Jennifer Jane Saunders is a BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning English comedienne, screenwriter and actress.She first came into widespread attention in the 1980s and the 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 proceeded to write and star in their eponymous sketch show, French & Saunders, and 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 US-made 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 has written and starred in Jam & Jerusalem and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle.
The comedy partner of Dawn French
Has three daughters, Ella Edmondson , Beattie Edmondson and Freya Edmondson , with Adrian Edmondson.
The name of her character, Edina Monsoon, on "Absolutely Fabulous" is a play on the name "Eddie Monsoon," which in turn is a play on her husband, Adrian Edmondson s surname that he has used as a character name in comedy performances.
Can do a very accurate impression of Irish actress Amanda Burton and used it in "Witless Silence", a "French and Saunders" spoof of Burtons TV series "Silent Witness" .
(December 2003) Was revealed that she and partner Dawn French declined Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honors "for services to comedy drama" in 2001.
Won a Peoples Choice Award for "Favorite Movie Villain" for playing the wicked Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 (January 2005)
The Eurythmics songs "Jennifer", (from the album "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This"), and "Adrian" (from the album "Be Yourself Tonight") are dedicated to her and her husband.
Presented Seth Lakeman with the Folk Singer Of The Year award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2007.
Got a voice coach to help her sing for the Fairy Godmothers opening number in Shrek 2 .
Because she was in the midst of filming another season of "Absolutely Fabulous" , her vocal performance in Shrek 2 was recorded in England.
Performed all her own singing in Shrek 2 .
(July 2010) Is now in remission after secretly battling Breast Cancer since October 2009.
Has two grandsons, Fred (b. 27 August 2012) and Albert (b. February 2014), via daughter Ella Edmondson.
Despite playing her mother on "Absolutely Fabulous" , Saunders is only 10 years older than Julia Sawalha.
Originally auditioned for the voice-part of Ursula in The Little Mermaid by recording an audio tape, but she was turned down for the part. However, Steven Spielberg heard the tape many years later and by his request, she was cast as the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 .
We had this party in New York, and there were a lot of gay men there,dressed up as the characters. I showed up just looking like myself, but,it was a real case of shame. They looked so fantastic. We could never,quite live up to it.
Like all girls, when I was growing up, I always worried about this bit,of me being too fat or that bit. But I look back at pictures of me when,I was young, and I was thin and gorgeous.
When you are doing chemo, you have a load of time.
The way certain men treat women is influenced by the Internet a lot.
Porsches are a great drive.
I used to take someone with me for the chemotherapy so I could do jokes.
You always try and find something absurd.
I think people imagine that your fame somehow sort of equates with how,much you get paid.
I think it is a bit harder for women starting in comedy.
I recommend a little dose of cancer to anyone.
Who are these people?,At home, I relax by gardening, or just pottering.
I think the idea of losing your hair is still very potent, emotional,thing.
You get crushes on people. You have to see them every day in that week.
Me just being myself in public or on TV is the biggest nightmare in the,world.
If I could go back and say one thing to my younger self it would be: YOU ARE NOT FAT.
At home, I relax by gardening, or just pottering.
