Ashley Jensen has quickly won hearts in Europe and Hollywood for her breakout performance as the loveable loser, Maggie Jacobs, on the series Extras in which she stars opposite Ricky Gervais. For her work in Extras she has received two British Comedy Awards (Best Actress, Best Newcomer), the Golden Rose of Montreux Award, Best Actress at the Monte Carlo International Television Festival, Glamour Magazine's Comedy Woman of the Year Award and was nominated for a BAFTA Award.

Jensen began her acting career at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. She then studied for three years at Queen Margaret College in Scotland and graduated with awards in comedy, dance, movement on stage, best actress and the Royal Lyceum Award. Since then she has worked extensively in both classical and contemporary theatre, with credits at the Royal Court and Royal National Theatres, including Shakespeare's King Lear as Regan and Lanford Wilson's Burn This as Anna.

Jensen's film credits include Topsy Turvy for director Mike Leigh and Cock and Bull Story opposite Steve Coogan, for director Michael Winterbottom. Her television credits include the BBC's City Central the award-winning series Clocking Off and Eleventh Hour opposite Patrick Stewart.

Born and raised in Annan, Scotland, when not filming Ugly Betty Jensen makes her home in Notting Hill, London with her actor-fiance, Terence Beesley, and her Utonagan dog, Barney.