Actress Ashley Jensen returns to QMU Edinburgh to support launch of Acting and Performance degree
Award-winning actress and Queen Margaret University (QMU) graduate and honorary graduate Ashley Jensen returned to campus on Monday 26 October to share her experiences of working in the creative industries with the next generation of performers.
Ashley, who studied Drama (Acting Studies) at what was then Queen Margaret College, took part in a Q&A with third and fourth year acting students at QMU, reflecting on her career across theatre, television and film.
Known for roles in 'Extras', 'Ugly Betty', ‘Agatha Raisin’, 'Afterlife' and leading in popular crime drama TV series 'Shetland', Ashley has built a highly successful career spanning a wide range of screen and stage productions.
Her visit comes as QMU prepares to welcome a new generation of actors through its new four-year BA (Hons) Acting and Performance degree, with the first students due to begin in September 2027. Drawing on QMU’s highly respected teaching expertise and strong connections with the profession, the course builds on more than 50 years of actor training at QMU, and its existing two-year Acting and Performance degree for students who have completed an HNC.
Ashley said: “Acting is such an exciting career, and it’s also one where you’re constantly learning and discovering new things about yourself. There isn’t one set route into the industry, and you never really stop developing as a performer. You have to be curious, take risks and be prepared to put yourself out there, even when things feel uncertain.
“My time at Queen Margaret was such an important part of my journey, so it’s great to see QMU continuing to broaden its course portfolio. Having the chance to explore different approaches to acting, gain practical experience, and learn alongside other creatives can give aspiring actors a really valuable foundation to build on.”
Aside from Ashley’s impressive professional achievements, she has remained a passionate advocate for the arts in Scotland. She has used her platform to support emerging talent, promote diversity in casting, and champion mental health awareness within the creative industries. Her commitment to these causes reflects values cherished at QMU, and in 2025, the University awarded the Scottish actress and narrator with an honorary degree to mark her contributions to the arts.
Marion Scott, Programme Leader for the new BA (Hons) Acting and Performance course at QMU, said: “Ashley’s career is a great example of the many directions an actor’s training can take them. For our students, hearing directly from someone who has built an established and thriving career is a valuable opportunity to understand what working in the industry really involves. Ashley’s visit gives them the chance to learn from her experiences and reflect on how they can develop their own careers as performers.
“Our new undergraduate Acting and Performance degree reflects how we want to prepare actors for the industry today, offering intensive, practical training in acting, voice, movement, textual analysis and screen practice, with theatre and film in equal measure. Students will also have opportunities to write, devise and develop their own work, collaborating with peers across QMU’s wider creative community. We’re building on QMU’s long-established history of performing arts while creating a course that reflects the range of opportunities available to performers now.”
Small class sizes, individual feedback and teaching staff with professional experience across the creative industries will support students as they develop their skills and prepare for professional practice.
The four-year course will be open to students applying directly from school, while retaining a direct-entry route for applicants with an appropriate college qualification.
Information on the course can be found on the QMU website.