Karen Gillan
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This article's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (August 2012) |
| Karen Gillan | |
|---|---|
 Karen Gillan at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2011 |
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| Born | Karen Sheila Gillan 28 November 1987 Inverness, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Family | Caitlin Blackwood (cousin) |
Karen Sheila Gillan (born 28 November 1987) is a Scottish actress and former model, best known for her portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.
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Early life [edit]
Gillan was born and raised in Inverness, Scotland.[1] Her father,John Gillan ( full name Raymond John Gillan ), a Day Care Officer, and mother, Marie Gillan née Paterson, live in Kinmylies. She learned to play the piano when she was seven.[2] She is an only child.[3] At a young age, she developed a love for acting, joining several local youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at her school, Charleston Academy.[2] When she turned 18, Gillan moved to London to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts drama school in the BA (Hons) Acting degree course.[4][5]
Career [edit]
Modelling [edit]
While studying at Italia Conti Gillan was scouted by a modelling agency.[6] Gillan worked as a model in 2007's London Fashion Week for designer Allegra Hicks' autumn/winter catwalk show[6] and the launch party of Nicola Roberts' Dainty Doll Make-Up Range. This was shown in Roberts' episode of the documentary, The Passions of Girls Aloud[citation needed] which premiered on 4 April 2008. Gillan has said she would not give up her acting career to return to modelling. She stated that she enjoyed modelling but acting was always her main interest and goal.[7]
Acting [edit]
Gillan's early television acting career included guest appearances on several drama series, with her first ongoing role being 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, as well as celebrities such as Katy Perry and Angelina Jolie. She appeared in Channel 4's Stacked; she had the part of Ginny.[2] 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 then later also 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.[8]
She was cast for the role of the Eleventh Doctor's first companion, Amy Pond, on the British sci-fi series Doctor Who in May 2009. She made her first on-screen appearance as Amy Pond in "The Eleventh Hour" with her cousin Caitlin Blackwood portraying a young Amelia (Amy) Pond.[9][10][11] She was confirmed in Issue 420 of the Doctor Who Magazine to be appearing in the 2011 series. Gillan had appeared in Doctor Who once before in the 2008 episode "The Fires of Pompeii" in the role of a Soothsayer.[6]
Gillan made her first theatre appearance playing the role of Shirley in John Osborne's play Inadmissible Evidence along with Douglas Hodge.[12] The play debuted at the Donmar Warehouse on 16 October 2011.[12]
In August 2011, it was announced Gillan will star in an indie comedy called Not Another Happy Ending along with Emun Elliott.[13] Filming took place in July 2012.[13] During an interview at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, Gillan revealed she would be returning to Doctor Who for its seventh series.[14] On 15 December 2011, it was announced Gillan and Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) would be leaving Doctor Who during the seventh series in 2012.[15] On 26 January 2012 Karen Gillan played the part of supermodel Jean Shrimpton in the BBC Four film We'll Take Manhattan, which told the story of Shrimpton's relationship with the photographer David Bailey.[16][17] She has also been cast as Brittney in a re-working of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet called Romeo & Brittney by David Baddiel.[18][19] She has also been cast in a supernatural horror pic called Oculus as one of the main stars.[20] Gillan revealed that she has also been cast in comedian Charlie Brooker's TV series A Touch of Cloth.[21]
FHM magazine ranked Gillan #42 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women 2011.[22] In 2012 they also ranked her #36.[23] Gillan has also voiced adverts for eHarmony and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Personal life [edit]
In 2011, Gillan helped promote Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC)[24] and the opening of Squirrel Ward in Great Ormond Street Hospital.[25] ,[26] She now lives in Los Angeles as stated in her interview with Craig Ferguson on CBS The Late Late Show Thurs 4/25
Filmography [edit]
Television [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rebus | Terry Cotter[6][27] | |
| 2007–2009 | The Kevin Bishop Show | Various characters | |
| 2008 | Coming Up | Anna | |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Soothsayer | Series 4: "The Fires of Pompeii" |
