queen Margaret University. Her notable television roles include Maggie Jacobs in the series Extras, Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty, Agatha Raisin in Agatha Raisin, and DI Ruth Calder in Shetland. Her first significant television role was as Clare Donnelly, the 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 the BBC comedy May to December. She has amassed numerous acting credits throughout her career.
Career overview
Ashley Jensen is a Scottish actress born on August 11, 1969, in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. She trained in drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University and has accumulated sixty-six known acting credits throughout her career.
Her first significant television role came in 1993 when she played Clare Donnelly, the daughter of Glasgow criminal Jo-Jo Donnelly, in the BBC drama Down Among the Big Boys. In 1994, she appeared as eccentric secretary Rosie McConnichy in the final series of the BBC comedy May to December.
Jensen is best known for several major television roles. She played Maggie Jacobs in Extras from 2005 to 2007, earning an Emmy Award nomination for her performance. From 2006 to 2010, she portrayed Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty. She later took on the title role of Agatha Raisin in the series Agatha Raisin, beginning in 2014, and began starring as DI Ruth Calder in Shetland in 2023.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- What has the BBC ever done for me? (2026) as DI Ruth Calder
- Man vs Baby (2025) as Janet
- City Lights: Pure Dead Brilliant (2025) as Self - Narrator
- Rikki (2024) as Narrator
- Dog Squad (2022) as Meagaidh (voice)
- Mayflies (2022) as Anna
- Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (2022) as Ms Fletcher
- Inside the Balmoral: Scotland's Finest Hotel (2021) as Self - Narrator
- Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye (2021) as Agatha Raisin
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) as Phlegma (voice)
- After Life (2019) as Emma
- Lady and the Tramp (2019) as Jock (voice)
- Summer Camp Island (2018) as Miss Mary (voice)
- Sherlock Gnomes (2018) as Nanette (voice)
- Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus (2018)
- DuckTales (2017) as Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice)
- DuckTales (2017) as Downey McDuck (voice)
- Trust Me (2017) as Debbie Dorrell
- Love, Lies & Records (2017) as Kate Dickenson
- Agatha Raisin (2016) as Agatha Raisin
- Facelifts and Fillers (2016) as Narrator
- The Secret Life of Kittens (2016) as Narrator
- The Lobster (2015) as Biscuit Woman
- Catastrophe (2015) as Fran
- The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015) as Detective Inspector June Robertson
- Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personal (2015) as Narration
- Small Time (2014) as Gail
- Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (2014) as Agatha Raisin
- Shetland (2013) as DI Ruth Calder
- All Stars (2013) as Gina
- The Escape Artist (2013) as Kate Burton
- The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012) as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
- Arthur Christmas (2011) as Bryony (voice)
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) as Nanette (voice)
- Hysteria (2011) as Fanny
- The Reckoning (2011) as Sally Wilson
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010) as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice)
- Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention (2010) as Self - Narrator
- Accidentally on Purpose (2009) as Olivia
- Nativity! (2009) as Jennifer Lore
- No Holds Bard (2009) as Isobel
- A Shot To The Mouth (2009) as (archive footage)
- Free Radio (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Embarrassing Bodies (2007) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Art of Breaking Character (2007) as Self
- Taping Nigel II: The Gimpening (2007) as Self
- Taking Liberties (2007) as Narration
- Ugly Betty (2006) as Christina McKinney
- Eleventh Hour (2006) as Rachel Young
- Extras (2005) as Maggie Jacobs
- A Cock and Bull Story (2005) as Lindsey
- The Friday Night Project (2005) as Self - Host
- Rebus (2000) as Mhairi Henderson
- Topsy-Turvy (1999) as Miss Tringham
- City Central (1998)
- Silent Witness (1996)
- Bad Boys (1996) as Morag Hood
- Waiting (1995) as Amanda Cookson
- Roughnecks (1994) as Heather
- Takin' Over the Asylum (1994) as Kathleen
- Down Among the Big Boys (1993) as Claire Donnelly
- Rab C. Nesbitt Live (1992) as Isobel / Rena
- Tickets for the Zoo (1991) as Eleanor
- Dreaming (1991) as Betting Shop Cashier
- This Morning (1988) as Self
- Casualty (1986) as Jess
- Casualty (1986) as Stella