Jennifer Saunders
Known for
A British comedian, writer and actress born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Jennifer Saunders is one of Britain's most beloved comic talents. She created and starred in the hit sitcom 'Absolutely Fabulous' as the chaotic Edina Monsoon, and formed a celebrated double act with Dawn French. In animated features her distinctive voice brought life to the Fairy Godmother in 'Shrek 2' (2004), and she lent her voice to 'Coraline' (2009), 'Minions' (2015) and 'Sing' (2016). A sharp, fearless comic performer whose writing and playing helped define modern British comedy.
Jennifer Saunders
66 Movies
22 Series
A British comedian, writer and actress born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Jennifer Saunders is one of Britain's most beloved comic talents. She created and starred in the hit sitcom 'Absolutely Fabulous' as the chaotic Edina Monsoon, and formed a celebrated double act with Dawn French. In animated features her distinctive voice brought life to the Fairy Godmother in 'Shrek 2' (2004), and she lent her voice to 'Coraline' (2009), 'Minions' (2015) and 'Sing' (2016). A sharp, fearless comic performer whose writing and playing helped define modern British comedy.
Movies
Plays Miss April Spink / Other Spink (voice)
Coraline
2009
Plays Fairy Godmother (voice)
Shrek 2
2004
Plays Nana (voice)
Sing 2
2021
Plays Nana (voice)
Sing
2016
Plays Reine Elizabeth II (voice)
Minions
2015
Plays Marie Van Schuyler
Death on the Nile
2022
Plays Natalie's Mother
Isn't It Romantic
2019
Plays Max (voice)
200% Wolf
2024
Plays Fashionable Woman
Spice World
1997
Plays Bess Hilbery
Virginia Woolf's Night & Day
2026
Plays Mrs. Bluveridge
Muppet Treasure Island
1996
Writer
Plays Edina Monsoon
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
2016
Plays Maureen
Patrick
2018
Plays Lady Caroline
Eat the Rich
1987
Plays Mother (voice)
The Best Birthday Ever
2022
Plays Roanna
Fanny & Elvis
1999
Writer
Plays Edina Monsoon
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
1996
Plays Sister Gilpin
Allelujah
2023
Plays Sally
Bad News
1983
Plays Lady Thatcher
The Hunt for Tony Blair
2011
Plays Gwendoline McFarlane
L'Entente cordiale
2006
Writer
Plays Meryl Streep / Cher
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again
2019
Plays The Goose (voice)
Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps
2024
Plays Nancy
In the Bleak Midwinter
1995
Plays DI Brookes
Sumotherhood
2023
Plays Lesley Reynolds
The Supergrass
1985
Plays Dr. Alex Cular
Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires
2018
Writer
Plays Une spectatrice du défilé
Absolutely Fabulous
2001
Plays Sally
More Bad News
1988
Plays Meryl Streep as Mrs Scargill
The Strike
1988
Writer
Plays Various roles
French & Saunders - Live
2000
TV Shows
Creator
Plays Various Characters
French & Saunders
1987
Creator
Plays Edina Monsoon
Absolutely Fabulous
1992
Plays Self - Team Captain
There's Something About Movies
2019
Creator
Plays Caroline Martin
Jam and Jerusalem
2006
Plays Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1976
Creator
Plays Jennifer
Girls On Top
1985
Plays Lady Constance Keeble
Blandings
2013
Plays The Rat (voice)
The Magician's House
1999
Plays Heidi Doyle
The Stranger
2020
Plays Granny Fuddle
Happy Families
1985
Plays Maester of Dubrovnik / Saester of Dubrovnik
The Pentaverate
2022
Plays Governor Margaret
Dead Boss
2012
Writer
Plays Anne
The Comic Strip Presents...
1982
Plays Judith
Josh
2015
Plays Andrea Waltham
Friends
1994
Plays Sue
The Young Ones
1982
Plays Badsister 1
The Storyteller
1988
Plays Phoebe Pratt (voice)
The Simpsons
1989
Plays Mymble
Moominvalley
2019
Plays Sally
Only Child
2024
Plays Fiona
Too Much
2025
Plays Edina Monsoon
Roseanne
1988
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Virginia Woolf's Night & Day
Full Filmography
Virginia Woolf's Night & Day
Bess Hilbery
2026
Film
Too Much
Fiona · 1 episode
2025–
TV
Moominvalley
Mymble · 1 episode
2024
TV
Only Child
Sally · 1 episode
2024
TV
Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps
The Goose (voice)
2024
Film
200% Wolf
Max (voice)
2024
Film
We Work for the Dead
The Mother (voice)
2024
Film
Dawn French Is a Huge Twat
Self (uncredited)
2023
Film
Sumotherhood
DI Brookes
2023
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jennifer Saunders and where are they from?
Jennifer Saunders is 68 years old, born on July 6, 1958 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Jennifer Saunders?
Jennifer Saunders is best known for roles in Shrek 2, Minions, Coraline.
How many movies has Jennifer Saunders been in?
Over a 45-year career (since 1981), Jennifer Saunders has appeared in 64 movies and 20 TV shows.
What was Jennifer Saunders's first movie?
The career of Jennifer Saunders began with The Comic Strip (1981).
What is Jennifer Saunders's most recent movie or series?
Jennifer Saunders's most recent release is Virginia Woolf's Night & Day, which premiered on June 19, 2026.
What TV shows has Jennifer Saunders appeared in?
On television, Jennifer Saunders has appeared in The Simpsons, Friends, Top Gear, The Stranger.
Jennifer Saunders
1958-07-06 · Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK
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.