The Best Karen Gillan Films And TV Shows, Ranked

Karen Gillan has developed an impressive resume since leaving Doctor Who. The Scottish star has become a major name in Hollywood cinema, appearing in a few major blockbusters, including the deeply amusing Jumanji movies. Karen Gillan is set to return to the small screen, reuniting with writer Steven Moffat alongside her Doctor Who co-star Alex Kingston for the sitcom Douglas Is Canceled. This has led to fans disclosing their favorite Karen Gillan film and television roles.

Karen Gillan’s filmography is extremely varied, having featured in both the biggest and smallest movie and TV releases. Her career has encompassed some of the biggest franchises, including the MCU as well as a few passion projects that reflect her commitment to her craft. IMDb, particularly, is impressed by Karen Gillan’s acting, disclosing their views on which movies and television programs they consider to be the greatest of Karen Gillan’s work.

10 Karen Gillan Makes A Good Impression As Evie In The Big Short

Directed by Adam McKay, The Big Short is a magnificent biopic that tells the stories of various investors during the 2007 housing market crash. The film is adored by audiences and critics, with many hailing it as one of the best movies based on a true story. Karen Gillan’s part in The Big Short is relatively minor, as SEC employee Evie, but she utilizes her screen time well.

She makes a good impression as Evie during The Big Short, leaving audiences wishing the character had featured more. She is brilliantly feisty as the ex-girlfriend of Jamie’s brother, telling Jamie to “grow up” when he questions how she can apply for jobs with banks despite currently being employed as a financial regulator.

9 Karen Gillan Is One Of Neurotica’s Greatest Highlights

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Released in 2019, Neurotica sees Karen Gillan return to sci-fi television, with a TV pilot exploring people’s anxieties through a science-fiction lens. She portrays a lazy woman named Chloe who is unexpectedly visited by an alien responsible for giving humanity its greatest ideas. Neurotica’s fun premise allows it to stand out among other sci-fi offerings, and Karen Gillan is undoubtedly one of the TV pilot’s highlights.

Karen Gillan is deeply entertaining as Chloe, whose laziness generates some great humor throughout Neurotica. She holds a natural talent for comedy, and her rapport with Jon Bass and Jillian Bell brings a lively tone to proceedings. Neurotica highlights exactly why Karen Gillan is frequently utilized for the industry’s quirkiest roles.

8 Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 Allows Karen Gillan To Show How Nebula’s Past Experiences Have Changed Her

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own – a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.

Release Date

May 5, 2023

Cast

Chris Pratt , Zoe Saldana , Dave Bautista , Vin Diesel , Bradley Cooper , Karen Gillan

Runtime

2 hours 30 minutes

Main Genre

Superhero

Production Company

Marvel Studios, Film New Zealand, Marvel Entertainment, Québec Film & TV Production Tax Credit, Troll Court Entertainment

Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 concludes the original Guardians’ story in a battle against the High Evolutionary. Karen Gillan reprises Nebula once again in a Guardians Of The Galaxy film that perfectly demonstrates how much the character has evolved across the MCU.

Nebula’s part in Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 shows how her past experiences have turned her into a more empathetic being. Karen Gillan plays this superbly, ensuring that Nebula still feels like the same bitter cyborg from the first Guardians movie while showing how she has started to care for her other Guardians members. She also gets a few excellent laugh-out-loud moments, such as Nebula’s struggles with a car door on the planet Counter-Earth.

7 Karen Gillan Is Amazing As Nebula In Guardians Of The Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy

A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.

Created by

Arnold Drake , Gene Colan

First Episode Air Date

July 26, 2015

Cast

Chris Pratt , Dave Bautista , Zoe Saldana , Bradley Cooper , Vin Diesel

Audiences did not know what to expect from the first Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, but its titular dysfunctional family unit won viewers around. The entertaining dynamic between the Guardians members is complemented by Karen Gillan’s portrayal of Nebula, who was working for Ronan The Accuser in the first film.

Karen Gillan is amazing during her debut appearance as Nebula, with her hardhearted space pirate completely overshadowing Ronan The Accuser during his search for the Orb. Her depiction of Nebula left such a lasting impression that she later returned for several MCU projects. Nebula’s fractious relationship with her adopted sister Gamora provides a deep personal backbone for the movie, and Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillan hold a great rapport.

6 Karen Gillan Is Extremely Charismatic As Coll In The Well

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Another of Karen Gillan’s favorite genres is horror. The Scottish actor has been included in a few horror projects, including Oculus, but one of the most notable is the BBC series The Well. This spooky offering from writer Melvin Burgess shows Karen Gillan’s clever teenager Coll discovers a cursed Celtic well with her friends Beth, Luis, and Ivan.

The Well is a terrifying watch, and Karen Gillan is one of the show’s biggest standouts. She is extremely charismatic as Coll, who is determined to discover the secrets of the supernatural well. Coll’s crush on Luis provides a sweet emotional backdrop for the horrific goings-on, and Karen Gillan and Luis actor Gregory Foreman share plenty of chemistry as a romantic pairing.

5 Avengers Endgame Allows Karen Gillan To Show Nebula’s More Fragile Side

Avengers: Endgame

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.

