Jennifer Saunders

Birthday: 6 July 1958, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Birth Name: Jennifer Jane Saunders

Height: 163 cm

Jennifer Saunders was born July 6th 1958 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, UK. She attended Central School of Speech and Drama where she met her comedy partner Dawn French. Like many of the early 80s groundbreaking "alternative" comedians she began her career as comedienne/actress/writer with Dawn French at "The Comedy Store" in London, where she met fellow comedians Adrian Edmondson (later her husband), Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Alexei Sayle and Peter Richardson, who later opened his own club, "The Comic Strip", where these comedians quickly formed a regular format.The Comic Strip team were transferred to television screens with great success as they all starred alongside each other in The Comic Strip Presents... (1982). After The Comic Strip she starred in a few episodes of The Young Ones (1982), Girls on Top (1985) and Happy Families (1985). Afterwards she and Dawn French wrote a TV show of their own, French and Saunders (1987), which was an immense success due to the double acts genius writing, brilliant acting performances and hilarious spoofs of world famous blockbusters and bands.It was in one of the episodes of "French and Saunders" that the audience had the pleasure of watching a sketch about an uptight daughter and a crazy, neurotic mother that became a comedy classic sitcom. When the BBC next asked Saunders to write something, she just couldn't come up with any ideas, so she decided to expand on that sketch, making it more outrageous and therefore funnier - Absolutely Fabulous (1992) was born.Perhaps by coincidence Saunders had created one of the most loved, funny, and creative TV Shows in BBC history. Three series were made, in 1995 the show was put on hold until Saunders began writing again and came back with a fourth series in 2001. She is always ready for charity as well, she has been doing "Comic Relief" with a lot of her comedy companions ever since 1986. Jennifer Saunders, one of the most loved TV faces in Britain, will hit the screens with her fifth series of Absolutely Fabulous in 2003. Hide

I cannot do confrontation. You know that fight or flight thing? I'm flight. I just don't want the ar Show more I cannot do confrontation. You know that fight or flight thing? I'm flight. I just don't want the argument. Hide

There were a lot of areas we didn't cover that I'm hoping to cover if we do some specials. One is to Show more There were a lot of areas we didn't cover that I'm hoping to cover if we do some specials. One is to see more of Patsy's home and her home life, which is just the saddest thing. Hide

Well, I'm lucky because, you see, I'll probably bounce back from this role. Well, I'm lucky because, you see, I'll probably bounce back from this role.

When you are doing chemo, you have a load of time. When you are doing chemo, you have a load of time.

I think the idea of losing your hair is still very potent, emotional thing. I think the idea of losing your hair is still very potent, emotional thing.

Porsches are a great drive. Porsches are a great drive.

I grew up with a mother who, every time she saw something, would say, I'm going to look that up. And Show more I grew up with a mother who, every time she saw something, would say, I'm going to look that up. And I've become that person - I've become the reference-book person. Hide

I absolutely love Scotland. I'm always happy there. I absolutely love Scotland. I'm always happy there.

I'm a walkawayer. If someone brings me a really crap meal in a restaurant I will tell them it's wond Show more I'm a walkawayer. If someone brings me a really crap meal in a restaurant I will tell them it's wonderful and then just never go to the restaurant again. I think that's the best way to do it generally, rather than sit and fight and annoy your head. Just pretend to enjoy it and then leave. Hide

I write for women because it's the only way I can use what I've experienced. It's good that people l Show more I write for women because it's the only way I can use what I've experienced. It's good that people like what I write, but I don't want to go down the feminist path. Hide

You get crushes on people. You have to see them every day in that week. They're a fantastic person, Show more You get crushes on people. You have to see them every day in that week. They're a fantastic person, and it could be a man or a woman. Hide

No, sometimes we just have to take liberties because the idea was so good. I wish we'd just gone wit Show more No, sometimes we just have to take liberties because the idea was so good. I wish we'd just gone with the idea that Patsy had been a man. It would have been fantastic. Hide

Like all girls, when I was growing up, I always worried about this bit of me being too fat or that b Show more 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. Hide

The truth is, you can be honest with your friends - but you just can't be honest with the general pu Show more The truth is, you can be honest with your friends - but you just can't be honest with the general public if you want to keep your friends. Hide

We had this party in New York, and there were a lot of gay men there dressed up as the characters. I Show more 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. Hide

I'm my own worst critic. I could tell the critics a thing or two about my shows. I'm my own worst critic. I could tell the critics a thing or two about my shows.

I'd much rather have sat there and just been a fly on the wall, instead of having to smile at people Show more I'd much rather have sat there and just been a fly on the wall, instead of having to smile at people. I'd rather have been a waitress. Just gone round and stared at people. Hide

I think when Madonna did sexy stuff, she looked more in control. And I think it looked more like she Show more I think when Madonna did sexy stuff, she looked more in control. And I think it looked more like she was breaking boundaries. Today, it feels like it's pandering to everything that's wrong, and I don't think it's nice, especially for young girls. Hide

Me just being myself in public or on TV is the biggest nightmare in the world. Me just being myself in public or on TV is the biggest nightmare in the world.

They have become part of us in that if we get dressed up as them, we don't actually have to have a s Show more They have become part of us in that if we get dressed up as them, we don't actually have to have a script. You can just become them. You just become nervy. Hide

I think it is a bit harder for women starting in comedy. I think it is a bit harder for women starting in comedy.

