Jennifer Saunders

• Actress

Jennifer Saunders is an iconic English comedian, screenwriter, and actress who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in British comedy history. Born on July 6, 1958, in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, where she met her long-time professional partner, Dawn French. The duo rose to prominence in the 1980s as members of The Comic Strip, a pioneering group of alternative comedians. They eventually gained international fame through their sketch show French and Saunders (1987–2007), which became a staple of BBC programming and was celebrated for its elaborate film parodies and physical comedy. Saunders achieved global solo success as the creator and star of the hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012), playing the hedonistic, fashion-obsessed PR agent Edina Monsoon. The show became a massive cultural phenomenon, winning multiple BAFTA Awards and an International Emmy, and was later adapted into a feature film in 2016. In addition to her live-action work, Saunders is a celebrated voice actress, most notably providing the voice of the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 (2004)—for which she won a People's Choice Award—and Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 film Minions. Her other notable credits include roles in Friends, Coraline, Death on the Nile (2022), and various West End stage productions, including Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. In her personal life, Saunders has been married to fellow comedian and The Young Ones star Adrian Edmondson since 1985, and they have three daughters. She is also a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2009 and subsequently making a full recovery. In 2013, she published her autobiography, Bonkers: My Life in Laughs. As of late 2025, she remains highly active in the industry, continuing to appear in major film productions and lending her voice to high-profile animated projects.

Person History

• All
• Movies

Minions 2015

2015

Minions 2015

2015