Ashley Jensen
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| Ashley Jensen | |
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| Born | Ashley Samantha Jensen 11 August 1969 Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |
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| Spouse(s) | 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.
In September 2009 she will be co-starring in the CBS Monday night sitcom Accidentally on Purpose as Olivia.
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[edit] 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 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. Later that year she played Steve Coogan's agent in A Cock and Bull Story.
In September 2006, Jensen began her role as Christina McKinney on the ABC series Ugly Betty. Her character in Ugly Betty was originally an American, but when she met with the show's producers they liked Jensen's accent and decided to change the nationality of the character. After three years, as of May 7, 2009, Jensen left Ugly Betty due to location conflicts. The show's production move to New York from Los Angeles in Summer 2008 caused great conflict.
In January 2009, Jensen starred in No Holds Bard, a BBC Scotland one-off special comedy shown on Burns Night as part of a line-up of special programming to mark the 250th Birthday of Robert Burns.
Jensen is the narrator of Channel 4's Embarrassing Illnesses and Embarrassing Bodies.
Jensen also narrates Bank of Scotland's current advertisement campaign and Persil detergent adverts for both television and radio.
As of September 2009 she will be starring alongside Jenna Elfman in the new sitcom Accidentally on Purpose as Olivia.
[edit] 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 2010.
[edit] 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. In June 2008 Jensen's father claimed that she has a half-sister, Gillian, whom she has never met [1].
After six years together, Jensen married English actor Terence Beesley in a ceremony in the woods of Big Sur, California on Monday 29 January 2007 [2]. 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 [3]. The couple also own property in Umbria, Italy.
In December 2008, Jensen and Beesley were granted a restraining order against Jeff Lewis (real estate speculator) from Bravo TV's Flipping Out. Jensen/Beesley live next door to a Los Feliz house Lewis was renovating and conflict arose after a deck that Lewis had constructed on the home crossed the property line onto the Jensen-Beesley property. Jensen/Beesley sued seeking $100,000 for an easement [4]. Lewis reacted negatively and Jensen/Beesley filed a restraining order. Eventually in mid April 2009 the two parties settled [5] for $30,000 easement and agreed the deck would not have to be demolished.
It has been said that she is pregnant and due february/march 2010.
[edit] References
- ^ Bale, Karen (2008). "Exclusive: Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen has secret sister, reveals dad", 2008-06-14, Daily Record. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
- ^ Private wedding for Extras star
- ^ Ashley's Extra Special Love
- ^ Jeff Lewis Flips Out on Ugly Betty Star December 12, 2008
- ^ http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b119050_ugly_bettys_ashley_jensen_no_longer.html
