Jen Barber - Katherine Parkinson

JEN BARBER

Portrayed by Katherine Parkinson: en enters the department in episode one as a new starter, placed there seemingly at random by boss Denholm, despite her lack of technical or technology management experience. Although originally intended to be the Head of Department, her role was changed to that of "Relationship Manager" due to her ability to converse with other employees within the company. She has admitted to a propensity for telling lies in order to further her own goals, as evidenced by her current occupation as a member of the IT support team despite little to no knowledge of computers. She is easily excited by stereotypical female pursuits such as shoes and men. During the second series we learn that she had been quite a heavy smoker several years previously; she took this habit up again, but quit when she realised that due to anti-smoking laws, she was facing social isolation. She drives a Ford Ka in Pepper Red, first shown in The Haunting of Bill Crouse. Unlike Maurice, her mother has only been mentioned, in 'Moss and the German'. In the third season she declares "ich bin ein Nerd," referencing the Ich bin ein Berliner speech by John F. Kennedy. She maintains a surprisingly good relationship with Roy and Moss despite their apparent differences in personalities. They even went on a "big girls night out" in the "Aunt Irma" episode. She later goes on to decline a better job offer as she feels that Roy and Moss need her. This suggests that she has an actual attachment to them and they are seen by her as more than just work colleagues.

KATHERINE PARKINSON

(Born 9 March 1976) is an English actress, known for playing the part of Jen Barber in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd.

Parkinson studied at Tiffin Girls' School^[1] in Kingston upon Thames, London, and then read Classics at St Hilda's College, Oxford^[2] before moving to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art where she met Chris O'Dowd, fellow The IT Crowd lead, for the first time. Both she and O'Dowd left LAMDA without completing their studies after becoming disillusioned with the prevailing ethos there.^[3]

During her studies she left the course to star in the play The Age of Consent. Her subsequent career has seen her star alongside well known British actors such as Martin Clunes and Julie Walters. In 2007 she appeared in a new translation of Chekhov's The Seagull at the Royal Court in London, alongside Kristin Scott Thomas and Mackenzie Crook.

She is also seen in Doc Martin.

She recently contributed sketch characters to Katy Brand's ITV2 show, having been friends with Brand since Oxford. She has also appeared several times on BBC Radio 4, including on Talking and Not Talking, Mouth Trap,^[4] again with Brand, and in The Odd Half Hour.^[5]

She also stars in a television advertisement for Maltesers alongside fellow actress and comedienne Amanda Abbington. Her mother teaches English at James Allen's Girls' School^{[citation needed]}. On New Year's Day 2009 she appeared in a feature-length episode of Jonathan Creek, called The Grinning Man, which was broadcast in the UK.

In 2007, Parkinson announced her engagement to fellow comedian Harry Peacock.^[6][7]