You probably recognize her as the woman with the most delightfully chaotic wardrobe in Cornwall. Or maybe you know her as the person who somehow makes Mary, Queen of Scots, feel like a relatable TikTok influencer. Honestly, Jessica Ransom is one of those British actors who seems to be everywhere once you start looking. She isn’t just "the receptionist" from Doc Martin. She’s a BAFTA-winning writer, a voice-over powerhouse, and a stage actor who can pivot from high-stakes drama to fart jokes without breaking a sweat.
But if you’re trying to track down a definitive list of Jessica Ransom movies and tv shows, it gets a bit tricky because she hides in plain sight. She’s often under several layers of prosthetic makeup or behind a microphone.
The Morwenna Newcross Era: Why We Loved the Chaos
For eleven years, Jessica played Morwenna Newcross on Doc Martin. She stepped into the surgery in 2011 (Series 5) and stayed until the very end in 2022. Let’s be real: Portwenn is a village full of grumpy people in beige jackets. Morwenna was the literal splash of neon the show needed.
What’s interesting is how her character evolved. She wasn't just there to take appointments and get yelled at by Martin Clunes. Her relationship with Al Large (Joe Absolom) became the emotional heartbeat of the later seasons. You’ve got the doctor’s clinical coldness on one side, and then you have Morwenna—loyal, slightly disorganized, and wearing enough patterns to cause a migraine. It worked.
"It's a dream gig," Ransom once said about the role. "You get to go and live by the sea for four months at a time."
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Beyond the Surgery: The Horrible Histories Dominance
If you don't have kids, you might have missed the fact that Jessica Ransom is basically royalty in the world of educational comedy. She joined the Horrible Histories crew in Series 4 and has been a staple ever since.
This isn't just "kids' TV." It’s incredibly sharp sketch comedy. Jessica actually won a Children’s BAFTA in 2015 for her performance, specifically for her portrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots. She has this weirdly specific talent for playing historical figures who are simultaneously terrifying and hilarious.
Here is the thing most people miss: she isn't just acting in these. She’s a writer on the show too. She’s part of that elite group of British comedians who can craft a joke about the Great Plague that actually lands.
A Quick Rundown of Her Best Sketches
- The "Cousins" Song: Her Mary, Queen of Scots, is legendary.
- The Victorian Hospital sketches: Usually featuring a lot of screaming and questionable medical advice.
- The 1950s Housewife: A recurring theme in her work (more on that in a second).
The Secret Writing Career You Didn't Know About
Jessica Ransom's IMDb page is a bit of a lie. Well, not a lie, but it doesn't tell the whole story. While her face is on screen in shows like Zapped or The Escape Artist, her brain is behind the scenes of some of the biggest animated hits of the last decade.
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Have you ever watched The Amazing World of Gumball? It’s one of the most surreal, brilliant shows on Cartoon Network. Jessica was a writer on that for years (Seasons 3 through 6). She also wrote for Elliott from Earth and the Danger Mouse reboot.
It’s a specific kind of career path. One day she’s in a corset for the BBC, and the next she’s writing dialogue for a blue cat in a 2D/3D hybrid world. It explains why her comedic timing is so precise; she understands the structure of a joke from the ground up.
Notable Jessica Ransom Movies and TV Shows (The Essentials)
If you're looking to do a deep dive, you sort of have to split her career into three buckets: the big dramas, the sketch comedy, and the voice/writing work.
1. The Big TV Dramas
- Doc Martin (2011–2022): As Morwenna. This is her most famous role by far.
- The Escape Artist (2013): A much darker turn. She played Helen in this legal thriller starring David Tennant.
- Our Zoo (2014): She played Polly Ford in this BBC drama about the founding of Chester Zoo. It was short-lived but lovely.
- Defending the Guilty (2019): She popped up as Nessa in this cynical, funny look at the British legal system.
2. The Comedy and Sketches
- The Armstrong and Miller Show (2009–2010): This was her big break. She played various characters and got to flex her sketch muscles early on.
- Horrible Histories (2011–Present): Multiple roles and writing credits.
- Zapped (2016): A cult favorite fantasy comedy where she played Jess.
- Avoidance (2022): More recently, she appeared as Josie in this Romesh Ranganathan sitcom.
3. Movies and Voice Work
- Love at First Sight (2023): You might have spotted her as Bridesmaid Bertie in this Netflix rom-com. It’s a small role, but she steals the scenes she’s in.
- Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans (2019): She played Drusilla.
- Poppy Cat: She took over the voice of the titular character in the second season.
The Stage: Where She Really Shines
Recently, Jessica has been leaning heavily into theater. In 2023, she took on the lead role of Judy in the UK tour of Home, I’m Darling.
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It’s a fascinating play. It’s about a woman who decides to live like a 1950s housewife in the modern day. No internet, no modern appliances, just gingham and "traditional values." It’s funny, but it’s also a pretty brutal look at feminism and choice. Jessica’s performance was widely praised because she managed to make a character who is essentially living a lie feel deeply sympathetic.
She also starred in The Hypochondriac at the Sheffield Crucible (her hometown theater). Seeing her live is a totally different experience than seeing her on Doc Martin. She has this frantic energy that works perfectly for Molière.
What’s Next for Jessica Ransom?
As of 2025 and 2026, Jessica is continuing to balance the "writing room" with the "acting floor." She’s been involved in more radio work for BBC Radio 4 (look for her in Holmes & Watson) and continues to be a driving force behind the Horrible Histories brand.
If you’re a fan, the move is to stop thinking of her as just a supporting actress. She’s a creator. Whether she's narrating Rich Kids Go Skint or writing scripts for international animation, she’s one of the most consistent "quiet" successes in British entertainment.
How to Watch Her Best Work
- For the vibe: Watch Doc Martin Series 5-10 on ITVX or BritBox.
- For the laughs: Catch the Mary, Queen of Scots episodes of Horrible Histories on BBC iPlayer.
- For the depth: Find clips of her in Home, I'm Darling or check out The Escape Artist for her serious side.
Basically, if her name is in the credits, you're usually in for something smart. She doesn't really do "lazy" projects. Honestly, we just need her to finally get her own lead sitcom role. It’s long overdue.
To get the most out of her filmography, start by revisiting the later seasons of Doc Martin to see how she anchored the show's B-plots, then move to her BAFTA-winning sketches in Horrible Histories to see her range.