Highest rated as cast or director
Coraline
2009
Absolutely Fabulous
1992 · 6 Seasons
French & Saunders
1987 · 6 Seasons
The Stranger
2020 · 1 Season
The Pentaverate
2022 · 1 Season
Biography
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.
Acted in 117
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
Only Child
Sally · 1 episode
We Work for the Dead
The Mother (voice)
- 2023
Sumotherhood
DI Brookes
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
2010s
- 2019
Completely Bad News
Sally
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again
Meryl Streep / Cher
- 2018
Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires
Dr. Alex Cular
Lady Windermere's Fan
The Duchess of Berwick
Grandpa's Great Escape
Miss Dandy
- 2017
300 Years of French & Saunders
Movie
- 2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2015
Josh
Judith · 3 episodes
- 2014
The Boy in the Dress
Miss Windsor
- 2013
- 2012
Five Go to Rehab
Anne
Dead Boss
Governor Margaret · 6 episodes
- 2011
The Hunt for Tony Blair
Lady Thatcher
French & Saunders: The Ingenue Years
Movie
Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders
Movie
- 2010
This Is Jinsy
TV
2000s
- 2009
- 2007
The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle
TV
A Bucket O' French and Saunders
TV
- 2006
L'Entente cordiale
Gwendoline McFarlane
- 2004
Bottom Mindless Violence
Helen Mucus / Anita Harris (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2003
More Great Comedy Moments
Jodie Foster / Eddie Monsoon (archive footage)
- 2002
The Best of French & Saunders
Various
Pongwiffy
TV
- 2001
Absolutely Fabulous
Une spectatrice du défilé
- 2000
Mirrorball
Vivienne Keill
French & Saunders - Live
Various roles
1990s
- 1999
Let Them Eat Cake
TV
- 1998
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life
Edina "Eddy" Monsoon
Four Men in a Car
Helen
- 1997
- 1996
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Edina Monsoon
- 1995
- 1994
French and Saunders' Christmas Carol
Various Roles
- 1993
Prince Cinders
Fairy (voice)
Jealousy
Jane/Margory
Demonella
The Devil
Space Virgins from Planet Sex
Needle
French & Saunders: At the Movies
Movie
- 1992
Wild Turkey
Neighbour
Red Nose of Courage
Margaret Thatcher
- 1990
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
Dorcas
Rita Rudner
TV
French & Saunders LIVE
Movie
Spaghetti Hoops
Maria
Oxford
Hannah
South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1
Cathy
South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!
Cathy
GLC: The Carnage Continues
Brigitte Nielsen as Margaret Thatcher, The Ice Maiden
1980s
- 1989
Employees From Hell
Movie
Communicators From Hell
Movie
Customer Service From Hell
Movie
Colleagues From Hell
Movie
- 1988
French And Saunders - Christmas Special '88
Various Characters
The Storyteller: Sapsorrow
Badsister 1
Mr Jolly Lives Next Door
Monica
More Bad News
Sally
The Strike
Meryl Streep as Mrs Scargill
Comic Relief
TV
- 1987
- 1986
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
TV
Private Enterprise
Debbie
Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)
Jessica
Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger
Movie
The Dangerous Brothers
TV
- 1985
Girls On Top
Jennifer · 13 episodes
- 1984
Slags
Little Sister
Eddie Monsoon - a Life?
Doreen
Gino: Full Story and Pics
Angie
A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques
Shona
Susie
Lorna
Dirty Movie
June
- 1983
Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Anne
Bad News
Sally
The Beat Generation
Anne
War
Various Roles
- 1982
Five Go Mad in Dorset
Anne
- 1981
The Comic Strip
Movie
1960s
- 1967
Wrote 22
2010s
- 2019
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again
Writer
- 2016
2000s
- 2008
French & Saunders: Still Alive
Writer
- 2006
- 2003
More Great Comedy Moments
Writer
- 2002
The Best of French & Saunders
Writer
- 2001
Absolutely Fabulous
Writer
- 2000
Mirrorball
Writer
French & Saunders - Live
Writer
1990s
- 1998
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life
Writer
- 1996
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Writer
- 1995
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
Writer
- 1994
French and Saunders' Christmas Carol
Writer
- 1992
1980s
- 1988
French And Saunders - Christmas Special '88
Writer
- 1987
- 1986
Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)
Writer
- 1985
Girls On Top
Writer
- 1984
Slags
Writer
- 1982
- 1981
The Comic Strip
Writer
Created 6
2000s
- 2007
The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle
Creator
A Bucket O' French and Saunders
Creator
- 2006
1990s
- 1992
1980s
- 1987
- 1985
Girls On Top
Creator
Other crew 1
2000s
- 2000
Mirrorball
Creator
Produced 1
2020s
- 2024
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out
Executive Producer
Appearances50
2020s
- 2026
People's Emergency Briefing
Herself
Becoming Victoria Wood
Self
- 2024
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out
Self / Edina "Eddie" Monsoon
Kirsty MacColl at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
- 2023
Dawn French Is a Huge Twat
Self (uncredited)
imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter
Self - Featured Artist
- 2022
Fantasy Football League
Themselves · 2 episodes
- 2021
French & Saunders: Funny Women
Self
Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable
Self · 1 episode
- 2020
Richard Osman's House of Games Night
Self · 1 episode
2010s
- 2019
There's Something About Movies
Self - Team Captain · 24 episodes
- 2017
Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers
Self - Presenter
Comic Relief: Red Nose Day
Self
Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief
Self - Judge · 1 episode
- 2016
Insert Name Here
Self - Panelist · 1 episode
- 2015
- 2013
The Great Comic Relief Bake Off
Self - Contestant · 1 episode
- 2012
The Spice Girls Story: Viva Forever!
Self
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Self - Host · 1 episode
- 2011
2000s
- 2009
Coraline: The Making of 'Coraline'
Self
- 2008
French & Saunders: Still Alive
Self
- 2007
- 2004
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
The Making of Shrek 2
Self
- 2002
Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy
Self · 3 episodes
- 2001
Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl
Self
1990s
- 1999
It’s Lulu
Self
- 1998
- 1995
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
Self / Edina "Eddy" Monsoon (archive footage)
- 1994
Dusty
Self - Presenter
- 1991
Amnesty International's Big 30
Self
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
- 1988
An Audience With Victoria Wood
Self
- 1987
- 1986
Comedians Do It On Stage
Self
- 1982
1970s
- 1978
- 1976
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · 15 episodes
