Karen Gillan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karen Gillan
Gillan at the 2023 New York Comic Con
Born	Karen Sheila Gillan (1987-11-28) 28 November 1987 (age 37) Inverness, Scotland
Occupation	Actress filmmaker
Years active	2006–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Nick Kocher ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	1
Relatives	Caitlin Blackwood (cousin)
Signature

Karen Sheila Gillan (born 28 November 1987) is an actress and filmmaker from Scotland. She became well-known for her roles in British TV and movies. She is especially famous for playing Amy Pond in the science fiction series Doctor Who (2010–2013). Amy was a main friend, or "companion," to the Eleventh Doctor.

Karen Gillan also became a big star in Hollywood. She played Nebula in many Marvel Cinematic Universe films (2014–2023). These movies are some of the highest-earning films ever. She also played Ruby Roundhouse in the fantasy movies Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). Besides acting, she wrote and directed the movie The Party's Just Beginning (2018), where she also starred.

Early life and beginnings

Karen Sheila Gillan was born in Inverness, Scotland, on 28 November 1987. Her parents are Marie and Raymond John Gillan. When she was 16, she moved to Edinburgh. There, she studied acting and performance at Telford College.

At 18, she moved to London to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. While studying, a modeling agency noticed her. She worked as a model for a short time, even appearing at London Fashion Week in 2007. However, Karen always said that acting was her main dream and goal.

Becoming a star

Early British roles (2006–2012)

Karen Gillan's first TV roles were small appearances in different shows. Her very first role was in a crime drama called Rebus. She even had to leave school for this part.

She was part of the cast for a comedy show called The Kevin Bishop Show. In this show, she played many different characters, including famous people like Katy Perry. She also had a main role in a horror project called The Well. This was shown as short episodes on BBC Two and online.

Gillan with Doctor Who co-star Matt Smith in 2010

Karen Gillan became very famous for playing Amy Pond in the British sci-fi series Doctor Who. Amy was the companion to the Eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith. Before getting this role in 2009, she had already appeared in a Doctor Who episode called "The Fires of Pompeii" as a soothsayer. Her first time as Amy was in the episode "The Eleventh Hour". Her cousin, Caitlin Blackwood, played a younger version of Amy in the same episode.

She continued as Amy Pond in 2011 and for the first part of 2012. Her character left the show in 2012. She came back briefly in 2013 for a Christmas special when Matt Smith's Doctor also left. In 2010, she won an award at the Young Scot Awards for Entertainment.

In 2011, Karen Gillan acted in a play called Inadmissible Evidence. She also starred in a Scottish romantic comedy movie called Not Another Happy Ending. The director chose her because he thought she was perfect for the funny and energetic character.

Hollywood success (2013–2019)

Gillan at San Diego Comic-Con promoting Guardians of the Galaxy in 2013. For her role as Nebula, she shaved her head.

In 2013, Karen Gillan moved to the United States. She got her first main role in a Hollywood movie, the horror film Oculus. This movie was well-liked by critics. One critic said her acting was "driven" and "game." She was nominated for an award for Best Actress for this role.

In 2014, she played the main character in an American TV comedy called Selfie. She played Eliza Dooley, a socialite who was obsessed with social media. This was her first time as the main star of an American TV show.

In May 2013, Karen Gillan was chosen to play Nebula in the Marvel superhero movie Guardians of the Galaxy. This movie came out in 2014. For this role, Karen had to shave her head completely bald! Marvel even used her shaved hair to make a wig for her to wear while filming Selfie.

In 2015, she had a small part in the movie The Big Short. She also started directing her own short films. She wrote and directed a short film called Coward, which was shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival. She won an award for Best Female Newcomer at the 20th Empire Awards for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Oculus.

In 2016, it was announced that Karen Gillan would write, direct, and star in her first full-length movie. The movie was filmed in her hometown of Inverness. The title was later changed to The Party's Just Beginning. This film was nominated for Best Feature Film at the British Academy Scotland Awards.

In 2017, she played Nebula again in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This time, Nebula became part of the main team in the movie. She also starred in The Circle with Emma Watson and Tom Hanks.

Gillan in 2017

Also in 2017, Karen Gillan played the main female role, Ruby Roundhouse, in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. This was the third movie in the Jumanji series. She starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. She played Nebula again in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). These two huge movies were filmed one after the other.

In 2019, besides Avengers: Endgame, she also appeared in the movies Stuber and Spies in Disguise. She also played Ruby Roundhouse again in Jumanji: The Next Level.

Recent projects (2020–present)

In 2020, Karen Gillan was in the adventure movie The Call of the Wild. The next year, she starred in the action film Gunpowder Milkshake. For this role, she was nominated for Best Actress in an Action Movie.

In 2022, she starred in the sci-fi thriller Dual. In this movie, she played two different characters. Critics praised her acting in this film. One reviewer said she made her characters worth cheering for. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie for this role.

Gillan at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2023

In 2023, she appeared in Late Bloomers. A critic from Deadline Hollywood praised her "engaging" and "refreshingly vanity-free performance." She also started filming Sleeping Dogs with Russell Crowe. In 2024, she returned to British TV in the comedy-drama series Douglas Is Cancelled. Her acting in this show was highly praised.

Karen Gillan will also be in the movie The Life of Chuck, working again with the director of Oculus. She is also set to play Queen Mary Tudor in an upcoming film called Fools.

Other activities

Helping others

Karen Gillan has used her fame to help different causes. In 2011, she helped promote Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. She also supported the opening of a new ward at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

In 2018, she visited a support center in Inverness called Mikeysline. This center helps people with mental health issues. She also helped with a competition to raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day.

In 2024, Karen Gillan was among many British film and TV stars who gave money to help people in Gaza.

Personal life

In May 2022, Karen Gillan married Nick Kocher. He is an American comedian. Their wedding took place at Castle Toward in Scotland. In September 2024, she announced that she was expecting her first child. In December 2024, she gave birth to a daughter named Clementine.

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Karen Gillan para niños