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