Acting
Jennifer Saunders
Born 1958-07-06
Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Department: Acting
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.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Jennifer Saunders
Movie
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Shrek 2
2004
TMDB3.6
TV
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The Simpsons
1989
TMDB4.0
Movie
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Minions
2015
TMDB3.2
TV
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Friends
1994
TMDB4.2
Movie
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Coraline
2009
TMDB4.0
Movie
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Sing
2016
TMDB3.5
TV
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Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
TMDB2.5
Movie
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Sing 2
2021
TMDB3.9
Movie
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Death on the Nile
2022
TMDB3.2
Movie
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Isn't It Romantic
2019
TMDB3.1
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (220 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Virginia Woolf's Night & Day | Bess Hilbery | Movie | 2026 |
 | People's Emergency Briefing | Herself | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Magic Faraway Tree | Grandma | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Claudia Winkleman Show | Self | TV Series | 2026 |
 | Becoming Victoria Wood | Self | Movie | 2026 |
 | Too Much | Fiona | TV Series | 2025 |
 | Only Child | Sally | TV Series | 2024 |
 | Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out | Self / Edina "Eddie" Monsoon | Movie | 2024 |
| Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out | Executive Producer | Movie | 2024 |
 | Kirsty MacColl at the BBC | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2024 |
 | Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps | The Goose (voice) | Movie | 2024 |
 | 200% Wolf | Max (voice) | Movie | 2024 |
 | We Work for the Dead | The Mother (voice) | Movie | 2024 |
 | Dawn French Is a Huge Twat | Self (uncredited) | Movie | 2023 |
 | imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter | Self - Featured Artist | Movie | 2023 |
 | Sumotherhood | DI Brookes | Movie | 2023 |
 | Allelujah | Sister Gilpin | Movie | 2023 |
 | Fantasy Football League | Themselves | TV Series | 2022 |
 | The Pentaverate | Maester of Dubrovnik / Saester of Dubrovnik | TV Series | 2022 |
 | Death on the Nile | Marie Van Schuyler | Movie | 2022 |
 | The Best Birthday Ever | Mother (voice) | Movie | 2022 |
 | Sing 2 | Nana (voice) | Movie | 2021 |
 | French & Saunders: Funny Women | Self | Movie | 2021 |
 | Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable | Self | TV Series | 2021 |
 | Richard Osman's House of Games Night | Self | TV Series | 2020 |
 | The Stranger | Heidi Doyle | TV Series | 2020 |
 | Completely Bad News | Sally | Movie | 2019 |
 | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again | Meryl Streep / Cher | Movie | 2019 |
| Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again | Writer | Movie | 2019 |
 | Celebrity Gogglebox | Self | TV Series | 2019 |
 | There's Something About Movies | Self - Team Captain | TV Series | 2019 |
 | Moominvalley | Mymble | TV Series | 2019 |
 | Isn't It Romantic | Natalie's Mother | Movie | 2019 |
 | Patrick | Maureen | Movie | 2018 |
 | Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires | Dr. Alex Cular | Movie | 2018 |
 | Lady Windermere's Fan | The Duchess of Berwick | Movie | 2018 |
 | Grandpa's Great Escape | Miss Dandy | Movie | 2018 |
 | 300 Years of French & Saunders | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2017 |
 | Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers | Self - Presenter | Movie | 2017 |
 | Comic Relief: Red Nose Day | Self | Movie | 2017 |
 | Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief | Self - Judge | TV Series | 2017 |
 | Sing | Nana (voice) | Movie | 2016 |
 | British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves | Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) | Movie | 2016 |
| We Love Sitcom | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2016 | |
 | Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie | Edina Monsoon | Movie | 2016 |
| Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie | Screenplay | Movie | 2016 |
 | Insert Name Here | Self - Panelist | TV Series | 2016 |
 | Stick Man | Narrator (voice) | Movie | 2015 |
 | Josh | Judith | TV Series | 2015 |
 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2015 |
 | Minions | The Queen (voice) | Movie | 2015 |
 | The Boy in the Dress | Miss Windsor | Movie | 2014 |
 | Gogglebox | Self | TV Series | 2013 |
 | The Last Leg | Self | TV Series | 2013 |
 | The Great Comic Relief Bake Off | Self - Contestant | TV Series | 2013 |
 | Blandings | Lady Constance Keeble | TV Series | 2013 |
 | The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever! | Self | Movie | 2012 |