Director

Joe Russo , Anthony Russo

Release Date

April 18, 2019

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Scarlett Johansson , Chris Hemsworth , Jeremy Renner , Paul Rudd , Mark Ruffalo , Don Cheadle , Karen Gillan , Danai Gurira , Brie Larson , Benedict Wong , Josh Brolin

Runtime

3 hours 1 minute

Production Company

Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

Karen Gillan’s major involvement in Avengers: Endgame was a surprise, following Nebula’s surviving Avengers: Infinity War snap. She is deservedly promoted to top billing in Avengers: Endgame, assisting the Avengers team in reversing Thanos’s destructive actions in Infinity War.

Karen Gillan brings a ton of heart to Nebula in Avengers: Endgame, with her character developing a sweet friendship with Tony Stark. Her performance shows a more fragile side to Nebula, as a woman who learns through Tony’s kindness how to have fun through playing games. Nebula also lets her guard down with Rocket, reassuring the poor raccoon in the wake of the Guardians turning to dust, allowing Karen Gillan to imbue Nebula with a more sensitive nature.

4 Karen Gillan Makes Every Moment Count In Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers Infinity War

The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Director

Anthony Russo , Joe Russo

Release Date

April 27, 2018

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Hemsworth , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Evans , Scarlett Johansson , Don Cheadle , Benedict Cumberbatch , Tom Holland , Chadwick Boseman , Zoe Saldana , Karen Gillan , Josh Brolin , Tom Hiddleston , Paul Bettany , Elizabeth Olsen , Anthony Mackie , Sebastian Stan , Idris Elba , Danai Gurira

Runtime

2 hours 29 minutes

Avengers: Infinity War is the most game-changing superhero movie, ending with one of the best movie cliffhangers of all time, which sees half of the MCU’s characters turn to dust. Among Avengers: Infinity War’s remarkable cast is Karen Gillan, who reprises Nebula during one of the darkest periods in her life.

Even though Karen Gillan’s part in Avengers: Infinity War is brief, she makes every moment count. The Scottish actor’s heartbreaking portrayal makes viewers feel Nebula’s pain and anguish while she is tortured by Thanos for information on the soul stone. Nebula’s realization while on Titan that Thanos has succeeded is similarly gut-wrenching, with Karen Gillan’s subtle delivery wonderfully conveying the dramatic impact of his disastrous actions.

3 In Love With Features A Sensational Monologue From Karen Gillan

In Love With grants Karen Gillan the chance to fulfill a more artistic role, and showcase her talents as an actor. Each episode of In Love With involves celebrities exploring the works of their favorite writers. Karen Gillan stars in the episode “In Love With Coward,” taking on the part of Laura from Noel Coward’s hit play “Brief Encounter.”

She performs a sensational monologue as Laura, who stares wistfully out of the window. Karen Gillan does an incredible job at conveying the guilt that Laura feels after falling in love with a stranger at the railway station, despite being happily married to her husband Fred.

2 Doctor Who Made Karen Gillan A Major Player In Film And Television

Doctor Who

The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.

Created by

Sydney Newman

Latest TV Show

Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant

First Episode Air Date

November 23, 1963

Latest Episode

Wild Blue Yonder (2023)

TV Show(s)

Doctor Who , Doctor Who: Pond Life , Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka , Doctor Who: The Matt Smith Collection , Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant , Doctor Who: The Peter Capaldi Collection , Doctor Who: The Jodie Whitaker Collection , Doctor Who: The Christopher Eccleston & David Tennant Collection

Beginning in 1963, Doctor Who is television’s greatest sci-fi franchise. It has seen several Doctors and their companions travel across space and time, fighting some of the universe’s most evil threats. Karen Gillan played one of the Doctor’s most incredible assistants between 2010 and 2012, bringing powerful energy to the fiery redhead Amy Pond.

Karen Gillan gives Amy a forceful nature that makes her the ideal match for Matt Smith’s Doctor, and her performance also perfectly reflects Amy’s courageous attitude to her travels. Karen Gillan is also responsible for one of Doctor Who’s best fan-favorite couples Amy and Rory, and her chemistry with Rory actor Arthur Darvill lights up the screen.

1 Karen Gillan Leaves Audiences Crying With Laughter In The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.

Release Date

December 17, 1989

Cast

Dan Castellaneta , Nancy Cartwright , Harry Shearer , Yeardley Smith , Julie Kavner , Hank Azaria , Pamela Hayden , Tress MacNeille

Seasons

36

Creator

James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Sam Simon

Production Company

Gracie Films, 20th Television Animation, Fox Television Animation, The Curiosity Company

Number of Episodes

761

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Beginning in 1963, Doctor Who is television’s greatest sci-fi franchise. It has seen several Doctors and their companions travel across space and time, fighting some of the universe’s most evil threats. Karen Gillan played one of the Doctor’s most incredible assistants between 2010 and 2012, bringing powerful energy to the fiery redhead Amy Pond.

Karen Gillan gives Amy a forceful nature that makes her the ideal match for Matt Smith’s Doctor, and her performance also perfectly reflects Amy’s courageous attitude to her travels. Karen Gillan is also responsible for one of Doctor Who’s best fan-favorite couples Amy and Rory, and her chemistry with Rory actor Arthur Darvill lights up the screen.