Jennifer Saunders: The Biography

Jennifer Saunders is Britain’s best-loved comedian, screenwriter, and actress. For the first time, author Jacky Hyams reveals the story behind Jennifer’s rise to fame, her successful career as the Queen of Comedy, and the highs and lows of her remarkable life. Jennifer was born in1958, and in 1977, she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama where she met her comedy partner Dawn French. After graduating, Jennifer began her career at The Comedy Store in London, and it was during this time she met Adrian Edmondson, who would later become her husband. After starring in, and having great success with The Comic Strip Presents..., The Young Ones, Girls on Top, and Happy Families, Jennifer went on to write a TV show with the lovable Dawn French, self-titled French and Saunders, which ran for 10 years. They fast became Britain’s most loved female comedy duo. It was a sketch in the TV show, entitled Modern Mother and Daughter, which led Jennifer to write and create a brand new series: Absolutely Fabulous. AbFab became one of most loved, hilarious, and ingenious TV shows in history, and the part Jennifer was to play, Edina "Eddie" Monsoon, brought her international acclaim and attention. Although perhaps best known for her role as Eddie, working alongside the glamorous Joanna Lumley, Jennifer’s career has taken her on many different paths, including working on the internationally successful movie Shrek 2 as the voice of the Fairy Godmother, declining an OBE and ranking fifth in Top Gear’s "Star in a Reasonably-priced Car" challenge. In 2010, Jennifer faced her toughest challenge yet—being diagnosed with breast cancer. Since her diagnosis she has since made a full recovery and reprised her role as Eddie in Absolutely Fabulous for a Christmas special in 2011. This is Jennifer’s full, unauthorized story.