 | Five Go to Rehab | Anne | Movie | 2012 |
 | 30 Years of Comic Strip | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2012 |
 | Dead Boss | Governor Margaret | TV Series | 2012 |
 | The Great Sport Relief Bake Off | Self - Host | TV Series | 2012 |
 | Celebrity Antiques Road Trip | Self - Participant | TV Series | 2011 |
 | The Hunt for Tony Blair | Lady Thatcher | Movie | 2011 |
 | Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2011 |
 | French & Saunders: The Ingenue Years | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2011 |
 | This Is Jinsy | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 2010 |
 | Coraline: The Making of 'Coraline' | Self | Movie | 2009 |
 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2009 |
 | Coraline | Miss April Spink / Other Spink (voice) | Movie | 2009 |
 | French & Saunders: Still Alive | Self | Movie | 2008 |
| French & Saunders: Still Alive | Writer | Movie | 2008 |
 | The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 2007 |
| The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle | Creator | TV Series | 2007 |
 | A Bucket O' French and Saunders | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 2007 |
| A Bucket O' French and Saunders | Creator | TV Series | 2007 |
 | Would I Lie to You? | Self | TV Series | 2007 |
 | The Graham Norton Show | Self | TV Series | 2007 |
 | Jam and Jerusalem | Caroline Martin | TV Series | 2006 |
| Jam and Jerusalem | Writer | TV Series | 2006 |
| Jam and Jerusalem | Creator | TV Series | 2006 |
 | L'Entente cordiale | Gwendoline McFarlane | Movie | 2006 |
 | Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? | Self | Movie | 2004 |
 | Bottom Mindless Violence | Helen Mucus / Anita Harris (archive footage) (uncredited) | Movie | 2004 |
 | Parkinson | Self - Guest | TV Series | 2004 |
 | Shrek 2 | Fairy Godmother (voice) | Movie | 2004 |
 | Top Gear | Self - Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car | TV Series | 2002 |
| Top Gear | Self | TV Series | 2002 |
 | The Best of French & Saunders | Various | Movie | 2002 |
| The Best of French & Saunders | Writer | Movie | 2002 |
| Pongwiffy | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 2002 | |
 | Absolutely Fabulous | Une spectatrice du défilé | Movie | 2001 |
| Absolutely Fabulous | Writer | Movie | 2001 |
 | Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl | Self | Movie | 2001 |
 | Mirrorball | Vivienne Keill | Movie | 2000 |
| Mirrorball | Writer | Movie | 2000 |
| Mirrorball | Creator | Movie | 2000 |
 | French & Saunders - Live | Various roles | Movie | 2000 |
| French & Saunders - Live | Writer | Movie | 2000 |
 | Fanny & Elvis | Roanna | Movie | 1999 |
 | It’s Lulu | Self | Movie | 1999 |
 | The Magician's House | The Rat (voice) | TV Series | 1999 |
 | Let Them Eat Cake | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1999 |
 | Absolutely Fabulous: A Life | Edina "Eddy" Monsoon | Movie | 1998 |
| Absolutely Fabulous: A Life | Writer | Movie | 1998 |
 | Four Men in a Car | Helen | Movie | 1998 |
 | Parkinson | Self | TV Series | 1998 |
 | Spice World | Fashionable Woman | Movie | 1997 |
 | Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout | Edina Monsoon | Movie | 1996 |
| Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout | Writer | Movie | 1996 |
 | Muppet Treasure Island | Mrs. Bluveridge | Movie | 1996 |
 | TFI Friday | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1996 |
 | In the Bleak Midwinter | Nancy | Movie | 1995 |
 | How to Be Absolutely Fabulous | Self / Edina "Eddy" Monsoon (archive footage) | Movie | 1995 |
| How to Be Absolutely Fabulous | Writer | Movie | 1995 |
 | French and Saunders' Christmas Carol | Various Roles | Movie | 1994 |
| French and Saunders' Christmas Carol | Writer | Movie | 1994 |
 | Friends | Andrea Waltham | TV Series | 1994 |
 | Dusty | Self - Presenter | Movie | 1994 |
 | Prince Cinders | Fairy (voice) | Movie | 1993 |
 | Jealousy | Jane/Margory | Movie | 1993 |
 | Demonella | The Devil | Movie | 1993 |
 | Space Virgins from Planet Sex | Needle | Movie | 1993 |
 | French & Saunders: At the Movies | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1993 |
 | Wild Turkey | Neighbour | Movie | 1992 |
 | Absolutely Fabulous | Edina Monsoon | TV Series | 1992 |
| Absolutely Fabulous | Writer | TV Series | 1992 |
| Absolutely Fabulous | Creator | TV Series | 1992 |
 | Red Nose of Courage | Margaret Thatcher | Movie | 1992 |
 | Amnesty International's Big 30 | Self | Movie | 1991 |
 | The Tale of Little Pig Robinson | Dorcas | Movie | 1990 |
 | Have I Got News for You | Self | TV Series | 1990 |
| Have I Got News for You | Self - Hostess | TV Series | 1990 |
 | Rita Rudner | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1990 |
 | French & Saunders LIVE | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1990 |
 | Spaghetti Hoops | Maria | Movie | 1990 |
 | Oxford | Hannah | Movie | 1990 |
 | South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1 | Cathy | Movie | 1990 |
