Karen Gillan facts for kids

Karen Gillan
Gillan at the Avengers: Endgame Premiere
Born	Karen Sheila Gillan 28 November 1987 (1987-11-28) Inverness, Scotland
Education	Edinburgh's Telford College
Alma mater	Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Actress filmmaker
Years active	2006–present
Relatives	Caitlin Blackwood (cousin)
Signature

Karen Sheila Gillan (born 28 November 1987) is a Scottish actress and filmmaker. She played Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor, in the BBC One series Doctor Who (2010–2013). She received international recognition for playing Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) as well as for her starring role in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017).

On stage, Gillan appeared in John Osborne's play Inadmissible Evidence in 2011. Her first feature film as a writer and director, titled The Party's Just Beginning, was released in 2018.

Early life

Gillan was born and raised in Inverness, the daughter of Marie and Raymond Gillan. When she turned 16, Gillan moved to Edinburgh and completed an HNC Acting and Performance course at Telford College. She moved to London at age 18 to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts drama school.

While studying at Italia Conti, Gillan was scouted by a modeling agency. Prior to her acting career, she worked as a model, premiering at London Fashion Week in 2007. Gillan has said she would not give up her acting career to return to modeling, stating that while she enjoyed modeling, acting had always been her main interest and goal.

Career

Television

Gillan with Doctor Who co-star Matt Smith

Gillan's early television acting career included guest appearances on several television shows, with her first role being in an episode of ITV crime drama Rebus, a role for which she had to drop out of school. Gillan then undertook a two-year stint as a member of the ensemble cast of the sketch comedy series The Kevin Bishop Show, in which she played multiple characters including celebrities such as Katy Perry and Angelina Jolie. Gillan also appeared on TV in a leading role in a horror project entitled The Well, which was broadcast as a series of episodic short films on BBC Two and later as a web series on BBC.co.uk. Part of the BBC's multimedia "switch" programming, the short episodes interconnect with online games that further explore the environments presented in the series. In 2008, she starred in the Channel 4 television film Stacked.

Gillan went on to portray Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor (portrayed by Matt Smith), on the British sci-fi series Doctor Who. Before cast in the lead role in May 2009, she previously appeared on Doctor Who in Series 4 episode "The Fires of Pompeii" in the role of a soothsayer. She made her first on-screen appearance as Amy in "The Eleventh Hour" with her cousin Caitlin Blackwood portraying a younger version of the same character. In 2010, she won in the Entertainment category at the Young Scot Awards. She appeared in the sixth series in 2011 and the first five episodes of the seventh series in 2012, after which her character and Rory Williams (portrayed by Arthur Darvill) left the series. Gillan reprised her role in the 2013 Christmas special "The Time of the Doctor", to coincide with Smith's departure as the Doctor.

Gillan was cast in the third season of A Touch of Cloth, which was co-created by Charlie Brooker. She then joined the regular cast of Adult Swim's NTSF:SD:SUV:: for the show's third season in 2013.

In February 2014, Gillan was cast as the lead in Selfie, an American single-camera sitcom for ABC produced by Warner Bros. Television which was greenlit for the 2014–15 US television season. Gillan played a socialite named Eliza Dooley, a modern-day take on Eliza Doolittle, who is obsessed with social media. This was Gillan's first time in the lead role of an American television series. The series was cancelled by ABC on 7 November 2014 after seven episodes; the remaining six episodes were made available on Hulu starting 25 November 2014.

Film

Gillan at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con

After making an appearance in Outcast, it was announced that Gillan would star in an indie Scottish romantic comedy called Not Another Happy Ending alongside Emun Elliott in August 2011. She was selected by director John McKay because he came to know her during the production of We'll Take Manhattan, which he also directed, as "a very bubbly, vibrant, energetic, funny, slightly clumsy person" who was a perfect fit for the character. Filming took place in July 2012, though Elliott was replaced by Stanley Weber. Gillan told journalists that she was happy to be involved in a Scottish production that "isn't about drug use or fighting the English". The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2013. In 2012, Gillan appeared in the television film We'll Take Manhattan playing the part of supermodel Jean Shrimpton, which told the story of Shrimpton's relationship with the photographer David Bailey.

Gillan starred in the lead role in the supernatural horror movie Oculus, which was filmed in Alabama and released in April 2014.

