Karen Gillan
Karen Sheila Gillan (born 28 November 1987) is a Scottish actress and former model. She is best known for playing the part of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series, Doctor Who.
Karen Gillan | |
|---|---|
 Karen Gillan at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2011 | |
| Born | Karen Sheila Gillan 28 November 1987 |
| Occupation | Actress, former model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Early life
Gillan was born and grew up in Inverness, Scotland.[1] She learned to play the piano when she was seven.[2] She started acting when she was very young. She joined several local youth theatre groups. She also acted at her school, Charleston Academy.[2] When she was sixteen, Gillan went to Edinburgh's Telford College to study acting. Later, she studied at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts drama school in London.[3] Gillan moved to London when she was 18 to study at drama school.[4]
Her cousin, Caitlin Blackwood, played the part of the young Amy Pond in at least three episodes of Doctor Who.[5][6][7]
Career
Modelling
Before Gillan started acting on television, she worked in a London pub. She had had left Italia Conti for a television programme, but was hired by a modelling agency.[8] Gillan worked as a model in London Fashion Week, in 2007. She worked for designer Allegra Hicks' show.[8]
Acting
Gillan began acting on television doing small parts, on several drama series. Her first larger role was as a part of the ensemble cast of the sketch comedy series The Kevin Bishop Show. She worked for the series for two years. On the programme, she played many different characters. She also played celebrities such as Katy Perry and Angelina Jolie. She was on Channel 4's 'Stacked'. She played the part of Ginny.[2] Gillan also was on TV in a main part in a horror programme The Well. It was broadcast as a series of short movies, on BBC Two. It was later shown on the internet.
Gillan was cast as Amy Pond on the British sci-fi series Doctor Who in May 2009. Her first episode as Amy Pond was shown on 3 April 2010. Gillan had been in Doctor Who once before in the 2008 episode "The Fires of Pompeii" as a different character.[8]
Gillan also acts in theatre. She first role was as Shirley in John Osborne's play Inadmissible Evidence[9] at the Donmar Warehouse on October 16th 2011.[9]
At the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, Gillan said she will be on Doctor Who for its seventh series.[10] On 15 December 2011, it was said that Gillan and Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) would only be on the early part of seventh series, in 2012.[11]
Filmography
- Television
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Rebus[8] |
| 2007–2009 | The Kevin Bishop Show |
| 2008 | Coming Up |
| 2008 | Doctor Who - "The Fires of Pompeii" |
| 2008 | Harley Street[8] |
| 2010 | The Well (TV Series) |
| 2010-2012 | Doctor Who |
- Feature films
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Stacked (TV film) |
| 2008 | New Town Killers |
| 2010 | Outcast |
| 2011 | We'll Take Manhattan |
| 2012 | Not Another Happy Ending |
- Theatre
| Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Inadmissible Evidence | Play |
- Video games
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: City of the Daleks |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Blood of the Cybermen |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: TARDIS |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Shadows of the Vashta Nerada |
| 2011 | Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: The Gunpowder Plot |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: Return to Earth |
| 2010 | Doctor Who: The Mazes of Time |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | TV Quick Award[12] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Nominated |
| 2010 | Cosmopolitan 'Woman of the year' Awards | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | SFX Awards[12] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | TV Choice Awards[13] | Best Actress | Doctor Who | Won |
| 2011 | Scream Awards | Best Sci-Fi Actress | Doctor Who | Nominated |
References
- ↑ 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. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1255525/Doctor-Whos-new-sidekick-Karen-Gillan-stars-glamorous-photoshoot-ahead-forthcoming-series.html. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 IMDB (2011-07-30). "Karen Gillan biography". Retrieved 2011-07-30.
- ↑ Macleod, Calum (2010-03-26). "Who's that girl?". Inverness Courier (Scottish Provincial Press). http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/11997/Who_s_that_girl_.html. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ↑ Smith, Mark (2010-03-22). "Karen Gillan on being the new doctor who companion". The Herald (Newsquest). http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/arts-ents/film-tv-features/karen-gillan-on-being-the-new-doctor-who-companion-1.1015197. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
- ↑ Karen Gillan bags relative role. 31 March 2010. STV.com
- ↑ Gillan never watched Dr Who until landing leading role.The Scotsman. 22 July 2010, Stuart MacDonald
- ↑ Morgan, Susan (24 April 2011). sport - Reader Holidays Cities Direct Interview: Karen Gillan, Doctor Who actor. http://www.scotsman.com/features/Interview-Karen-Gillan-Doctor-Who.6756400.jp.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Karen Gillan on her role as doctor who's new sexy sidekick, 20 June 2010
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Doctor Who star Karen Gillan to make theatre debut". BBC News (BBC). 22 July 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14247581. 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.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2394794/awards
- ↑ http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a340240/tv-choice-awards-2011-the-winners.html
Other websites
- Karen Gillan on IMDb