Editing Jennifer Saunders (section)

==Career==
===Early career===
French and Saunders would eventually come to public attention as members of the informal comedy collective [[The Comic Strip]], part of the [[alternative comedy]] scene in the early 1980s. They answered a 1980 advert in ''[[The Stage]]'' newspaper looking for female comedians to perform at The Comic Strip, which had, until that point, only had male performers.<ref name="screenonline"/><ref name="looking"/> When they walked into the audition, they were immediately told, "You're booked. When can you start?"<ref name="farewell"/> They became continuing members of The Comic Strip, which included [[Adrian Edmondson]], [[Rik Mayall]], [[Peter Richardson (British director)|Peter Richardson]], [[Nigel Planer]], [[Pete Richens]], [[Alexei Sayle]] and [[Robbie Coltrane]].<ref name="screenonline"/><ref name="looking"/>

The group performed at the Boulevard Theatre, above Soho's [[Raymond Revuebar]], and gained a cult following, with visiting audience members including [[Dustin Hoffman]], [[Jack Nicholson]], and [[Robin Williams]], who once joined in the performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56997|title=Home Cinema @ The Digital Fix – The Comic Strip Presents – The Complete Collection in July|work=Film @ The Digital Fix |publisher=DVD times.co.uk|date=4 July 2005|access-date=7 October 2010}}</ref> By the time French and Saunders became members of The Comic Strip, French was already working as a drama teacher, while Saunders was on [[Jobseeker's Allowance|the dole]] and spending much of her time in bed.<ref name="looking"/>

====1980s and 1990s====
The comedy group appeared on [[Channel 4]]'s first night on air, in the first episode of ''[[The Comic Strip#The Comic Strip Presents...|The Comic Strip Presents]]: Five Go Mad In Dorset'', broadcast on 2 November 1982.<ref name="screenonline"/><ref>Neil Wilkes. [https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a25747/comic-strip-returns-to-channel-4/ "'Comic Strip' returns to Channel 4"], Digital Spy; retrieved 15 November 2021.</ref> In the episodes "[[Bad News (band)|Bad News]]" and "More Bad News", Saunders plays a trashy rock journalist touring with the fictional [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band, Bad News.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74769a5d|title=More Bad News (1988)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109082623/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74769a5d |access-date=29 December 2023|archive-date=9 November 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0544862/|title="The Comic Strip Presents" Bad News Tour (TV Episode 1983) ⭐ 8.1 &#124; Comedy|access-date=29 December 2023|website=IMDb.com}}</ref>

In 1985, Saunders starred in and co-wrote ''[[Girls on Top (British TV series)|Girls on Top]]'' with French, [[Tracey Ullman]], and [[Ruby Wax]], which portrayed four eccentric women sharing a flat in London.<ref name="screenonline"/> Saunders also appeared in [[Ben Elton]]'s ''[[Happy Families (1985 TV series)|Happy Families]]'' where she played various members of the same family, including all four Fuddle sisters in the six-episode BBC [[situation comedy]]. Saunders starred in a Comic Strip film called ''The Supergrass'', a parody of slick 1980s police dramas, directed by Peter Richardson. Saunders played [[Meryl Streep]] playing [[Arthur Scargill]]'s wife in ''Strike'', a Comic Strip spoof on the [[1984 miners' strike]]. She appeared twice as a guest on ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]''.<ref name="screenonline"/>

In 1987, she and French created ''[[French and Saunders]]'', a popular [[sketch comedy]] series for the [[BBC]] which sporadically aired until 2007, often with long gaps between series.<ref name="Dawnscreenonline">Editors at Screen Online. [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/499480/index.html Dawn French"], screenonline.org.uk; retrieved 10 May 2007.</ref> Saunders also appeared in [[Amnesty International]]'s ''[[The Secret Policeman's Ball|The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball]]'' live benefit in 1989, along with Dawn French and others.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Saunders and French followed separate careers as well as irregularly maintaining their comedy sketch show. Saunders' biggest solo success has been ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'', based largely on a 14-minute ''French & Saunders'' sketch called "Modern Mother and Daughter". Saunders and French were going to star together, but, just as the studio had been booked, French received a long-awaited phone call confirming an adoption agency had a baby for her to adopt.<ref name="farewell"/>

Saunders proceeded to star in the comedy. The series, which she wrote and starred in as the irresponsible fashion [[Public relations|PR]] agent [[Absolutely Fabulous#Eddy|Edina Monsoon]] alongside [[Joanna Lumley]], who played [[Patsy Stone]], brought her international acclaim and attention.<ref name="screenonline"/> The show ran for five full series, two telemovies, three special episodes, and a feature film over the course of 24 years from 1992 to 2016.<ref name="screenonline"/> The series is also known as ''Ab Fab''<ref name="looking"/> and was broadcast in the United States on [[Comedy Central]] and [[BBC America]], becoming cult viewing.<ref>James Welsh.[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a7694/ab-fab-stars-receive-glbt-pride-award/ "'Ab Fab' stars receive GLBT Pride award"], Digital Spy; retrieved 15 November 2021.</ref>