In May 2013, Gillan was cast as Nebula in the Marvel superhero science fiction film Guardians of the Galaxy, which was released in August 2014. Gillan had her head shaved bald for the role, which Marvel turned into the wig that Gillan wore during the production of Selfie.

In May 2014, Gillan was cast in the Western film In a Valley of Violence directed by Ti West, opposite John Travolta, Ethan Hawke and Taissa Farmiga. Gillan portrayed Ellen, the older sister to Farmiga's character.

In 2015, Gillan appeared in the drama film The Big Short directed by Adam McKay, alongside Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Melissa Leo. She wrote and directed her first short film, Coward, which screened at the 2015 Edinburgh Film Festival, and was nominated for several awards. Later in the year she wrote, directed, and starred in another short film called Conventional. She won in the Best Female Newcomer category at the 20th Empire Awards for Guardians of the Galaxy and Oculus.

On 2 November 2016, it was announced that Gillan would write, direct and star in her directorial feature film debut with Burbank-based development and production company Mt. Hollywood Films' indie drama project titled Tupperware Party. Set in her home city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, filming began in January 2017 and wrapped in the following month. The title of the film was later changed to The Party's Just Beginning. The film was nominated for Best Feature Film at the British Academy Scotland Awards.

In 2017, Gillan reprised her role as Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, this time becoming a member of the film's eponymous team, and co-starred in The Circle, alongside Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and John Boyega. The latter film, released in April, was directed and written by James Ponsoldt, and was based on the novel by Dave Eggers. Also in that year, Gillan played the lead female role in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the third installment of the Jumanji franchise, starring alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Nick Jonas. She replayed Nebula in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which were filmed back-to-back. Filming for the two films began in January 2017 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayette County, Georgia and ended in January 2018.

In 2019, she took part in All Creatures Here Below, Stuber, Spies in Disguise and Jumanji: The Next Level. In 2020, she's set to appear in Call of the Wild, and will star in Gunpowder Milkshake alongside Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh and Paul Giamatti.

Theatre

In 2011, Gillan made her first theatre appearance playing the role of Shirley in John Osborne's play Inadmissible Evidence along with Douglas Hodge. The play debuted at the Donmar Warehouse on 16 October 2011.

In November 2013, Gillan appeared on Broadway in a play called Time to Act, one of the plays included in "The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway" to benefit the non-profit Urban Arts Partnership.

Selected other work

In 2011, Gillan helped promote Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) and the opening of Squirrel Ward at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Gillan has also voiced advertisements for eHarmony and The Royal Bank of Scotland. She also appeared in TV on the Radio's "Happy Idiot" music video, released on 3 October 2014.

In 2018, she visited the Mikeysline crisis support centre in Inverness after presenting her film The Party's Just Beginning. The film is about the high suicide rate in the Scottish Highlands, and Gillan made a public pledge to support the mental health charity.

Personal life

During a 2012 interview on The Late Late Show, she stated that she had relocated to the US to star in the film Oculus.

She has stated that, although her family is Catholic, she has not been christened and is not religious, instead agreeing with the statement that, "we're just minuscule dots in the vast cosmic emptiness of the universe".

Filmography

Feature film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	Outcast	Ally
2013	Not Another Happy Ending	Jane Lockhart
	Oculus	Kaylie Russell
2014	Guardians of the Galaxy	Nebula
2015	The Big Short	Evie
2016	In a Valley of Violence	Ellen
2017	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2	Nebula
	The Circle	Annie Allerton
	Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle	Martha
2018	The Party's Just Beginning	Liusaidh	Also writer and director
	Alex & the List	Lily
	Avengers: Infinity War	Nebula
2019	Avengers: Endgame
	All Creatures Here Below	Ruby
	Stuber	Sara Morris
	Jumanji: The Next Level	Martha	Post-production
	Spies in Disguise	Eyes (voice)	Post-production
2020	Call of the Wild	Mercedes	Post-production
TBA	Gunpowder Milkshake	Eva	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	Rebus	Teri Cotter	Episode: "A Question of Blood"
2008	Doctor Who	Soothsayer	Episode: "Fires of Pompeii"
	Stacked	Ginny Turner	Television film
	Harley Street	Holly	Episode #1.1
2008–2009	Kevin Bishop Show, TheThe Kevin Bishop Show	Various	Main cast
2008	Coming Up	Anna	Episode: "Thinspiration"
2009	Well, TheThe Well	Coll	4 episodes
2010–2013	Doctor Who	Amy Pond	Main cast
2010–2011	Doctor Who Confidential	Herself	Main cast
2012	We'll Take Manhattan	Jean Shrimpton	Television film
	In Love With...	Laura	Episode: "In Love with Coward"
2013	NTSF:SD:SUV::	Daisy	Main cast
2014	Touch of Cloth, AA Touch of Cloth	Kerry Newblood	2 episodes
	Selfie	Eliza Dooley	Main role
2015	The Devil You Know	Jane Porter	Unaired HBO pilot
	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Herself	Episode: "Karen Gillan Wears A Black and White Striped Pullover and Coral Skirt"
	7 Days in Hell	Lily Allsworth	Television film
	Robot Chicken	Various Voices	Episode: "Zero Vegetables"
2016	Emo Dad	Jessica (voice)	5 episodes
2018	Gary Goes To Hollywood	Herself	BBC One documentary
2021	What If...?	Nebula (voice)	Guest role In voice recording process

