Karen Gillan
☼ Born on 28 December 1987, in Inverness, Scotland, UK
BiographyKaren Sheila Gillan was born and raised in Inverness, Scotland, as the only child of Marie Paterson and husband John Gillan, who is a singer and recording artist. She developed a love for acting very early on, attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at her school, Charleston Academy.
At age 16, Karen decided she wanted to pursue her acting career further and, studied under the renowned theatre director Scott Johnston at the Performing Arts Studio Scotland. She later attended the prestigious Italia Conti Academy in London. During her first year, she landed a role on Rebus (2000) and soon appeared in a variety of programs including Channel 4's Stacked (2008) and The Kevin Bishop Show (2008), as well as a two-year stint on the long-running series Doctor Who (2005). Karen also stars in the film Outcast (2010), starring James Nesbitt. Her most recent starring role is as Eliza Dooley on the situation comedy Selfie (2014).
In the role of actor
The Life of Chuck – TIFF 2024 (16/09/2024)
During the end of the world, billboards begin appearing thanking an accountant for 39 great years in The Life of Chuck. Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a schoolteacher whose classes begin to dwindle due to seemingly apocalyptic events in the world. Marty begins to see billboards and advertisements congratulating Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) on “39 […]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (05/05/2023)
The Guardians of the Galaxy go on one final mission together in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The Guardians of the Galaxy have established their headquarters in the colony of Knowhere, where Peter Quill, aka Starlord (Chris Pratt), has entered a depressed funk due to the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana). However, Knowhere is […]
Next Exit – Fantasia 2022 (19/07/2022)
Two strangers go on a road trip to participate in an afterlife study in Next Exit. Dr. Stevenson (Karen Gillan) of the Life Beyond Institute has made a breakthrough proving that ghosts exist and can be scientifically observed, though this discovery has resulted in an increase in the number of murders and suicides. Rose (Katie […]
The Magic Life of V (05/05/2019)
A young Finnish woman attends LARPing events to escape the traumatic events of her childhood in The Magic Life of V. Veera is a young woman from Finland, who is struggling to cope with childhood memories of her alcoholic father, while also caring for her mentally disabled brother Ville. As a means of escape, Veera […]
The Guardians (28/04/2018)
The systematic abuse of the elderly in the Las Vegas area is investigated in The Guardians. Elderly couples such as Rudy and Rennie North find themselves appointed to legal guardians without their knowledge, which results in them being literally kidnapped from their homes and robbed of their life savings. This has resulted in people, such […]
In a Valley of Violence (18/07/2016)
A drifter seeks vengeance in an isolated mining town in In a Valley of Violence. Paul (Ethan Hawke) is an ex cavalry man, who is travelling with his dog Abby on the way to Mexico. Paul decides to take a shortcut through the town of Denton, where he has an violent encounter with psychotic deputy […]
Guardians of the Galaxy (03/08/2014)
A new team of Marvel heroes hits the big screen with the comedic sci-fi adventure Guardians of the Galaxy. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, is a human outlaw, who was abducted as a child and raised by a group of Ravagers, lead by Yondu (Michael Rooker). Quill comes into possession of a sphere-like artifact, […]
Oculus (09/09/2013)
An antique mirror influences malevolent supernatural events in the horror film Oculus, by director Mike Flanagan (Absentia). Tim Russell (Brenton Thwaites) is released from a mental hospital a decade after he shot his father (Rory Cochrane), who had killed his mother (Katee Sackhoff). He is picked up by his older sister Kaylie (Karen Gillan), who […]