---
name: "Ashley Jensen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ashley-jensen"
fi1m_id: "ashley-jensen"
imdb_id: "nm0421332"
tmdb_id: 55398
wikidata_id: "Q237843"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 August 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T16:26:46.928287+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ashley Jensen

## Identity

Ashley Jensen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ashley-jensen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ashley-jensen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0421332
- **TMDB ID:** 55398
- **Wikidata ID:** Q237843
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Jensen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237843, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0421332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55398

Actor. Born 11 August 1969 in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 August 1969, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK
- **Active:** 1999–2019
- **Also known as:** Ashley Jenson, 阿什利·詹森
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 10 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [James McAvoy](https://film.one/person/james-mcavoy.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 76 (3), 2010s 76 (7)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 75 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Animation 4, Drama 4, Family 4, Adventure 2, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,400m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Jensen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237843, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0421332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55398

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Catastrophe*](https://film.one/tv/catastrophe-2015.md) (86)
- **BritBox:** [*Extras*](https://film.one/tv/extras.md) (81)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Lobster*](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Shetland*](https://film.one/tv/shetland.md) (62)
- **Disney+:** [*Gnomeo & Juliet*](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md) (61)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ashley Jensen

> Ashley Jensen makes awkwardness funny without treating the awkward person as disposable. We rate her most highly when a comedy gives her disappointment time to register, as *Extras* does with its long wait for work.

In *Extras* (2005), Maggie Jacobs keeps turning up for acting work while wondering whether she is wasting her life. Ashley Jensen gives that worry enough weight to make the next stretch of waiting difficult to laugh off. She is funny, but she also makes continued effort seem costly, without making Maggie noble for enduring it. We were saddened by how familiar she made that fear of getting nowhere feel. The performance gives us a reason to care about someone whom a harsher comedy might have left as the joke.

That breakthrough followed Scottish theatre and small British television parts, and led to Christina McKinney in *Ugly Betty* (2006). The character’s nationality was rewritten to accommodate Jensen’s Scottish accent, a useful indication that the voice was worth keeping. Later came detective leads: the title role in *Agatha Raisin* (2014), then DI Ruth Calder in *Shetland* (from 2023). These parts move her from the ensemble towards the centre of a programme. For us, though, *Extras* remains the clearest reason to seek her out.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant give Maggie’s uncertainty a little space, and Jensen uses it without announcing that the comedy has become serious. Her work makes the programme’s repeated embarrassments harder to dismiss as a succession of mishaps. It matters that the people being humiliated have already spent so much time being overlooked. The celebrity sketches can feel slight, and the series is not always as attentive to disappointment as it is when Maggie is present. Jensen cannot make every sketch substantial, but her scenes give us something to remember besides who appeared and what went wrong.

We would start with *Extras*, with a little space between episodes if the repeated humiliations begin to wear. It is a strong introduction to Jensen because she has enough to do beyond getting the next laugh, and enough time for us to notice. Anyone giving her another guileless character should also give that character something to lose.

## Biography

Ashley Jensen is a Scottish actress and narrator. She trained in drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University after joining the National Youth Theatre.

Jensen is best known for playing Maggie Jacobs in the BBC/HBO series *Extras* (2005–2007). For the role she received British Comedy Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Television Comedy Actress in 2005, further British Comedy Awards and a BAFTA nomination in 2006, and an Emmy Award nomination in 2008. Other notable television roles include Christina McKinney in *Ugly Betty* (2006–2010), the title character in *Agatha Raisin* (2014–2022) and DI Ruth Calder in *Shetland* (2023–present). She has also provided voices for several animated films including *How to Train Your Dragon* (2010) and *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (11)