Saunders has appeared on the American [[sitcom]]s ''[[Roseanne]]'', playing Edina Monsoon in the episode "[[List of Roseanne episodes|Satan, Darling]]", and ''[[Friends]]'' as Andrea Waltham, the step-mother of [[Ross Geller#Emily Waltham|Emily]], [[Ross Geller]]'s fiancée, in the episodes "[[The One After Ross Says Rachel]]" and "[[The One with Ross's Wedding]]". Although they share no scenes, Jennifer's Absolutely Fabulous co-star [[June Whitfield]] also appeared in ''The One With Ross's Wedding Part Two'' as the Walthams' housekeeper. In 1999, she appeared alongside French in ''[[Let Them Eat Cake (TV series)|Let Them Eat Cake]]''.<ref name="screenonline"/>

====2000s====
{{Rquote|right|I wanted to write something about the sort of community I was living in, why it works and how different it was. How life in the country didn't have to be sinister.|Saunders on her motivations for creating ''Jam & Jerusalem''<ref>[[Rosie Millard]]. [https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/france/paris/absolutely-no-more-tv-sketch-shows-darlings-jvgwxd6xmw8 "Absolutely no more TV sketch shows, darlings"], ''The Times ''; retrieved 15 November 2021.</ref>}}
Saunders wrote and starred in a [[comedy drama]] about a [[Women's Institute]] entitled ''[[Jam & Jerusalem]]'', also known as ''Clatterford'' in the [[United States]]. The first series aired in 2006, the second in 2008, and the third in 2009 on [[BBC One]].<ref>Press Release. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2006/12_december/jennifer_saunders.shtml BBC America to co-produce new comedies with Jennifer Saunders], bbc.co.uk; retrieved 5 October 2007.</ref> The show starred [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]], [[Sally Phillips]], and [[Sue Johnston]], as well as [[Dawn French]] and [[Joanna Lumley]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chater|first=David|date=18 November 2006|title=TV Choice|work=Times|via=Factiva}}</ref>

In 2007, Saunders and psychologist [[Tanya Byron]]<ref name="farewell"/> wrote [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle]]'' about a neurotic [[daytime television|daytime]] [[talk show]] host. The show ran for one series. Saunders played the eponymous character whose programme features crude headlines such as "Wife a slapper? Lie detector reveals all".<ref>Carol Midgley. [https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/jennifer-saunders-and-dr-tanya-byron-take-on-the-chat-shows-b9dwcxhgbr3 "Jennifer Saunders and Dr Tanya Byron take on the chat shows"], The Times; retrieved 15 November 2021.</ref>

Also in 2007, the final series of ''French & Saunders'' aired. ''A Bucket o' French & Saunders'' featured a compilation of old and new sketches and aired on BBC One in September 2007. It was the third show she had written in a year.<ref name="farewell"/> In 2008 and 2009, French & Saunders completed their final live tour, ''French & Saunders: Still Alive''.<ref>Ed Stafford. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2008/oct/11/french.saunders.still.alive "Comedy preview: French & Saunders: Still Alive"], theguardian.com, 11 October 2008; accessed 18 December 2017.</ref>

Saunders appeared on the "[[Top Gear test track|Star in a Reasonably Priced Car]]" segment of BBC Two's motoring show ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', posting a lap time of 1:46.1s, making her the fifth-fastest guest ever in the car that was used at that time. A self-confessed petrolhead, she has a passion for [[Alfa Romeo]]s and has so far owned four.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/celebritylaps.shtml |title=Top Gear – Celebrity Laps |publisher=bbc.co.uk |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214063902/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj59/features/celeblaps8-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2010s====
In 2011, Saunders wrote and appeared in "[[Red Nose Day 2011|Uptown Downstairs Abbey]]", the [[Comic Relief]] parody of the critically acclaimed historical television dramas ''[[Downton Abbey]]'' and ''[[Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series)|Upstairs Downstairs]]''. Playing the [[List of Downton Abbey characters#Violet Crawley|Dowager Countess]], she starred alongside Lumley, [[Kim Cattrall]], [[Victoria Wood]], [[Harry Enfield]], [[Patrick Barlow]], [[Dale Winton]], [[Olivia Colman]], [[Tim Vine]], [[Simon Callow]], [[Michael Gambon]], and [[Harry Hill]].{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

In 2012, Saunders guest-starred in ''[[Dead Boss]]'', a BBC Three comedy set in the fictional Broadmarsh prison where she plays the cruel and work-shy governor, Margaret.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t3m16/characters/margaret|title=BBC Three – Dead Boss – Margaret|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=11 April 2014|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029100002/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t3m16/characters/margaret|url-status=dead}}</ref> The show's creator, [[Sharon Horgan]], stated that she 'begged' Saunders to take the role, having been a fan of Saunders' previous comedy work.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tarley |first=Rachel |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/902101-dead-boss-producers-we-begged-jennifer-saunders-to-be-on-the-show|title=Dead Boss producers: We begged Jennifer Saunders to be on the show|publisher=Metro.co.uk|date=14 June 2012|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

She also wrote the script for the [[Spice Girls]]-based [[jukebox musical]] ''[[Viva Forever!]]''

