Jennifer Saunders

Jennifer Jane Saunders (born 6 July 1958) is an English comedian, actress, singer, impressionist, satirist and screenwriter. Saunders originally found attention in the 1980s, when she became a member of The Comic Strip after graduating from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with her best friend and comedy partner, Dawn French. With French, Saunders co-wrote and starred in their eponymous sketch show, French and Saunders and later received acclaim in the 1990s for writing and playing her character Edina Monsoon in her sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. She received a BAFTA Fellowship in 2009 with French.

Early life Jennifer Jane Saunders was born on 6 July 1958 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. Her mother, Barbara Jane (née Duminy), was a biology teacher, and her father, Robert Thomas Saunders, served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He reached the rank of group captain, and later worked for British Aerospace. Six months after her birth, Saunders' parents moved to Cyprus. Her family moved to Camberley, and then to Melksham when she was ten. She has three brothers: Tim, Peter, and Simon. As her father was in the armed forces during her childhood years, Saunders changed schools several times. Her first year of secondary school was at a comprehensive school in Wiltshire. Her parents had wanted her to board at Stonar School. Her family moved to Cheshire in 1971 when her father left the RAF for Hawker Siddeley. At Northwich Grammar School For Girls she played in goal for the school hockey team. After school, she worked for a year in Italy as an au pair; one of her employers, Adriana Ivancich, was an inspiration for Saunder's later role in Absolutely Fabulous.

In 1977, Saunders received a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London on a drama teachers' course, French and Saunders came from RAF backgrounds, and had grown up on the same base, even having had the same best friend, without ever meeting. By the time French and Saunders became members of The Comic Strip, French was already working as a drama teacher, while Saunders was on the dole and spending much of her time in bed. In the episodes "Bad News" and "More Bad News", Saunders plays a trashy rock journalist touring with the fictional heavy metal band, Bad News.

In 1985, Saunders starred in and co-wrote Girls on Top with French, Tracey Ullman, and Ruby Wax, which portrayed four eccentric women sharing a flat in London. Saunders also appeared in Amnesty International's The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball live benefit in 1989, along with Dawn French and others.

Saunders and French followed separate careers as well as irregularly maintaining their comedy sketch show. Saunders' biggest solo success has been Absolutely Fabulous, based largely on a 14-minute French & Saunders sketch called "Modern Mother and Daughter". Saunders and French were going to star together, but, just as the studio had been booked, French received a long-awaited phone call confirming an adoption agency had a baby for her to adopt.

Saunders has appeared on the American sitcoms Roseanne, playing Edina Monsoon in the episode "Satan, Darling", and Friends as Andrea Waltham, the step-mother of Emily, Ross Geller's fiancée, in the episodes "The One After Ross Says Rachel" and "The One with Ross's Wedding". Although they share no scenes, Jennifer's Absolutely Fabulous co-star June Whitfield also appeared in The One With Ross's Wedding Part Two as the Walthams' housekeeper. In 1999, she appeared alongside French in Let Them Eat Cake. Saunders wrote and starred in a comedy drama about a Women's Institute titled Jam & Jerusalem, also known as Clatterford in the United States. The first series aired in 2006, the second in 2008, and the third in 2009 on BBC One. The show starred David Mitchell, Sally Phillips, and Sue Johnston, as well as Dawn French and Joanna Lumley.

In 2007, Saunders and psychologist Tanya Byron

Also in 2007, the final series of French & Saunders aired. A Bucket o' French & Saunders featured a compilation of old and new sketches and aired on BBC One in September 2007. It was the third show she had written in a year.

Saunders appeared on the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment of BBC Two's motoring show Top Gear, posting a lap time of 1:46.1s, making her the fifth-fastest guest ever in the car that was used at that time. A self-confessed petrolhead, she has a passion for Alfa Romeos and has so far owned four.

2010s In 2011, Saunders wrote and appeared in "Uptown Downstairs Abbey", the Comic Relief parody of the critically acclaimed historical television dramas Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs. Playing the Dowager Countess, she starred alongside Lumley, Kim Cattrall, Victoria Wood, Harry Enfield, Patrick Barlow, Dale Winton, Olivia Colman, Tim Vine, Simon Callow, Michael Gambon, and Harry Hill.

In 2012, Saunders guest-starred in Dead Boss, a BBC Three comedy set in the fictional Broadmarsh prison where she plays the cruel and work-shy governor, Margaret. The show's creator, Sharon Horgan, stated that she 'begged' Saunders to take the role, having been a fan of Saunders' previous comedy work.

She also wrote the script for the Spice Girls-based jukebox musical Viva Forever!

In 2013, Saunders starred as Lady Constance Keeble in the BBC adaptation of Blandings by P. G. Wodehouse. In 2017, Saunders appeared on the Simpsons episode "Looking for Mr. Goodbart" as an elderly woman accompanied around by Bart.

