Karen Gillan: A Scottish actress and filmmaker.
Karen Gillan is a Scottish actress and filmmaker who has been making waves in the entertainment industry with her versatile and captivating performances.
She is best known for her roles as Amy Pond in the sci-fi series Doctor Who, Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Ruby Roundhouse in the Jumanji franchise.
Karen Sheila Gillan was born on November 28, 1987, in Inverness, Scotland.
She is the only child of Marie and Raymond John Gillan, who are both of Scottish descent.
Her father is a singer and recording artist, while her mother works at Tesco. Karen grew up in a Catholic household, but she does not practice any religion.
She developed a love for acting at an early age and attended several youth theatre groups and school productions.
Additionally, she also had a fascination with horror movies and used to make her own with her father and ketchup as fake blood.
At the age of 16, Karen moved to Edinburgh to study acting at Telford College.
Two years later, she relocated to London to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
There, she was scouted by a modeling agency and worked as a model for a while.
However, she did not give up on her acting dream and landed her first TV role in the detective series Rebus in 2006.
She also appeared in various comedy shows, such as The Kevin Bishop Show and Stacked.
Karen is 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall and weighs around 121 lbs (55 kg).
She has red hair and hazel eyes. She is known for her energetic personality, Scottish accent, and towering height.
Notably, she also has a signature on her autographs, which is a smiley face with a mole on the cheek.
PHOTO Source | Instagram
Profile Summary
| Name | Karen Sheila Gillan |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 28, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Inverness, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Actress, filmmaker, model, writer, voice artist |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) |
| Weight | 121 lbs (55 kg) |
| Hair Color | Red |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Religion | None |
| Education | Telford College, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Parents | Marie and Raymond John Gillan |
| Siblings | None |
| Spouse | Nick Kocher (m. 2022, div. 2023) |
| Children | None |
| Pets | A cat named Oswald |
| Net Worth | $10 million as of 2023 |
Her Early Life, Family, Ethnicity, Siblings, Education And Religion
Karen Gillan was born and raised in Inverness, Scotland, as the only child of Marie and Raymond John Gillan.
Her parents are both of Scottish descent, and her father is from Sunderland in North East England.
Notably, her father is a singer and recording artist who performs under the name Raymond John.
Her mother works at Tesco, a British supermarket chain.
Karen has a close relationship with her parents and often posts photos and videos of them on her social media accounts.
Karen grew up in a Catholic household, but she does not practice any religion.
She has said that she was not baptized and that she believes that we are “just minuscule dots in the vast cosmic emptiness of the universe”.
She has also expressed interest in horoscopes and astrology, and her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Karen developed a love for acting at an early age and attended several youth theatre groups and school productions.
She also had a fascination with horror movies and used to make her own with her father and ketchup as fake blood.
She attended Charleston Academy, a secondary school in Inverness, where she excelled in drama and music.
Additionally, she also learned to play the piano and the guitar.
At the age of 16, Karen moved to Edinburgh to study acting at Telford College, a further education institution.
She completed a HNC Acting and Performance course there and gained valuable experience in theatre and film.
Two years later, she relocated to London to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, a prestigious performing arts school.
There, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting and was scouted by a modeling agency.
She worked as a model for a while, but she did not give up on her acting dream and landed her first TV role in the detective series Rebus in 2006.
Karen’s Personal Life, Dating And Children
Karen Gillan is known for being private about her personal life and relationships.
She has dated a few men in the past, but she is currently single and focused on her career.
She has also stated that she does not want to have children, as she feels that she is too selfish and busy to be a good mother.
Karen’s first known boyfriend was Patrick Green, a British photographer.
The couple began dating in 2006, when Karen was 18 years old.
They moved in together in London and supported each other’s careers.
However, they broke up in 2012, after six years of relationship.
Karen later revealed that the breakup was amicable and that they remained friends.
Karen’s next boyfriend was Andrew Brooke, a British actor.