In 2013, Saunders starred as [[Lady Constance Keeble]] in the [[BBC]] adaptation of ''[[Blandings (TV series)|Blandings]]'' by [[P. G. Wodehouse]]. In 2017, Saunders appeared on the ''[[Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Looking for Mr. Goodbart]]" as an elderly woman accompanied around by [[Bart Simpson|Bart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766837/|title=Jennifer Saunders|website=IMDb|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

===Film===
Saunders has also appeared in several films, such as ''[[In the Bleak Midwinter (film)|In the Bleak Midwinter]]'' (1995), ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' (1996), ''Fanny & Elvis'' (1999), and also made [[cameo appearance]]s in the [[Spice Girls]]' film ''[[Spice World (film)|Spice World]]'' (1997) and ''[[Absolument fabuleux]]'' (2001), a [[French film]] based on ''Absolutely Fabulous.''<ref name="screenonline"/><ref>Kimberley Dadds [https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a63018/spice-girls-timeline/ Spice Girls: Timeline], Digital Spy; accessed 15 November 2021.</ref>

In the animated film, ''[[Shrek 2]]'' (2004), she provided the voice of the [[Fairy Godmother (Shrek)|Fairy Godmother]] and sang the songs "The Fairy Godmother Song" and "[[Holding Out for a Hero]]". Her part took only four days to record.<ref name="looking"/> The sequel broke the first ''[[Shrek]]''{{'}}s own box office record in the U.S in just a fortnight,<ref name="looking"/> and it proceeded to make $353 million in just three weeks in the U.S.<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article450064.ece] {{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Her role won the [[People's Choice Award]] for the best movie villain in 2005.<ref>Daniel Saney. ''[https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a18231/peoples-choice-awards-presented/ People's Choice Awards presented]'' Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 November 2021.</ref> 

She voiced Miss Spink in the animated film ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]'', in which her comedy partner Dawn French voiced a character called Miss Forcible. In 2015, she voiced [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in the animated film ''[[Minions (film)|Minions]],''<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=White|first1=James|title=New Minions Promo Drops Online|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/new-minions-promo-drops-online/|magazine=Empire Online|access-date=15 November 2021|date=15 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=YNTrailer>{{cite web|title=Trailer: 'Minions' spin-off from 'Despicable Me' series|url=https://news.yahoo.com/trailer-minions-spin-off-despicable-series-111858775.html|publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=26 May 2015|date=4 November 2014}}</ref> and in 2016, she voiced Miss Nana Noodleman in the animated film ''[[Sing (2016 American film)|Sing]]'', reprising the role again in ''[[Sing 2]]''.

In 2022 she starred in ''[[Death on the Nile (2022 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' as Marie Van Schuyler alongside [[Dawn French]], [[Gal Gadot]] and [[Kenneth Branagh]] who also directed the film.

===Theatre===
In 2018, Saunders appeared at the Vaudeville Theatre in the production of ''[[Lady Windermere's Fan]]'' as The Duchess of Berwick.

In June 2019, she appeared on stage in the production of Noël Coward's play, ''[[Blithe Spirit (play)|Blithe Spirit]]'', as eccentric clairvoyant Madam Arcati. The show first opened at Theatre Royal Bath, and after a short tour of England it later transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre, London in March 2020. Two weeks into its run performances were cancelled due to the pandemic.

She reprised the role in autumn 2021 for eight weeks in the West End at The [[Harold Pinter Theatre]].

In 2022, Saunders played the role of Mother Superior in ''[[Sister Act the Musical]]'' for six weeks at the [[Eventim Apollo Hammersmith]], alongside [[Beverley Knight]] as Deloris Van Cartier.

In December 2023, Saunders made her pantomime debut as [[Captain Hook]] in ''[[Peter Pan]]'' at the [[London Palladium]] alongside [[Julian Clary]], [[Paul Zerdin]], [[Nigel Havers]], [[Gary Wilmot]], [[Rob Madge]], [[Frances Mayli McCann|Francis Mayli McCann]] and Louis Gaunt.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Robert Dex |date=2023-09-26 |title=Jennifer Saunders to make her Panto debut opposite Julian Clary in Peter Pan |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/jennifer-saunders-panto-debut-julian-clary-peter-pan-london-palladium-b1109481.html |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>