2020s In June 2026, Saunders was announced to be joining the cast of the sixth season of the mystery comedy-drama series Only Murders in the Building in a recurring role.

Film Saunders has also appeared in several films, such as In the Bleak Midwinter (1995), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Fanny & Elvis (1999), and also made cameo appearances in the Spice Girls' film Spice World (1997) and Absolument fabuleux (2001), a French film based on Absolutely Fabulous.

In the animated film, Shrek 2 (2004), she provided the voice of the Fairy Godmother and sang the songs "The Fairy Godmother Song" and "Holding Out for a Hero". Her part took only four days to record. Her role won the People's Choice Award for the best movie villain in 2005.

She voiced Miss Spink in the animated film Coraline, in which her comedy partner Dawn French voiced a character called Miss Forcible. In 2015, she voiced Queen Elizabeth II in the animated film Minions, and in 2016, she voiced Miss Nana Noodleman in the animated film Sing, reprising the role again in Sing 2.

In 2022, she starred in Death on the Nile as Marie Van Schuyler alongside Dawn French, Gal Gadot and Kenneth Branagh who also directed the film.

Theatre In 2018, Saunders appeared at the Vaudeville Theatre in the production of Lady Windermere's Fan as The Duchess of Berwick.

In June 2019, she appeared on stage in the production of Noël Coward's play, Blithe Spirit, as eccentric clairvoyant Madam Arcati. The show first opened at Theatre Royal Bath, and after a short tour of England it later transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre, London in March 2020. Two weeks into its run performances were cancelled due to the pandemic.

She reprised the role in autumn 2021 for eight weeks in the West End at The Harold Pinter Theatre.

In 2022, Saunders played the role of Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical for six weeks at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, alongside Beverley Knight as Deloris Van Cartier.

In December 2023, Saunders made her pantomime debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the London Palladium alongside Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Rob Madge, Francis Mayli McCann and Louis Gaunt.

In March 2026, it was announced that she would play alongside Dawn French in Cinderella at the London Palladium.

Personal life Saunders, who grew up in nearby Acton Bridge, married Adrian Edmondson at Christ Church, Crowton, Cheshire on 11 May 1985. At the wedding were fellow Comic Strip members Rik Mayall (Edmondson's longtime comedy partner) and Robbie Coltrane, whom the vicar, Rev Austin Oates, much to his surprise, described as 'delightful and charming'. The reception was held at Jennifer's parents' home. Afterwards the couple visited Saint Lucia.

They have three daughters: singer-songwriter Ella Edmondson (b. 1986), actress Beattie Edmondson (b. 1987), and Freya Edmondson (b. 1990). They have five grandchildren together.

In July 2010, Saunders announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer the previous October, and was in remission following a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Saunders published her autobiography, Bonkers: My Life in Laughs, in October 2013.

She is a patron for Smart Works Charity, a non-profit organisation supporting unemployed women into work through clothing and coaching.