The couple met on the set of the comedy series The Kevin Bishop Show, where they both worked.
They started dating in 2012, shortly after Karen’s split from Patrick.
They attended various events and occasions together, such as the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Celebration and the BAFTA Awards.
However, they broke up in 2013, after a year of relationship.
Karen’s most recent boyfriend was Nick Kocher, an American comedian and writer.
The couple met in 2018, when they worked together on the comedy film The Party’s Just Beginning, which Karen wrote and directed.
They hit it off and started dating soon after.
However, they kept their relationship low-key and rarely posted about each other on social media.
They got married in May 2022, in a secret ceremony at Castle Toward, in Dunoon, Scotland.
However, they divorced in 2023, after less than a year of marriage.
The reason for their divorce is unknown, but they reportedly remain on good terms.
Karen is currently single and lives in Los Angeles, California. She has a pet cat named Oswald, whom she adopted from a shelter.
She is also a vegan and an animal lover, and she supports various animal welfare organizations, such as PETA and ASPCA.
Her Professional Career And Breakthrough
Karen Gillan’s career can be divided into three phases: her British phase, her Hollywood phase, and her filmmaking phase.
Her British phase began in 2006, when she made her TV debut in the detective series Rebus.
She then appeared in various comedy shows, such as The Kevin Bishop Show and Stacked.
Additionally, she also made her film debut in 2010, with a role in the supernatural thriller film Outcast.
She achieved her breakthrough in 2010.
When the sci-fi series Doctor Who cast her as Amy Pond, the main companion of the Eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith.
She played the role for three seasons, from 2010 to 2013, and became one of the most popular and beloved companions in the show’s history.
Notably, she also reprised the role in several specials and spin-offs, such as The Sarah Jane Adventures and Pond Life.
She won several awards and nominations for her performance.
Such as an Empire Award, a National Television Award, and a SFX Award.
Her Hollywood phase began in 2013, when she made her transition to the American film industry.
She starred as Kaylie Russell, the lead character in the horror film Oculus, which was her first commercial success in the United States.
She then played the lead role of Eliza Dooley, a self-obsessed social media addict, in the ABC sitcom Selfie, which was loosely based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
The show was canceled after one season, but it gained a cult following online.
She also appeared in films such as The Big Short, The Circle, and The Call of the Wild.
However, her biggest Hollywood role was that of Nebula, the adopted daughter of the villain Thanos and the sister of Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
She debuted as Nebula in the superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, and reprised the role in its sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, in 2017.
Additionally she also appeared as Nebula in the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which are the highest-grossing films of all time.
She will return as Nebula in the upcoming films Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023.
She received critical acclaim and fan appreciation for her portrayal of Nebula, who evolved from a villain to an anti-hero to a hero throughout the films.
Furthermore, she also underwent a physical transformation for the role, shaving her head and wearing prosthetics and makeup.
Another notable Hollywood role of Karen Gillan was that of Ruby Roundhouse.
A video game avatar of a shy teenager, played by Morgan Turner, in the action-comedy film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in 2017.
She reprised the role in its sequel, Jumanji.
Karen Gillan’s Activism And Public Image
Karen Gillan is not only a star on the screen, but also a star in the real world.
She is an activist who supports various causes and charities, such as suicide prevention, breast cancer awareness, and animal welfare.
She has participated in campaigns and events for organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Stand Up to Cancer, and PETA.
Additionally, she has also donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust.
A charity that provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.
Karen is also known for her positive and friendly public image.
She is active on social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, where she posts photos and videos of her personal and professional life.
She often interacts with her fans and expresses her gratitude and love for them.
Her sense of humor, Scottish accent, and smiley face with a mole on the cheek, which she adds to her autographs, also earn her praise.
ALSO READ: Kathryn Hahn: Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Early Life, Education, Career, Awards & Net Worth
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Karen Gillan
- How old is Karen Gillan?
- Karen Gillan is 36 years old as of 2023. She was born on November 28, 1987, in Inverness, Scotland.