 | South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie! | Cathy | Movie | 1990 |
 | GLC: The Carnage Continues | Brigitte Nielsen as Margaret Thatcher, The Ice Maiden | Movie | 1990 |
 | The Simpsons | Phoebe Pratt (voice) | TV Series | 1989 |
 | The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball | Self | Movie | 1989 |
 | Employees From Hell | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1989 |
 | Communicators From Hell | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1989 |
 | Customer Service From Hell | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1989 |
 | Colleagues From Hell | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1989 |
 | French And Saunders - Christmas Special '88 | Various Characters | Movie | 1988 |
| French And Saunders - Christmas Special '88 | Writer | Movie | 1988 |
 | An Audience With Victoria Wood | Self | Movie | 1988 |
 | Roseanne | Edina Monsoon | TV Series | 1988 |
 | The Storyteller: Sapsorrow | Badsister 1 | Movie | 1988 |
 | The Storyteller | Badsister 1 | TV Series | 1988 |
 | Mr Jolly Lives Next Door | Monica | Movie | 1988 |
 | More Bad News | Sally | Movie | 1988 |
 | The Strike | Meryl Streep as Mrs Scargill | Movie | 1988 |
| Comic Relief | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1988 | |
 | Eat the Rich | Lady Caroline | Movie | 1987 |
 | Going Live! | Self | TV Series | 1987 |
 | French & Saunders | Various Characters | TV Series | 1987 |
| French & Saunders | Writer | TV Series | 1987 |
| French & Saunders | Creator | TV Series | 1987 |
| The Silurian Disruption | Silurian #2 | Movie | 1987 | |
| The Silurian Disruption | Writer | Movie | 1987 | |
 | Omnibus Presents Comic Relief | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1986 |
 | Comedians Do It On Stage | Self | Movie | 1986 |
 | Private Enterprise | Debbie | Movie | 1986 |
 | Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders) | Jessica | Movie | 1986 |
 | Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1986 |
 | The Dangerous Brothers | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1986 |
| Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders) | Writer | Movie | 1986 |
 | The Supergrass | Lesley Reynolds | Movie | 1985 |
 | Girls On Top | Jennifer | TV Series | 1985 |
| Girls On Top | Writer | TV Series | 1985 |
| Girls On Top | Creator | TV Series | 1985 |
 | Happy Families | Granny Fuddle | TV Series | 1985 |
 | Slags | Little Sister | Movie | 1984 |
| Slags | Writer | Movie | 1984 |
 | Eddie Monsoon - a Life? | Doreen | Movie | 1984 |
 | Gino: Full Story and Pics | Angie | Movie | 1984 |
 | A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques | Shona | Movie | 1984 |
 | Susie | Lorna | Movie | 1984 |
 | Dirty Movie | June | Movie | 1984 |
 | Five Go Mad on Mescalin | Anne | Movie | 1983 |
 | Summer School | Liz | Movie | 1983 |
 | Bad News | Sally | Movie | 1983 |
 | The Beat Generation | Anne | Movie | 1983 |
 | War | Various Roles | Movie | 1983 |
 | The Young Ones | Sue | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Young Ones | Helen Mucus | TV Series | 1982 |
 | Five Go Mad in Dorset | Anne | Movie | 1982 |
 | The Comic Strip Presents... | Chas/Marilyn/Captain/Drunk | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Anne | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Liz | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Sally | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Little Sister | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Jessica | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | June | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Shona/Second Nun/Horse Rider | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Doreen | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Lorna | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Debbie | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Angie | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Meryl Streep | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Monica | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Cathy | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Ice Maiden | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Maria | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Hannah | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1982 |
| The Comic Strip Presents... | Writer | TV Series | 1982 |
 | Wogan | Self | TV Series | 1982 |
 | The Comic Strip | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1981 |
| The Comic Strip | Writer | Movie | 1981 |
 | An Audience with... | Self | TV Series | 1978 |
 | The Secret Policeman's Ball | Self | TV Series | 1976 |
| Film '72 | Self | TV Series | 1971 | |
 | Omnibus | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1967 |
 | The Making of Shrek 2 | Self | Movie | — |
 | Have I Got a Bit More News for You | Self - Presenter | TV Series | — |
| Have I Got a Bit More News for You | Self - Panellist | TV Series | — |
| AbFab | Executive Producer | TV Series | — |