I used to take someone with me for the chemotherapy so I could do jokes. You always try and find som Show more I used to take someone with me for the chemotherapy so I could do jokes. You always try and find something absurd. Hide

Well, I would definitely give up performing... But I would still sit down in an office and pretend t Show more Well, I would definitely give up performing... But I would still sit down in an office and pretend to write with Dawn, even if we never produced anything, because it's just hilarious. I would miss that. Hide

I always swore I would never write a book. But I read Clare Balding's and it was really interesting Show more I always swore I would never write a book. But I read Clare Balding's and it was really interesting and so prettily written and lovely and not too revealing. I went to her book launch and met her editor who said 'why don't you think about it? You can do it however you want, based on your characters or you.' Hide

I came to the Kardashians a bit late, and I'm still just gob-smacked. Who are these people? I came to the Kardashians a bit late, and I'm still just gob-smacked. Who are these people?

I can remember the first face-lift show that came on. I rang up everyone - are you watching? I'm wat Show more I can remember the first face-lift show that came on. I rang up everyone - are you watching? I'm watching. Hide

Men would find it much harder because men have such odd personal relationships with each other. They Show more Men would find it much harder because men have such odd personal relationships with each other. They don't really emotionally connect, whereas women do. I think women become very close. Hide

When I was a child, a lot of my time was spent in Scotland because my mother's Scottish, and we used Show more When I was a child, a lot of my time was spent in Scotland because my mother's Scottish, and we used to go up to Ayrshire and visit relations in a place called Dalry. Hide

Lacroix has been fantastic. He's very nice. He gets the joke, and I think that's a good thing. Lacroix has been fantastic. He's very nice. He gets the joke, and I think that's a good thing.

Commissioners are obsessed with young people, which is funny because they don't watch telly - only o Show more Commissioners are obsessed with young people, which is funny because they don't watch telly - only old people do. Hide

But I think our humour is exactly the same today. Only, we've made rules now. We've said we are not Show more But I think our humour is exactly the same today. Only, we've made rules now. We've said we are not going to do prosthetic make-up scenes, because when they take it off half your face comes off. Hide

I haven't got time in my life to do all the things I should be doing, like running and dieting and d Show more I haven't got time in my life to do all the things I should be doing, like running and dieting and decorating my house, buying some furniture. Hide

At home, I relax by gardening, or just pottering. At home, I relax by gardening, or just pottering.

I'm a total petrolhead. My three brothers and I used to ride scrambling bikes in the field near wher Show more I'm a total petrolhead. My three brothers and I used to ride scrambling bikes in the field near where we lived. We all liked cars. I've always loved the smell of an engine. Hide

The way certain men treat women is influenced by the Internet a lot. The way certain men treat women is influenced by the Internet a lot.

I remember when the first police scary video thing came out, and you thought, wow, ooh, look at this Show more I remember when the first police scary video thing came out, and you thought, wow, ooh, look at this, come and look, come and look. And now it's on every channel. Hide

'The Rocky Horror Show' [The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)] was actually my first musical love. 'The Rocky Horror Show' [The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)] was actually my first musical love.

My job gives me the attention I'd otherwise crave. My job gives me the attention I'd otherwise crave.

The reason they keep it so tight is that no one liked them, so that without each other, actually, th Show more The reason they keep it so tight is that no one liked them, so that without each other, actually, they couldn't exist. They support each other. They support their flaws and everything else. Hide

I did grieve a bit when I wasn't having the chemo anymore. I was used to sitting in the little chair Show more I did grieve a bit when I wasn't having the chemo anymore. I was used to sitting in the little chair and then the nurse would come and do it. It was like that was your job for that long and it was reassuring. Hide

I'm a really good driver. I've been driving since I was very small, and I do like driving fast. I re Show more I'm a really good driver. I've been driving since I was very small, and I do like driving fast. I remember the first time my dad taught me that when you go into a corner you change down then put your foot right down on the way out. I'm very competitive about driving. Hide

I think people imagine that your fame somehow sort of equates with how much you get paid. I think people imagine that your fame somehow sort of equates with how much you get paid.

I recommend a little dose of cancer to anyone. I recommend a little dose of cancer to anyone.

I love the TV show, and if you make a bad movie it means you've soiled it. Just like if we made an a Show more I love the TV show, and if you make a bad movie it means you've soiled it. Just like if we made an advert. We were offered so many times and I'd say, look, this is the good thing, and you can't compromise that, because then you compromise the integrity of the characters. Hide

We were watching the first series recently, and it has a charm, a kind of amateur charm. At that poi Show more We were watching the first series recently, and it has a charm, a kind of amateur charm. At that point we didn't involve ourselves technically at all - we just messed about and told our jokes - and it looks a bit like that. Hide

I've never had Botox. But I like people to imagine I have. I've never had Botox. But I like people to imagine I have.

My daughters related to something in the Spice Girls that made them feel better about being female. Show more My daughters related to something in the Spice Girls that made them feel better about being female. They truly started to believe girls could do anything. They could be fat, thin, anything they wanted to be. Hide

I did want a boy child because I had this romantic idea that a boy child when he's 16 takes his moth Show more I did want a boy child because I had this romantic idea that a boy child when he's 16 takes his mother out for dinner. Hide

Jennifer Saunders's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (320) as Creator (1)

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Jennifer Saunders'S roles

Herself - Guest Presenter, Herself