Short film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	Bound for Greatness	Maeve MacDonough
2015	Warning Labels	Mindy
	Coward	N/A	Director, writer and executive producer
	Fun Size Horror: Volume Two	Rachel Milligan	Segment: "Conventional"; also writer and director
2019	The Hoarding	Hope	Also writer and director
	Neurotica	Chloe

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist
2014	"Happy Idiot"	TV on the Radio

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010–2011	Doctor Who: The Adventure Games	Amy Pond	Series 1–2
2010	Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth
	Doctor Who: Return to Earth

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Venue
2011	Inadmissible Evidence	Shirley	Donmar Warehouse
2013	Time to Act	Karen	Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2010	Constellation Awards	Best Female Performance	Doctor Who: "Amy's Choice"	Nominated
	TV Quick Awards	Best Actress	Doctor Who	Nominated
	Cosmopolitan's Ultimate Women of the Year Awards	Best Actress		Won
	Young Scot Awards	Entertainment		Won
2011	SFX Awards	Best Actress		Won
	TV Choice Awards	Best Actress		Won
	Scream Awards	Best Sci-Fi Actress		Nominated
2012	National Television Awards	Best Drama Performance: Female		Won
	SFX Awards	Best Actress		Nominated
	Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards	Favourite UK Actress	N/A	Nominated
	Scottish Fashion Awards	Scotland's Fashion Icon	N/A	Won
2013	National Television Awards	Best Drama Performance – Female	Doctor Who	Nominated
2014	Fright Meter Awards	Best Actress	Oculus	Nominated
	Detroit Film Critics Society	Best Ensemble	Guardians of the Galaxy	Won
	Nevada Film Critics Society	Best Ensemble Cast		Won
	Phoenix Film Critics Society	Best Cast		Nominated
2015	Central Ohio Film Critics Association	Best Ensemble		Nominated
	Empire Awards	Best Female Newcomer	Guardians of the Galaxy and Oculus	Won
	Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best Actress (long-list)	Oculus	Nominated
	Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival	Best Actress in a Short Film (Long)	Bound for Greatness	Nominated
	IFS Film Festival	Best Actress in a Short Film		Won
		Best Independent Short	Coward	Won
	Edinburgh International Film Festival	Best Short Film		Nominated
	Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards	Best Short Film	Conventional	Nominated
2016	London IFF Film Festival	Best Lead Actress in a Short Film	Bound for Greatness	Won
	FirstGlance Film Festival	Best Actress in a Short Film		Won
2017	Maui Film Festival	Rising Star	N/A	Won
2018	Glasgow Film Festival	Audience Award	The Party's Just Beginning	Nominated
	MTV Movie & TV Awards	Best On-Screen Team (with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Nick Jonas)	Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Comedy Movie Actress		Nominated
	DTLA Film Festival	Best Female Actor in a Leading Role	All Creatures Here Below	Won
	Philadelphia Film Festival	Artistic Achievement in Independent Film	The Party's Just Beginning	Won
	British Academy Scotland Awards	Best Feature Film		Nominated
	British Independent Film Awards	Best Debut Screenwriter		Nominated
2019	Saturn Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Avengers: Endgame	Nominated