If you’re a fan of movies like Guardians Of The Galaxy and Jumanji or television series like Doctor Who and Selfie, chances are, you’re also a fan of actress Karen Gillan. Her talent as an actress spans many genres of both film and television, and she also spent time in her career as a model.
As Gillan worked to make her dreams of being an actress come true, she’s also committed herself to her craft in ways on and off-screen, and found out a lot about herself as a person and an actress.
While her first big film in the U.S. wasn’t Guardians Of The Galaxy, it is a role she’s very well known for. It’s also safe to say that it’s a project that propelled her career forward in a major way. The character of Nebula has an incredible arc, and Gillan brings such a wonderfully relatable heart to the role.
So how has she evolved as an actress and within her career as being cast as Nebula within the MCU? Here’s a bit about Gillan and her contributions to the industry, both on-screen and off.
8 She Didn’t Anticipate Doing So Many Action Films
Initially, Gillan was drawn to comedy films as she first dreamed of being an actress. She was inspired by Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore, as well as a lot of great comedy films and television as she grew up. So on her road to becoming an actress, naturally, she thought she may follow that career path.
Gillan didn't anticipate doing as many action films, but she’s loved the ride nonetheless. In a recent interview with Elle, Gillan said this about all of her ‘action’ roles.
“It's been a crazy adventure. I did not think I would be in this many action movies, but here I am learning how to kick people."
7 She Likes A Challenge
Gillan found that her upcoming film, Gunpowder Milkshake, has been more physically challenging than any of her previous roles. In the same Elle interview, Gillan said this about the challenge she faced in that movie and how it was wonderful for her.
“This was definitely the most challenging role for me physically, more so than any role that I've done before. I've done a fair few fight sequences in films, but normally, I would only have one or two big fights to focus on. Gunpowder Milkshake is nonstop action, from start to finish.”
This, however, didn’t stop her from enjoying the process. She actually said that she felt the pressure, in a good way, to perform well. One of her favorite scenes in the upcoming film is her first big fight scene, because of how hard she worked to get it right in one take.
6 She’s Also A Filmmaker
Something fans may not know about Karen Gillan is that she’s a filmmaker as well. She directed, wrote, and acted in a movie called The Party’s Just Beginning. Her role was moving and the subject matter was definitely not "easy," but it was important. The film also played with comedic relief and the ups and downs of life after someone close to you passes away.
It’s the kind of situation you’d hope to never find yourself in, but the truth is, many people can relate to a character such as Gillan’s.
5 She’s Asking Herself Important Questions For Nebula’s Future
When speaking to Elle, she was also asked about what comes next for Nebula. Karen Gillan shared that she's asking herself a lot of questions in terms of her future and looking at them through the eyes and heart of Nebula as a character.
"Thanos defined her life in a lot of ways. So, what happens when that person is suddenly removed from your life, and that presence isn't looming over you anymore? How does she react to the death of Thanos? How does she deal with that? Does she start to find herself a little bit more? Those are the questions I'm asking myself about Nebula."
4 Her Commitment Enhances Her Roles
Navot Papushado, director and co-writer of Gunpowder Milkshake, spoke highly of Gillan to Variety and highlighted her energy and commitment to the role that she plays.
“She was fully committed from the get-go, and always with such a positive and generous energy. She brought so much of herself to the role, and her insights helped shape the script and the movie. She also embraced the tough, physical aspect of the role and all the training for the action scenes. Because of her commitment, we were able to add more elements and ideas to the action than we initially planned.”
3 She Wants To Direct A MCU Film
Gillan loves her role as Nebula, but she’d also like to have a different responsibility when it comes to the MCU. She’d like to direct a film. It couldn't be just any movie, and she spoke about that in a podcast in 2019 with Marc Malkin.
“I keep asking Kevin Feige when that’s going to be. I’m still waiting.”
She went on to say that not every movie you find out about is the right one, however, and she knows it’s a process.
“I think it would need to be one where I had a strong feeling that I was the best person for the job. Obviously, that’s not every movie that comes your way.”
2 She Is Involved In Charitable Efforts
Gillan has worked with charitable organizations and spoken out against the stigma involving mental health in interviews and on her social media platforms. In a post about that stigma, she mentions that physical ailments come with no shame, so why should mental ailments bring shame?
1 She’d Love To Keep Playing Nebula
Gillian really loves playing Nebula, and through her career and the highlights and changes she's experienced -- she's nowhere near ready to stop playing the character. Fans love her story too, so they're in agreement that it's far too soon for her story to end.
“I love my character so much. I’m sort of obsessed with her. I just get such a kick out of playing a character that’s really removed from myself. But I also feel really emotionally invested in her through everything that she’s gone through with Thanos and all of that. So I would love to continue the journey of the character. I don’t know what that would really look like without James or Dave, but I really like playing her, so I’m not eager to finish.”
