Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Karen Gillan

  • Actress
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 500130
Karen Gillan
From the 2023 SXSW Festival, Karen Gillan opens up about using her personality and being free in her new film 'Late Bloomers,' breaks down her favorite Nebula scenes from the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise, and shares who she thinks is the most interesting Karen in the world.
Play clip2:47
Karen Gillan Breaks Down Her Favorite Nebula Scenes
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Karen 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).
BornNovember 28, 1987
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 28, 1987
IMDbProStarmeterTop 500130
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 8 wins & 22 nominations

The Best On-Screen Assassins

The Best On-Screen Assassins

From John Wick to Barry, these on-screen assassins never miss the mark.
See the gallery
View image
Photos

Photos467

Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Vin Diesel, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff in The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)
Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
David Duchovny, Leslie Mann, Pedro Pascal, Keegan-Michael Key, Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen, and Guz Khan in The Bubble (2022)
Aaron Paul and Karen Gillan in Dual (2022)
Karen Gillan in Dual (2022)
Karen Gillan in Dual (2022)
Karen Gillan and Andrei Alén in Dual (2022)

Known for

John Cho and Karen Gillan in Selfie (2014)
Selfie
7.2
TV Series
  • Eliza Dooley
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy
8.0
  • Nebula
  • 2014
Iain De Caestecker, Karen Gillan, Stanley Weber, and Freya Mavor in Not Another Happy Ending (2013)
Not Another Happy Ending
6.1
  • Jane Lockhart
  • 2013
Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Bradley Cooper, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Danai Gurira, and Karen Gillan in Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgame
8.4
  • Nebula
  • 2019

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Nebula
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • Rhona Who Lives by the River
    • Rhona (voice)
    • Post-production
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Sleeping Dogs
    • Laura Baines
    • In Production
    • 2024
  • Late Bloomers (2023)
    Late Bloomers
    • Louise
    • 2023
  • Karen Gillan in Eureka! (2022)
    Eureka!
    • Chloe
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff in The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)
    The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special
    • Nebula
    • TV Special
    • 2022
  • Russell Crowe, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, and Tessa Thompson in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
    Thor: Love and Thunder
    • Nebula
    • 2022
  • Next Exit (2022)
    Next Exit
    • Dr. Stevensen
    • 2022
  • David Duchovny, Leslie Mann, Fred Armisen, Pedro Pascal, Keegan-Michael Key, Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen, and Guz Khan in The Bubble (2022)
    The Bubble
    • Carol Cobb
    • 2022
  • Karen Gillan in Dual (2022)
    Dual
    • Sarah
    • 2022
  • Josh Keaton, Jeffrey Wright, Lake Bell, Chadwick Boseman, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Hudson Thames, Hayley Atwell, and Ross Marquand in What If...? (2021)
    What If...?
    • Nebula (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, Lena Headey, and Karen Gillan in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
    Gunpowder Milkshake
    • Sam
    • 2021
  • Calls (2021)
    Calls
    • Sara (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Jamie Brewer in The Hoarding (2020)
    The Hoarding
    • Hope
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Arthur Darvill in Rory's Story (2020)
    Rory's Story
    • Amy (voice)
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Harrison Ford in The Call of the Wild (2020)
    The Call of the Wild
    • Mercedes
    • 2020
  • Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, and Karen Gillan in Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
    Jumanji: The Next Level
    • Ruby
    • 2019
  • Will Smith, Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, DJ Khaled, Karen Gillan, and Tom Holland in Spies in Disguise (2019)
    Spies in Disguise
    • Eyes (voice)
    • 2019

Director

  • Jamie Brewer in The Hoarding (2020)
    The Hoarding
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Karen Gillan in The Party's Just Beginning (2018)
    The Party's Just Beginning
    • Director
    • 2018
  • Karen Gillan in Conventional (2015)
    Conventional
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Fun Size Horror: Volume Two (2015)
    Fun Size Horror: Volume Two
    • Director (segment Conventional)
    • 2015
  • Rose McIver in Coward (2015)
    Coward
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2015

Writer

  • Jamie Brewer in The Hoarding (2020)
    The Hoarding
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Karen Gillan in The Party's Just Beginning (2018)
    The Party's Just Beginning
    • screenplay
    • 2018
  • Karen Gillan in Conventional (2015)
    Conventional
    • written by
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Fun Size Horror: Volume Two (2015)
    Fun Size Horror: Volume Two
    • Writer (segment Conventional)
    • 2015
  • Rose McIver in Coward (2015)
    Coward
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos104

IMDb Live at the 'Jumanji: The Next Level Premiere' Full Show
Full Episode 1:33:17
IMDb Live at the 'Jumanji: The Next Level Premiere' Full Show
Karen Gillan Breaks Down Her Favorite Nebula Scenes
Clip 2:47
Karen Gillan Breaks Down Her Favorite Nebula Scenes
'Dual' Stars Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul Ask Each Other Anything
Clip 4:29
'Dual' Stars Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul Ask Each Other Anything
The Rise of Karen Gillan
Clip 4:07
The Rise of Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan on Why She's 'Legitimately Scottish'
Clip 4:07
Karen Gillan on Why She's 'Legitimately Scottish'
What We Know About the 'Untitled Jumanji Sequel' ... So Far
Clip 2:19
What We Know About the 'Untitled Jumanji Sequel' ... So Far
'Avengers: Endgame' White Suits Are Probably NOT for Outer Space
Clip 3:02
'Avengers: Endgame' White Suits Are Probably NOT for Outer Space
'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Director Selects
Clip 4:05
'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Director Selects
IMDb's Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
Clip 3:44
IMDb's Most Anticipated Movies of 2019
Karen Gillan  | Top Stars of 2018 | Supercut
Clip 0:46
Karen Gillan | Top Stars of 2018 | Supercut
IMDbrief: Meet the Top Stars & Breakout Stars of 2018
Clip 2:49
IMDbrief: Meet the Top Stars & Breakout Stars of 2018
Karen Gillan: Movie & TV Moments
Clip 1:06
Karen Gillan: Movie & TV Moments

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook Fan Page
    • Instagram
  • Alternative name
    • Karen Gillian
  • Height
    • 5′ 10¾″ (1.80 m)
  • Born
    • November 28, 1987
    • Inverness, Scotland, UK
  • Spouse
    • Nick KocherMay 2022 - present
  • Children
    • No Children
  • Parents
      Marie Gillan (Paterson)
  • Relatives
    • Caitlin Blackwood(Cousin)
  • Other works
    Stage play: Inadmissable Evidence by John Osborne - playing Shirley - at the Donmar Warehouse, London, UK.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 8 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Shaved her head completely bald to play Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Marvel Studios subsequently turned her shaved hair into a wig and presented it to her as a gift which she still keeps to this day.
  • Quotes
    [discussing Amy's relationship with the Doctor] She (Amy Pond) doesn't take his (the Doctor's) word as gospel and she's always happy to challenge him. If he tells her to do something then she won't necessarily do it, she might go off and do her own thing which can sometimes create a rift between the two of them! They are best pals though and it's a very up and down relationship because they are both very passionate people.
  • Trademarks
      Red hair
  • Nickname
    • Kaz

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.