Karen Gillan’s American Accent Comes in Handy With Spam Callers
Many international actors have achieved fame in American films, but few are more popular than Karen Gillan. The Scottish actor has appeared in a wide variety of projects, from comedies to sci-fi epics. Throughout, Gillan has maintained a fierce sense of humor and a cheeky personality that appeals to fans of all ages. In a recent interview, Gillan explained why she sometimes uses an American accent when she’s not in front of the cameras.
Karen Gillan occasionally uses an American accent offscreen
Gillan is a master of accents and doesn’t hesitate to use them to her advantage. In a recent interview with Wired, she responded to the question “What does Karen Gillan sound like?”
Smiling, Gillan said she sounds “like a Scottish person that’s maybe been on holiday in America. It’s very rare that I’m acting in my natural accent, and honestly, it’s gotten to the point now where I’m more comfortable acting in a different accent.”
Gillan went on to describe how she’s “really comfortable in an American accent. Sometimes I’ll even use it on a spam caller, and I like to keep them on the phone for as long as possible. I’ll be American on those calls as well.”
The actor was born and raised in Scotland, according to IMDb. At age 18, she moved to London to pursue an entertainment career.
Karen Gillan became famous as a Scottish actor
Gillan worked as a model for a few years while auditioning and studying acting. During the first few years of her showbiz career, she landed some small roles on British TV, including The Kevin Bishop Show and The Well. One of her biggest early roles was in the iconic sci-fi show Doctor Who. As the British companion Amy Pond, Gillan earned many fans, and she reprised the role in several specials.
Gillan didn’t leave behind her Scottish roots even as she shot to fame in British and American productions. In 2013, she appeared in the Scottish indie romantic comedy Not Another Happy Ending, which allowed her to act in her natural accent.
Around that time, Gillan appeared in the American movies Oculus and Guardians of the Galaxy. As Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Gillan entered a new stratosphere of fame, becoming a Hollywood star.
She plays an American in some of her biggest roles
Young viewers might know Karen Gillan best for her work in the MCU and the hit action-comedy Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. But she has also pursued interesting projects in lower-budget movies and series.
In 2015, Gillan directed her passion project, the Scottish film Coward, which she screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival. She has become an acting chameleon, easily adapting her accent to suit any role — and at this point, it’s likely few fans know about her Scottish heritage.
Most recently, Gillan took on an American accent in the 2022 sci-fi film Dual. She plays a woman who clones herself after learning she has a terminal illness.
In addition, Gillan will reprise her role as Nebula in Thor: Love and Thunder, premiering in theaters in July 2022, and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