### Performed in (10) — the average rests on these

- *How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World* (2019), Fi1m 78, as Phlegma (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world.md)
- *Catastrophe* (2015), Fi1m 86, as Fran — [page](https://film.one/tv/catastrophe-2015.md)
- *The Lobster* (2015), Fi1m 78, as Biscuit Woman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md)
- *Shetland* (2013), Fi1m 62, as DI Ruth Calder — [page](https://film.one/tv/shetland.md)
- *Arthur Christmas* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Bryony (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas.md)
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), Fi1m 61, as Nanette (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *How to Train Your Dragon* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/how-to-train-your-dragon-2010.md)
- *Taking Liberties* (2007), Fi1m 66, as Narration — [page](https://film.one/film/taking-liberties.md)
- *Extras* (2005), Fi1m 81, as Maggie Jacobs — [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), Fi1m 88, as Miss Tringham — [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *The Graham Norton Show* (2007), Fi1m 82, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-graham-norton-show.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Repair Shop: Beyond The Barn* (2026), series, as Narrator
- *Man vs Baby* (2025), series, as Janet
- *Rikki* (2024), as Narrator
- *Mayflies* (2022), series, as Anna
- *Christmas on Mistletoe Farm* (2022), as Ms Fletcher
- *Dog Squad* (2022), series, as Meagaidh (voice)
- *Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye* (2021), as Agatha Raisin
- *Lady and the Tramp* (2019), as Jock (voice)
- *After Life* (2019), series, as Emma
- *How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World* (2019), as Phlegma (voice) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world.md)
- *Aliens Love Underpants and...Panta Claus* (2018), Actor
- *Summer Camp Island* (2018), series, as Miss Mary (voice)
- *Sherlock Gnomes* (2018), as Nanette (voice)
- *Love, Lies & Records* (2017), series, as Kate Dickenson
- *DuckTales* (2017), series, as Downy McDuck / Agnes McDuck / Danny McDuck (voice), Downey McDuck (voice)
- *Trust Me* (2017), series, as Debbie Dorrell
- *The Secret Life of Kittens* (2016), series, as Narrator
- *Agatha Raisin* (2016), series, as Agatha Raisin
- *Facelifts and Fillers* (2016), as Narrator
- *The Lobster* (2015), as Biscuit Woman — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md)
- *The Legend of Barney Thomson* (2015), as Detective Inspector June Robertson
- *Insane Fight Club II - This Time It’s Personal* (2015), as Narration
- *Catastrophe* (2015), series, as Fran — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/catastrophe-2015.md)
- *Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death* (2014), as Agatha Raisin
- *Small Time* (2014), as Gail
- *The Escape Artist* (2013), series, as Kate Burton
- *Love and Marriage* (2013), series, as Sarah Paradise
- *All Stars* (2013), as Gina
- *Shetland* (2013), series, as DI Ruth Calder — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/tv/shetland.md)
- *The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!* (2012), as The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (voice)
- *Arthur Christmas* (2011), as Bryony (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas.md)
- *Hysteria* (2011), as Fanny
- *Gnomeo & Juliet* (2011), as Nanette (voice) — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/gnomeo-and-juliet.md)
- *The Reckoning* (2011), series, as Sally Wilson
- *How to Train Your Dragon* (2010), as Phlegma the Fierce (Voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/how-to-train-your-dragon-2010.md)
- *Nativity!* (2009), as Jennifer Lore
- *Accidentally on Purpose* (2009), series, as Olivia
- *A Shot To The Mouth* (2009), as (archive footage)
- *No Holds Bard* (2009), as Isobel
- *Taking Liberties* (2007), as Narration — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/taking-liberties.md)
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, as Christina McKinney
- *Eleventh Hour* (2006), series, as Rachel Young
- *Extras* (2005), series, as Maggie Jacobs — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *A Cock and Bull Story* (2005), as Lindsey
- *Rebus* (2000), series, as Mhairi Henderson
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), as Miss Tringham — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)
- *City Central* (1998), series, Actor
- *Bad Boys* (1996), series, as Morag Hood
- *Silent Witness* (1996), series, Actor
- *Waiting* (1995), as Amanda Cookson
- *Takin' Over the Asylum* (1994), series, as Kathleen
- *Roughnecks* (1994), series, as Heather
- *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
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Jess, Stella — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)

## Gallery

- ![Ashley Jensen and Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton) at Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival 2018](https://film.one/media/person/101887/gallery-7de6bee12072.jpg) Ashley Jensen and Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton) at Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival 2018 — TimDuncan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/AshleyJensen%26MCBeaton_2018-09-22.jpg/1280px-AshleyJensen%26MCBeaton_2018-09-22.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Scottish actress Ashley Jensen at the 60th Annual Emmy Awards, Nokia Theater, Sept. 21, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/101887/gallery-e71a21bb24cb.jpg) Scottish actress Ashley Jensen at the 60th Annual Emmy Awards, Nokia Theater, Sept. 21, 2008 — watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Ashley_Jensen.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ashley Jensen](https://film.one/media/person/101887/gallery-cb0cc38d1d4d.jpg) Ashley Jensen — Dominick D, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Ashley_Jensen_June_2016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ashley Jensen](https://film.one/media/person/101887/gallery-5ac488120da3.jpg) Ashley Jensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Ashley Jensen](https://film.one/media/person/101887/gallery-598fa279d0f6.jpg) Ashley Jensen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 2 won

- Rose d'Or 2006: Rose d'Or (won)
- British Comedy Awards 2005: British Comedy Awards (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ashley-jensen