| 2008 | Harley Street | Holly[6] | |
| 2010 | The Well | Coll | |
| 2010–2012 | Doctor Who | Amy Pond | Series 5–7 |
| 2010 | Doctor Who Prom | Herself | |
| 2010–2011 | Doctor Who Confidential | Herself | |
| 2012 | In Love With Coward | Laura | |
| 2013 | National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle | Daisy |
Film [edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Stacked | Ginny Turner[28] |
| 2008 | New Town Killers | Girl at bus station |
| 2010 | Outcast | Ally |
| 2012 | We'll Take Manhattan | Jean Shrimpton |
| 2012 | Not Another Happy Ending | Jane Lockheart |
| 2014 | Oculus | Kaylie |
Theatre [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Inadmissible Evidence | Shirley | Donmar Warehouse |
Video games [edit]
Awards and nominations [edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | TV Quick Award[2] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Nominated |
| 2010 | Cosmopolitan 'Woman of the year' Awards | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | SFX Awards[2] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | TV Choice Awards[29] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | Scream Awards | Best Sci-Fi Actress | Doctor Who | Nominated |
| 2012 | National Television Awards[2] | Best Drama Performance: Female | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2012 | Scottish Fashion Awards[30] | Scotland's Fashion Icon | Herself (modelling) | Won |
References [edit]
- ^ "Who's that girl? The Doctor's new sidekick Karen Gillan stars in a glamorous photoshoot ahead of the forthcoming series". London: Daily Mail. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Karen Gillan biography". IMDb.com. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ Gilbert, Gerard (7 May 2011). "Obsessive fans, short skits and life with Doctor Who". The Independent (London: Independent Print Limited). Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ Macleod, Calum (26 March 2010). "Who's that girl?". Inverness Courier (Scottish Provincial Press). Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ Smith, Mark (22 March 2010). "Karen Gillan on being the new doctor who companion". The Herald (Newsquest). Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Karen Gillan on her role as doctor who's new sexy sidekick, 20 June 2010
- ^ Obsessive fans & Short Skirts, 7 May 2011
- ^ "BBC Switch presents "The Well"".
- ^ Karen Gillan bags relative role, STV, 31 March 2010.
- ^ MacDonald, Stuart (22 July 2010), "Gillan never watched Dr Who until landing leading role", The Scotsman.
- ^ Morgan, Susan (24 April 2011). "Reader Holidays Cities Direct Interview: Karen Gillan, Doctor Who actor". The Scotsman.
- ^ a b "Doctor Who star Karen Gillan to make theatre debut". BBC News (BBC). 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ a b Cooper, Sarah (1 August 2011). "Not another happy ending". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "'Doctor Who' star Karen Gillan set for Season 7: 'I am going to come back!'". Zap2it. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ Sperling, Daniel (15 December 2011). "'Doctor Who': Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill to leave next series". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "We'll Take Manhattan". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ Carpenter, Julie (2 August 2011). "Return of the Shrimp". Daily Express.
- ^ Deans, Jason (30 March 2011). "Doctor Who's Karen Gillan to play Jean Shripton in BBC4 drama". The Guardian (London).
- ^ "Karen Gillan to star in Romeo & Brittney".
- ^ "Casting: Karen Gillan to star in "Oculus"". It’s on the grid. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Karen Gillan To Star in Sky1's A Touch of Cloth". Digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Karen Gillan facts". FHM.com. Retrieved 2012-09-90.
- ^ "FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2012: Part 07 (40-31)". 19 August 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Launches New Campaign for 2011". 13 April 2011.
- ^ "Squirrel Ward opens with a visit from Karen Gillan". Great Ormond Street Hospital.
- ^ "Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan travels back in time as she moves into family home". Daily Record. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ ""Rebus" Question of Blood (2006)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ "Stacked information page". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ Published Tuesday, Sep 13 2011, 5:29pm EDT (2011-09-13). "TV Choice Awards 2011 - The winners - TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ^ "Doctor Who's Day Roundup: Karen Gillan Named Scottish Fashion Icon of the Year". BBC America. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
External links [edit]
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