Ashley Jensen

Infobox actor

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imagesize =
imagecaption=Ashley Jensen at the 2008 Emmy Awards
name = Ashley Jensen
birthname = Ashley Samantha Jensen
birthdate = Birth date and age|1969|8|11|df=y
birthplace = Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
spouse = Terry Beesley (2007-present)

Ashley Samantha Jensen (born 11 August 1969) is an Emmy Award-nominated Scottish actress, best known for her roles in "Extras" and "Ugly Betty".

Television

Jensen trained at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Her first big television role was as eccentric secretary Rosie McConnichy in the final series of BBC comedy "May to December", as a replacement for the hugely popular character of secretary Hilary. In 1996 she played Clare Donnelly, the daughter of Glasgow criminal Jo-Jo Donnelly (played by Billy Connolly) in the BBC drama "Down Among the Big Boys". She then appeared as Fiona Morris in the BBC One soap opera "EastEnders".

Jensen 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 ITV1, alongside Patrick Stewart. Stewart had also appeared in an episode of "Extras", in which he attempted to get Jensen's character Maggie to appear in his new pet project. Later that year she played Steve Coogan's agent in "A Cock and Bull Story".

In September 2006 Jensen appeared as Christina McKinney in the ABC comedy "Ugly Betty". Christina not only works in the "closet" of New York fashion magazine "Mode", but is also Betty's only true ally. Her character in "Ugly Betty" was originally an American. When she met with the show's producers they decided to change the nationality of the character because they liked Jensen's accent.

Jensen is the narrator of Channel 4's "Embarrassing Illnesses" and "Embarrassing Bodies".

Film

Jensen has appeared in a number of films. In 2007, she provided the narration for the UK film "Taking Liberties", directed by Chris Atkins (Revolver Films). She also appeared in "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" in 2006.

Jensen is set to star in BBC comedy "Nativity" as Jennifer Lore, a Hollywood producer. "Nativity" is set for release Christmas 2008 and begins filming in September of the same year.

Personal life

Ashley Samantha Jensen was born to Margaret and Ivar Jensen and raised single-handedly by her mother, a special-needs teacher living in Annan, Scotland. She has no contact with her father and is very private about the matter. It was revealed in June 2008 that Jensen allegedly has a half-sister, Gillian, that she has never met. However, this report does not come from a reliable source and has not been confirmed by Jensen herself. [Bale, Karen (2008). " [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/06/14/exclusive-ugly-betty-star-ashley-jensen-has-secret-sister-reveals-dad-86908-20606409/ Exclusive: Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen has secret sister, reveals dad] ", 2008-06-14, Daily Record. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.] Jensen married English actor Terence Beesley, with whom she had been in a relationship for six years, in a ceremony in the woods of Big Sur, California on Monday 29 January 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6312795.stm Private wedding for Extras star] ] They met in 1999 while working on a stage production of "King Lear". The couple live with their dog Barney in Los Angeles, and have a flat in Holland Park, West London. [ [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17108778%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=ashley%2ds%2dextra%2dspecial%2dlove-name_page.html Ashley's Extra Special Love] ] The couple also own property in Umbria, Italy.

External links

*imdb|0421332
* [http://cursedhyphen.last-dance.org/effortlessly/ Effortlessly Ashley Jensen (fansite)]

Persondata
NAME = Jensen, Ashley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Ash Jensen
SHORT DESCRIPTION = actress
DATE OF BIRTH = August 11, 1969
PLACE OF BIRTH = Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =