Shetlands Ashley Jensens life off-screen from husbands tragic death to surreal Matthew Perry meeting

Ashley Jensen has taken on the role of DI Ruth Calder in BBC One hit series Shetland. The drama is in its eighth series and Ashley's character has returned to the Isles to track down a witness to a violent gangland crime.

The actress has been in the spotlight for many years and has starred in several well-known shows from Extras to Ugly Betty.

Ashely, 54, has been through her fair share of heartbreak following the death of her husband in 2017.

The pair shared one child together, who they keep out of the spotlight. The actress also prefers to keep her private life that way too.

As Ashley stars in Shetland, OK! takes a look at her life off-screen.

Marriage and husband's heartbreaking death

Ashley had to face a heartbreaking tragedy in her personal life as her husband Terence Beesley sadly took his own life.

Terence's death occurred at their family home in Camerton, near Bath, and despite efforts from paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest later confirmed that Terence had died by suicide.

In a statement read at Avon Coroner's Court, a heartbroken Ashley expressed her devastation over her loss, stating she would "never forget" that day.

She described her late husband as "independent and outgoing", adding: "Terry and I had been together for 18 years but I had no idea he was capable of what he did."

Ashley shared that she had been texting and emailing Terence on the day he died, leaving her "extremely shocked by what happened that night".

Ashley and Terence first crossed paths in 1999 while working on a production of King Lear. They tied the knot in 2007 and welcomed their son Francis two years later. After living in London and LA, they settled down in Somerset.

Her childhood in Scotland

Ashley was born in Annan, a town in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland, where she lived with her parents Ivar and Margaret.

She left home at the age of 14 to pursue a career in acting, studying at the National Youth Theatre in London.

After she graduated, she returned to Scotland to attend the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh before landing her first role in 1990.

Ashley previously revealed her drama school pals gave her the nickname Donald Wolfit. She explained to The Guardian: "He was this old theatrical actor from a time when thick panstick makeup was all the rage.

"I loved to dress up, and could often be found painting freckles on my face or sticking a bit of facial hair on my chin so I could look like a man."

Keeping her family life private

She had one son, Francis, with her late husband Terence.

Ashley and Terence kept their son out of the spotlight and largely kept details of their family life private.

Surreal meeting with Matthew Perry

Ashley spent much of her career in Los Angeles and as a result has met many stars over the years.

Reflecting on the time she met Matthew Perry, she told The Guardian: "I thought: 'Oh my God – you’re Chandler!'

"And he turned to me and said: 'Oh my God – I know you from Extras!'"

Ashley also shared a meeting with Billy Connolly, detailing: "I had the pleasure of playing the role of Billy Connolly’s daughter in the film Down Among the Big Boys.

"There was one scene where he was walking me down the aisle at my wedding, and we spent a lot of time between takes together talking in the graveyard of the church.

"I got in that night and called Mum to say: 'Guess what? I made Billy Connolly laugh! I was telling him a wee story about the milkmaid’s badge in the Guides. He was p******g himself laughing!'"

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