Karen Gillan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karen Gillan
Gillan in 2023
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 a Scottish actress and filmmaker. She is famous for playing Amy Pond, a companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the science fiction show Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013.

Gillan became a Hollywood star by playing Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. These movies are some of the most successful of all time. She also starred as Ruby Roundhouse in the hit adventure films Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019).

Besides acting, Gillan has also written and directed her own movie, The Party's Just Beginning (2018). She has starred in other popular films like the action movie Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) and the sci-fi thriller Dual (2022).

Early life

Karen Sheila Gillan was born in Inverness, Scotland, on 28 November 1987. Her parents are Marie and Raymond John Gillan. She started learning piano when she was eight years old and still plays.

When she was 16, Gillan moved to Edinburgh to study acting at Telford College. At 18, she moved to London to attend the famous Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. While studying in London, a modeling agency noticed her. She worked as a model for a short time and even appeared in London Fashion Week in 2007. However, Gillan has said that acting was always her main goal.

Career

2006–2012: Starting in British TV

Gillan's first acting jobs were guest roles in TV shows. Her very first role was in an episode of the crime drama Rebus. She also appeared in the sketch comedy show The Kevin Bishop Show, where she played different characters, including famous people like Katy Perry and Angelina Jolie.

Gillan with Doctor Who co-star Matt Smith in 2010

Her big break came when she was cast as Amy Pond in the popular science fiction series Doctor Who. Amy was the companion to the Eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith. Gillan had actually been in Doctor Who before, in a small role as a soothsayer in the episode "The Fires of Pompeii".

She first appeared as Amy Pond in 2010 in an episode called "The Eleventh Hour". A younger version of Amy was played by Gillan's real-life cousin, Caitlin Blackwood. Gillan played Amy until 2012, when her character left the show. She returned for a brief appearance in the 2013 Christmas special, "The Time of the Doctor", which was Matt Smith's last episode as the Doctor.

During this time, Gillan also acted in a play called Inadmissible Evidence in 2011. She starred in the Scottish romantic comedy Not Another Happy Ending (2013) and played supermodel Jean Shrimpton in the TV film We'll Take Manhattan (2012).

2013–2019: Hollywood breakthrough

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

In 2013, Gillan moved to the United States to pursue a career in Hollywood. Her first leading role in an American movie was in the horror film Oculus (2013). She also starred in the ABC sitcom Selfie (2014), where she played a social media-obsessed character named Eliza Dooley.

Her career reached a new level when she was cast as Nebula in the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). To play the blue-skinned alien warrior, Gillan shaved her head completely bald. Marvel later used her hair to make a wig for her to wear in other projects.

She continued to play Nebula in several other Marvel movies:

• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Gillan in 2017

In 2017, Gillan starred as Ruby Roundhouse, an avatar in a video game, in the adventure movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. She acted alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black. The movie was a huge success, and she returned for the sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, in 2019.

During this busy period, Gillan also wrote and directed her first feature film, The Party's Just Beginning (2018). The movie is set in her hometown of Inverness, Scotland.

2020–present: Continued success

Gillan has continued to star in major films. In 2021, she appeared in the action movie Gunpowder Milkshake. The next year, she starred in the science fiction thriller Dual (2022), where she played two versions of the same character. Critics praised her performance in the film.

Gillan at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2023

In 2023, she appeared in the movie Late Bloomers. In 2024, she returned to British television in the series Douglas Is Cancelled, where her acting was highly praised. She also appeared in the film The Life of Chuck, which was released in September 2024.

Charity work

Gillan uses her fame to help others. In 2011, she supported a charity for breast cancer research and helped open a new ward at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London.

In 2018, she visited a crisis support center called Mikeysline in her hometown of Inverness. Her movie, The Party's Just Beginning, deals with the serious topic of mental health. Gillan promised to support the charity, which helps people struggling with their mental well-being. In 2024, she also helped raise money for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Personal life

In May 2022, Gillan married Nick Kocher, an American comedian. The wedding took place at a castle in Dunoon, Scotland. In December 2024, she announced the birth of their daughter, Clementine.

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Karen Gillan para niños