Ashley Jensen

(The Ugly Betty related baby boom continues.)

People Magazine reports Jensen and actor husband Terence Beesley welcomed son Francis Jonathan Beesley.  The boy already has a nickname:  "Frankie Jack".  That would really roll off Jensen’s Scottish tongue – what a great name!

Jensen and Beesley did not know the gender of the baby, and it wasn’t accidentally, it was on purpose. 

"We thought there are so few surprises left in the world," Jensen, 40, explained. "We wanted to be surprised, so we don’t have the room painted pink or blue."

Jensen, since leaving Ugly Betty, has been starring in the Jenna Elfman CBS comedy Accidentally On Purpose.  She is going to be going back to work soon.

Congratulations Ashley and Terence, and welcome to the world, Frankie Jack!

Image: Bauer Griffin

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Jensen may be best known as the seamstress Christina McKinney on Ugly Betty (also, Betty’s best friend at Mode), but since leaving the show at the end of season 3 (at least as a regular character), Jensen has been working on the new Jenna Elfman sitcom Accidentally On Purpose.

Jensen plays Elman’s successful sidekick Olivia on Accidentally, and they are not writing Ashley’s real-life pregnancy into the script.

Recently, Ashley spoke to EW’s Watch With Kristin, and was very open to the possibility of a return to Ugly Betty.  "There has been talk of it.  I didn’t die in it. I wasn’t run over by a tractor, and I didn’t fall down an elevator shaft.”

She said, "It’s very feasible that she [Christina] could come back at some point. Henry came back at the end of season three, so maybe at the end of season four. I’d love to do it. I’d love to come back again. I’d be great. It’s all worked out rather well because I simply couldn’t be flying back to New York at the moment, what with my condition [being pregnant]."

Ashley even has her own idea about how Christina returns:  "I would like to see her come back hugely successful, and she gives Wilhelmina a run for her money. Maybe she’s got her own design line, or something, and Wilhelmina needs her design line, so Wilhelmina has to bow down, sort of beg Christina. That’s feasible isn’t it?"

I like it. 

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

Image: INF

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A representative for the actress tells People Magazine that she and her husband Terence Beesley are expecting their first child in the fall.

Speculation about Jensen’s pregnancy has been bouncing around the internet for a few weeks now (including some baby-bumpy photos).  We now have official confirmation!

As many have noted, this is a little bit of life imitating art, since Jensen’s Ugly Betty persona, Christina, gave birth to what turned out to be her own son (previously thought to be Wilhelmina’s) in episode 3.15, There’s No Place Like Mode.

Jensen is said to be “excited” about the pregnancy, but continues work on Accidentally. 

Just think, this child will have all sorts of playmates – Ana Ortiz’s daughter, Eric Mabius’ son, Rebecca Romijn’s twins.  If I were America Ferrera, I’d be a little nervous. 

Congratulations, Ashley and Terence!

Image: Fame Pictures

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Never mind.

The show’s creator, Silvio Horta, told UK tabloid The Sun that, as reported, the split was mutual, but the reason was actually the lack of good story lines for Ashley’s character Christina.

“From the get-go, we found some really good stories for her, but we never found enough to service her character the way we wanted to and the way that she wanted,” Horta said.

Then, he said something that sounded eerily familiar.

“She wanted to do more, but it was difficult with a large ensemble like this to give her more. I hope in the future she’ll come back. She’s an important part of the show.”

Hmmm.  Chris Gorham.  Rebecca Romijn.  Now, Ashley Jensen.

Horta is starting to sound like a character from the Sopranos.    Beware, if Silvio ever says how important you are to the show, and how he hopes you’ll be back!

So, I guess Freddy Rodriguez is safe?

Anyway, from all the reports I’ve seen, it definitely was a mutual parting, so it’s hard to be too angry about it.   Ashley is an incredible actress, and like Gorham and Romijn, she’ll be starring in another show in no time.

And, she can stay in LA!

Image: Newscom

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EW’s Ausiello has confirmed the scoopage first reported by EOnline’s Kristin back in January (which we relayed and speculated about here).  According to Ausiello, an ABC insider says that the break was “completely mutual”.  Jensen was not happy with the move to NYC, and was the only cast member not to relocate.  That was one heck of a commute!  (Which explains Jensen’s amount of screen time on the show)

Executive producer Silvio Horta DID make a statement:  "While we’re sad that Ashley will not be returning next season as a series regular, she is still a member of the Ugly Betty family, so don’t be surprised if you see Christina pop back up in Betty’s life."

So, that’s leaves us with  a bit of speculation.  What will happen on the show to explain Christina’s departure?  My best guess, based on her behavior in 3.17, Sugar Daddy, is that she’s going to take the baby and go away somewhere.  Now, it doesn’t HAVE to be a kidnapping.  Don’t forget, Wilhelmina was acting like she was overwhelmed taking care of William (although the writers seem to have forgotten that she already has one child, Niko).  Regardless, I see an adoption plot line coming up – especially after that speech Christina gave Amanda.

So, what do you think about Jensen’s departure?  Any speculation about how Christina will leave the show?

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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According to Access Hollywood, a representative of the show has told them that the reports are “not true”. (Hat tip: miss waiching liu) Of course, one of the reports came from this site.

So which is true? Is Jensen leaving Ugly Betty, or is she staying? I think it’s fair to say that no one outside of the actual players knows the truth. I have no reason to believe that EOnline’s Kristin Dos Santos (my original source for the news) was actually told what she reported about Jensen. I also have no reason to believe this rep for Ugly Betty is lying.

I have a pretty good guess as to what’s really going on. I’ve seen this before, being a big sports fan. I’d say that the media is being played as a negotiation ploy. Remember when EW’s Ausiello said that an Ugly Betty star was asking for more money because of the move to NY, and that we’d be surprised when we found out who it was?

I’m beginning to believe it was (and is) Jensen. If so, it would appear that one side is playing hardball by leaking not-yet-true info to the press.

Anyway, if what this rep says is true, this is good news indeed. Many, many of us would greatly miss Jensen’s Scottish quips and warm smile.

Is Ashley leaving or not? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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Based on Kristin’s hints, and past comments at this site, not too many of you are going to be too upset about the latter one.  I’ll give info about the star that’s leaving after the jump.  Here is what Dos Santos says about the one whose character is not long for this world:

As for the second character who will be killed off, it’s someone who just came on board this season and whom the fans—and a certain Meade—fancy.

Well, that’s pretty easy.  If they are going to kill off Molly, I hope they wait a few more episodes.  We haven’t had time to really get emotionally invested in her yet (I know many of you don’t really care for her).  Maybe with a few more episodes, with a little more background, we’ll care more about her departure (other than feeling very, very sad for Daniel and his recent bad luck with women).

Of course, I’m a little upset about this – Sarah Lafleur gets me all weak kneed.    I will definitely miss her, if this turns out to be true.

Now for the other, more disturbing news, after the jump!

Kristin:

According to sources connected to the series, the fantastic Ashley Jensen, who plays Betty’s BFF Christina and is also well-known to you Extras fans, is the series regular who is expected to leave Ugly Betty this season.

I’m told Ashley asked to be released from her contract; the show’s rep declined to comment, saying ABC does not comment on actors’ contracts.

Dang.

Ashley Jensen leaving?  That’s upsetting.  I wonder why.  Is she upset with the direction her character has taken?  Or maybe the move to NY (don’t forget her LA house troubles!) .  Or she has another opportunity we’ll soon find out about?  It could be a little of all of the above, or something else unseen to the rest of us.

Christina has always been a very important character, not only serving as Betty’s only Mode ally in the early episodes, but also giving depth to plot development.  Usually, Christina would listen to Betty fill her in on some happening or another – these scenes are important because they give us the effect of narration, without having a narrator.  The writers tell us things we need to know without having to “show” us.

Of course, if this is true, I will miss Jensen’s adorable accent.  And her wonderful comedic timing.  And her warmth that just jumped off the screen. 

No, I don’t like this development at all.  Hopefully, we’ll hear more in the coming weeks.  Most hopefully, it isn’t true; however, Kristin is quite reliable with her spoilers.

Image: Newscom

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Only in LA.

According to the filed court documents, Lewis and Jensen live next to each other in the swanky Los Feliz section of the city.  Jensen and Beesley were upset earlier this year when a deck Lewis was constructing on his home was encroaching upon their property.

Jensen and husband claim that Lewis offered them $10,000 to buy an easement and forget about the whole thing.  The couple sought the advice of real estate experts, who said that the encroached-upon property was actually work ten times that amount.

Then it gets crazy.  When told of the new figure, Lewis paid the couple a late night visit, countered with a $30,000 offer, and threatened to make their lives miserable by haranguing them on his show nonstop.

This did not go over well.

Our sassy girl smacked Lewis with a lawsuit.  They also received a restraining order against Lewis, ordering him to remain 50 feet away from them. 

For his part, Lewis says he’s the victim and says Jensen and Beesely are just publicity seekers. 

He said he and his neighbors “have a simple encroachment dispute that should have been resolved informally. Having apparently watched my reality show, they now feel they can exploit my personality to increase their media exposure and their alleged damages.” 

He added, “I have never threatened either of them with physical harm, nor was I abusive or verbally threatening to either of them. In fact I have never even met Ms. Jensen. The court will decide how much the easement is worth and Ms. Jensen and Mr. Beesley will then be left having to earn media coverage on their talent alone.”

Ashley just needs to move to New York. 

Image: Newscom

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The BAFTA/LA awards ceremony, the Britannia Awards, started in 1989 and happens in October/November each year. There are no awards given to films or TV programs, only to individuals. This year, Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Tilda Swinton and Stephen Frears were honored.

On the Ugly Betty front, shouldn’t Christina’s baby be due soon? By my best guess this past spring, Christina would be having her baby during November sweeps.

The two Ugly Betty characters in season 3 who really don’t have much to do so far are Ignacio and Christina. Hopefully, with the impending birth and the fact that so much of the plot revolves around it, we’ll see a Christina-centered episode.

You have to love Ashley Jensen. Her accent just makes me melt (although it also means I have to watch the show with closed captioning on)

More Jensen photos after the jump!

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From the beautiful, classy, extra-long strapless dress, to the blingage to the perfect makeup – Jensen was nothing less than the classiest lady on the red carpet.

Hopefully, one day, she’ll win for her work with Ugly Betty, which I think is underrated (Vanessa Williams and Becki Newton get more screen time, so they are usually first in line for Supporting Actress nominations).

I love this pic with her husband, Terence Beesley:

More pics of Ashley (and husband) after the jump!

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