Filmography Film

Television Year Programme Role Notes 1982–1984 The Young Ones Helen Mucus/Sue 2 episodes: "Interesting" and "Time" 1982–1998, 2011–2012 The Comic Strip Presents... Various characters Main cast30 episodes (plus 6 specials) 1983 The EntertainersHerself with Dawn French 1 episode 1984 Wogan Guest, 1 episode The Lenny Henry Show Various characters 1 episode with Dawn French 1985 Happy Families Granny Fuddle/Joyce Fuddle/Cassie Fuddle/Madeleine Fuddle/Roxanne Fuddle Main cast (6 episodes) 1985–1986 Girls on Top Jennifer Marsh 13 episodes 1986 Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger Anita Harris 1 segment , 'How to get off with a lady' 1987–2007 French and Saunders Various characters Main cast (48 episodes) 1989 Juke Box Jury Panelist with Dawn French 1 episode 1990 Rita Rudner 1 episode The Tale of Little Pig Robinson Dorcas TV movie Good Morning Britain Herself with Dawn French Guest, 1 episode 1990–1993 Going Live! Herself Guest, 3 episodes 1991 Clive Anderson Talks Back Herself with Dawn French Guest, 1 episode 1991–1992 The Full Wax Herself Guest/co-host, 4 episodes 1992–19962001–20042011–2012 Absolutely Fabulous Edina Monsoon Also creator and writer32 episodes (plus 7 aired specials) 1993 Prince Cinders Fairy Voice 1995 Queen of the East Lady Hester Stanhope 1995–2006 Jools' Annual Hootenanny Guest, 3 episodes 1996 Roseanne Edina Monsoon 1 episode: "Satan, Darling" 10th Annual American Comedy Awards Presenter with Joanna Lumley Presenting 'The Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series' Award 1997 Light Lunch Herself Guest, 2 episodes Dusty: Full Circle – The Life & Music of Dusty Springfield Host with Dawn French Documentary 1998 Friends Andrea Waltham 2 episodes: "The One with Ross's Wedding: Part Two" and "The One After Ross Says Rachel" Late Lunch Herself Guest, 1 episode 1999 Let Them Eat Cake Colombine, Comtesse de Vache 6 episodes The Magician's House The Rat Voice The Nearly Complete & Utter History of Everything The Egg 1 episode with Dawn French Live & Kicking Herself Guest, 2 episodes 2000 Mirrorball Vivienne Keill TV pilot. Also writer The PrioryHerself with Dawn FrenchGuest, 1 episode TFI Friday 2000–2007 Parkinson Herself Guest, 3 episodes 2002 Pongwiffy Sharkadder Voice 2004 The Kumars at No. 42 Herself Guest, 1 episode 2006 Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy 3 episodes 2006–2009 Jam & Jerusalem Caroline Martin Also creator & writer 2007 The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle Vivienne Vyle 6 episodes 2007–2016 Top GearHerself Guest, 2 episodes 2008 The Paul O'Grady Show Guest, 1 episode 2008–2016 Loose Women Guest, 4 episodes 2008–2020 The Graham Norton Show Guest, 9 episodes 2008–2023 The One Show Guest, 6 episodes 2011 Jennifer Saunders: Laughing at the 90's Herself/presenter C4 Documentary 2011–2014 This Is Jinsy Miss Reason 11 episodes 2012 Dead Boss Governor Margaret 6 episodes Jennifer Saunders: Back in the Saddle Herself 2 part Documentary 2013–2014 Blandings Lady Constance Keeble 13 episodes Alan Carr: Chatty ManHerself Guest, 2 Eepisodes 2013–2016 This Morning 2013–2020 Have I Got News for You Guest Presenter, 5 episodes 2014 The Boy in the Dress Miss Windsor TV movie Jamie & Jimmy's Friday Night FeastHerself Guest with Adrian Edmondson The Jonathan Ross ShowGuest, 1 episode The Last Leg The Guess List Panelist, 1 episode 2015 Stick Man Narrator TV movie The Vicar of Dibley Reverend Jen Comic Relief Special The Classic Car ShowHerself 1 episode The Great Comic Relief Bake Off Contestant Mel & Sue Guest, 1 episode A League of Their Own Team Member, 1 episode 2015–2017 Josh Judith 3 episodes 2017 The Simpsons Phoebe Voice, 1 episode: "Looking for Mr. Goodbart" Grandpa's Great Escape Miss Dandy TV movie Saturday Kitchen Herself Guest Joanna & Jennifer: Absolutely Champers Herself/co-presenter One-off BBC Documentary, co-presented by Joanna Lumley 300 Years of French & Saunders Special with Dawn French 30th Anniversary Special 2018 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Herself Presenter, 1 episode: "The A-Z of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show" 2019 Thunderbirds Are Go Helen Shelby Voice, 1 episode: "Deep Water" 2019–2022 Moominvalley Mymble Voice; 4 episodes 2019–2021 There's Something About Movies Team Captain Series 2–42020 The Stranger Heidi Doyle Netflix mini-series Would I Lie to You?Herself Panelist Richard Osman's House of Games Contestant Jennifer Saunders' Memory Lane Presenter One-off ITV special 2021 Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable Herself Guest French & Saunders: Funny Women Special with Dawn French UK Gold Special Best Birthday Ever Mother Voice Ghosts Lavinia Episode: "He Came!" 2022 The Pentaverate Maester of Dubrovnik/Saester of Dubrovnik Netflix mini-series 2023 Intelligence Joanna Telfer-Fotheringham Episode: "A Special Agent Special" imagine… French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter Herself One-off documentary 2024 The Masked Singer Herself Guest Judge (series 5) Celebrity Gogglebox Herself; with Beattie Edmondson Series 6 Netflix mini-series 2025 Too Much Fiona Episode 9 : "Enough, Actually" Netflix mini-series Amandaland Christmas Special Aunt Joan Christmas special

Writer 2016: Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (writer) 2012: Viva Forever! (writer) 2006: Jam & Jerusalem (16 episodes, 2006–2009) 2008: French and Saunders Still Alive (V) (writer) 2007: The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle (6 episodes, 2007) 2007: A Bucket o' French & Saunders (5 episodes, 2007) 2001: Absolument fabuleux (creator: TV series Absolutely Fabulous) 2000: Mirrorball (TV) (writer) 2000: French & Saunders Live (V) (writer) 1999: The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything (TV) (writer) 1998: Absolutely Fabulous: A Life (V) (writer) 1998: Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Not! (V) (original idea) 1996: Roseanne (1 episode, 1996) 1993: French and Saunders Live (V) (writer) 1992: Absolutely Fabulous (38 episodes, 1992–2012) 1991: Comic Relief (TV) (uncredited) 1987: French and Saunders (38 episodes, 1987–2005) 1986: Comic Relief (TV) (writer) 1984: The Comic Strip Presents... (2 episodes, 1984–1986) 1985: Girls on Top TV series (unknown episodes) 1981: The Comic Strip (TV) (writer)