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Jennifer Saunders

Jennifer Saunders

Acting1958Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Biography

Jennifer Jane Saunders (born 6 July 1958) is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.

She first came into widespread attention in the 1980s and early 1990s when she became a member of The Comic Strip after graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama. Along with her comedy partner Dawn French, she writes and stars in their eponymous sketch show, French & Saunders, and has received international acclaim for writing and playing the lead role of Edina Monsoon in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

In her other work, she has guest starred in the American sitcoms Roseanne and Friends, and won the American People's Choice Award for voicing the wicked Fairy Godmother in DreamWorks' animated Shrek 2. More recently, she wrote and starred in Jam & Jerusalem and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle.

Acting History

2026
The Magic Faraway Tree
as Grandma Thompson
2025
Too Much
TVas Fiona1 eps
2024
200% Wolf
as Max (voice)
We Work for the Dead
as The Mother (voice)
Moominvalley
TVas Mymble1 eps
2023
Sumotherhood
as DI Brookes
2022
Death on the Nile
as Marie Van Schuyler
2021
Sing 2
as Nana (voice)
Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable
TVas Self1 eps
2020
The Stranger
TVas Heidi Doyle8 eps
Would I Lie to You?
TVas Self1 eps
2019
Isn't It Romantic
as Natalie's Mother
2018
2017
The Simpsons
TVas Phoebe Pratt (voice)1 eps
2016
Sing
as Nana (voice)
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
TVas Self - Participant1 eps
Insert Name Here
TVas Self - Panelist
2015
Stick Man
as Narrator (voice)
Minions
as Reine Elizabeth II (voice)
2014
The Boy in the Dress
as Miss Windsor
Have I Got News for You
TVas Self - Hostess4 eps
The Last Leg
TVas Self1 eps
2013
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
TVas Self - Panellist1 eps
Blandings
TVas Lady Constance Keeble
2012
2009
Coraline
as Miss April Spink / Other Spink (voice)
2007
Top Gear
TVas Self - Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car / Self1 eps
2006
L'Entente cordiale
as Gwendoline McFarlane
Jam and Jerusalem
TVas Caroline Martin
2004
Shrek 2
as Fairy Godmother (voice)
2001
Absolutely Fabulous
as Une spectatrice du défilé
2000
Mirrorball
as Vivienne Keill
French & Saunders - Live
as Various roles
Parkinson
TVas Self2 eps
Mirrorball
Creator
1999
Fanny & Elvis
as Roanna
1998
Friends
TVas Andrea Waltham2 eps
1997
Spice World
as Fashionable Woman
1992
Wild Turkey
as Neighbour
Absolutely Fabulous
TVas Edina34 eps
Absolutely Fabulous
TVWriter34 eps
1990
Going Live!
TVas Self2 eps
1988
The Strike
as Meryl Streep as Mrs Scargill
An Audience with...
TVas Self2 eps
The Storyteller
TVas Badsister 11 eps
Roseanne
TVas Edina Monsoon
1987
Eat the Rich
as Lady Caroline
French & Saunders
TVas Various Characters39 eps
French & Saunders
TVWriter1 eps
1985
The Supergrass
as Lesley Reynolds
Girls On Top
TVas Jennifer
Girls On Top
TVWriter
1984
Susie
as Lorna
Slags
as Little Sister
The Young Ones
TVas Helen Mucus1 eps
Slags
Writer
1983
Bad News
as Sally
War
as Various Roles
1982
The Comic Strip Presents...
TVas Anne / Cathy / Sally / Ice Maiden / Meryl Streep / Monica / Shona/Second Nun/Horse Rider / Debbie / Lorna / June / Liz / Doreen / Chas/Marilyn/Captain/Drunk / Jessica / Hannah / Little Sister / Angie / Maria31 eps
Wogan
TVas Self

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
7/6/1958(67 years old)
Place of Birth
Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK