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Jennifer Saunders

Born: 1958

Biography

Jennifer Jane Saunders 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.
Known For Acting
Gender Female
Place of Birth Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Resources

Movies

Shrek 2

Fairy Godmother (voice) in Shrek 2

Muppet Treasure Island

Mrs. Bluveridge in Muppet Treasure Island

L'Entente cordiale

Gwendoline McFarlane in L'Entente cordiale

Allelujah

Sister Gilpin in Allelujah

Sumotherhood

DI Brookes in Sumotherhood

In the Bleak Midwinter

Nancy in In the Bleak Midwinter

Coraline

April Spink (voice) in Coraline

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

Self in Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl

Self in Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl

Sing 2

Nana (voice) in Sing 2

Absolutely Fabulous

Une spectatrice du défilé in Absolutely Fabulous

This is the Night Mail

The Mother (voice) in This is the Night Mail

The Hunt for Tony Blair

Lady Thatcher in The Hunt for Tony Blair

French and Saunders: Still Alive

Self in French and Saunders: Still Alive

The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball

Self in The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball

The Supergrass

Lesley Reynolds in The Supergrass

An Audience With Victoria Wood

Self in An Audience With Victoria Wood

Comic Relief: Red Nose Day

Self in Comic Relief: Red Nose Day

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again

Meryl Streep / Cher in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again

The Best of French & Saunders

Various in The Best of French & Saunders

French & Saunders LIVE

in French & Saunders LIVE

Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout

Edina Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout

The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever!

Self in The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever!

How to Be Absolutely Fabulous

Self / Edina "Eddy" Monsoon (archive footage) in How to Be Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous: A Life

Edina "Eddy" Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous: A Life

Demonella

The Devil in Demonella

Summer School

Liz in Summer School

Jealousy

Jane/Margory in Jealousy

Five Go Mad in Dorset

Anne in Five Go Mad in Dorset

Four Men in a Car

Helen in Four Men in a Car

Eddie Monsoon - a Life?

Doreen in Eddie Monsoon - a Life?

War

Various Roles in War

The Beat Generation

Anne in The Beat Generation

Five Go Mad on Mescalin

Anne in Five Go Mad on Mescalin

Dirty Movie

June in Dirty Movie

Susie

Lorna in Susie

Gino: Full Story and Pics

Angie in Gino: Full Story and Pics

Slags

Little Sister in Slags

Private Enterprise

Debbie in Private Enterprise

Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)

Jessica in Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)

South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1

Cathy in South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1

Oxford

Hannah in Oxford

Spaghetti Hoops

Maria in Spaghetti Hoops

South Atlantic Raiders:  Part 2 Argie Bargie!

Cathy in South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!

Red Nose of Courage

Margaret Thatcher in Red Nose of Courage

Wild Turkey

Neighbour in Wild Turkey

Five Go to Rehab

Anne in Five Go to Rehab

Dawn French Is a Huge Twat

Self (uncredited) in Dawn French Is a Huge Twat

imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter

Self - featured artist in imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter

30 Years of Comic Strip

in 30 Years of Comic Strip

The Boy in the Dress

Miss Windsor in The Boy in the Dress

Amnesty International's Big 30

Self in Amnesty International's Big 30

Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires

Dr. Alex Cular in Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires

Minions

Reine Elizabeth II (voice) in Minions

Eat the Rich

Lady Caroline in Eat the Rich

Sing

Nana (voice) in Sing

200% Wolf

Max (voice) in 200% Wolf

Butterfly Stroke

Ruth in Butterfly Stroke

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Edina Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Stick Man

Narrator (voice) in Stick Man

The Comic Strip

in The Comic Strip

French & Saunders - Live

Various roles in French & Saunders - Live

Mr Jolly Lives Next Door

Monica in Mr Jolly Lives Next Door

Comedians Do It On Stage

Self in Comedians Do It On Stage

British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) in British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

Spice World

Fashionable Woman in Spice World

The Strike

Meryl Streep as Mrs Scargill in The Strike

Patrick

Maureen in Patrick

Grandpa's Great Escape

Miss Dandy in Grandpa's Great Escape

300 Years of French & Saunders

in 300 Years of French & Saunders

Lady Windermere's Fan

The Duchess of Berwick in Lady Windermere's Fan

Bad News

Sally in Bad News

More Bad News

Sally in More Bad News

Space Virgins from Planet Sex

Needle in Space Virgins from Planet Sex

Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers

Self - Presenter in Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers

Dusty

Self - Presenter in Dusty

Fanny & Elvis

Roanna in Fanny & Elvis

Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger

in Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger

Isn't It Romantic

Natalie's Mother in Isn't It Romantic

Death on the Nile

Marie Van Schuyler in Death on the Nile

GLC: The Carnage Continues

Brigitte Nielsen as Margaret Thatcher, The Ice Maiden in GLC: The Carnage Continues

Completely Bad News

Sally in Completely Bad News

The Tale of Little Pig Robinson

Dorcas in The Tale of Little Pig Robinson

French & Saunders: The Ingenue Years

in French & Saunders: The Ingenue Years

Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders

in Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders

Coraline: The Making of 'Coraline'

Self in Coraline: The Making of 'Coraline'

Prince Cinders

Fairy (voice) in Prince Cinders

Mirrorball

Vivienne Keill in Mirrorball

French & Saunders: At the Movies

in French & Saunders: At the Movies

A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques

Shona in A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques

Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps

The Goose (voice) in Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps

French & Saunders: Funny Women

Self in French & Saunders: Funny Women

The Magic Faraway Tree

in The Magic Faraway Tree

The Boy in the Dress

Miss Windsor in The Boy in the Dress

Kirsty MacColl at the BBC

Self (archive footage) in Kirsty MacColl at the BBC

Employees From Hell

in Employees From Hell

Communicators From Hell

in Communicators From Hell

Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out

Self in Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out

We Love Sitcom

in We Love Sitcom

TV Shows

French & Saunders

Various Characters in French & Saunders

Jam and Jerusalem

Caroline Martin in Jam and Jerusalem

Let Them Eat Cake

in Let Them Eat Cake

Going Live!

Self in Going Live!

Friends

Andrea Waltham in Friends

Girls On Top

Jennifer in Girls On Top

Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable

Self in Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable

Richard Osman's House of Games Night

Self - Contestant in Richard Osman's House of Games Night

The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle

in The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle

The Secret Policeman's Ball

Self in The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Young Ones

Sue in The Young Ones

Absolutely Fabulous

Edina in Absolutely Fabulous

The Magician's House

The Rat (voice) in The Magician's House

Omnibus Presents Comic Relief

in Omnibus Presents Comic Relief

The Young Ones

Helen Mucus in The Young Ones

Happy Families

Granny Fuddle in Happy Families

Blandings

Lady Constance Keeble in Blandings

A Bucket O' French and Saunders

in A Bucket O' French and Saunders

Pongwiffy

in Pongwiffy

Comic Relief

in Comic Relief

This Is Jinsy

in This Is Jinsy

Would I Lie to You?

Self in Would I Lie to You?

The Pentaverate

Maester of Dubrovnik / Saester of Dubrovnik in The Pentaverate

The Vicar of Dibley

Reverend Jen in The Vicar of Dibley

Ghosts

Lavinia in Ghosts

The Graham Norton Show

Self in The Graham Norton Show

Top Gear

Self - Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car in Top Gear

An Audience with...

Self in An Audience with...

Rita Rudner

in Rita Rudner

Gogglebox

Self in Gogglebox

Wogan

Self in Wogan

The Storyteller

Badsister 1 in The Storyteller

Insert Name Here

Self - Panelist in Insert Name Here

Have I Got a Bit More News for You

Self - Presenter in Have I Got a Bit More News for You

Have I Got a Bit More News for You

Self - Panellist in Have I Got a Bit More News for You

The Great Comic Relief Bake Off

Self - Contestant in The Great Comic Relief Bake Off

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off

Self - Host in The Great Sport Relief Bake Off

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Self - Participant in Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief

Self - Judge in Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Self - Guest in Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The Stranger

Heidi Doyle in The Stranger

The Simpsons

Phoebe Pratt (voice) in The Simpsons

Fantasy Football League

Themselves in Fantasy Football League

Dead Boss

Governor Margaret in Dead Boss

The Comic Strip Presents...

Lesley in The Comic Strip Presents...

Celebrity Gogglebox

in Celebrity Gogglebox

The Comic Strip Presents...

Anne in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Chas/Marilyn/Captain/Drunk in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Sally in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Liz in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

June in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Lorna in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Shona/Second Nun/Horse Rider in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Angie in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Doreen in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Little Sister in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Jessica in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Debbie in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Meryl Streep in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Monica in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Cathy in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Ice Maiden in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Hannah in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Maria in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Margaret Thatcher in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Neighbour in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Needle in The Comic Strip Presents...

Josh

Judith in Josh

The Comic Strip Presents...

The Devil in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Jane/Margory in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Helen in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Comic Strip Presents...

Jennifer in The Comic Strip Presents...

The Dangerous Brothers

in The Dangerous Brothers

The Comic Strip Presents...

in The Comic Strip Presents...

Top Gear

Self in Top Gear

Parkinson

Self in Parkinson

Moominvalley

Mymble in Moominvalley

Only Child

Sally in Only Child

The Last Leg

Self in The Last Leg