Marvel Star Karen Gillan Isn’t Afraid of Being Canceled

This is one of the worst things that can happen to a celebrity working and living in the public eye.

But Karen Gillan hadn’t really considered being a victim of Cancel Culture.

The Scottish actress has successfully navigated the perils of fame despite her high-profile roles in Hollywood blockbusters, including Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

But today, the 36-year-old Inverness is forced to confront the modern phenomenon.

Karen’s new ITV drama, Douglas Is Canceled, tells the story of journalist, Douglas Bellowes, and his fall from grace after an inappropriate joke he made at a family wedding went viral.

Hugh Bonneville plays the shameful breakfast TV presenter opposite his sofa co-host, Madeline, played by Karen.

She says it’s dark humor that will take viewers on a roller coaster ride.

“It starts off as a wacky workplace TV show, and then it takes a little turn and becomes much more of a drama that tackles serious topics.

“One of the major issues is the abuse of power in the workplace. My character is someone who, at first, seems very difficult to read. People might describe her as manipulative or calculated.

“But then in episodes three and four, you’ll see everything the character went through just to survive the job. As is the case for many women in many work environments.”

Being “canceled” is a modern concept originating from social media interactions.

It has become a way of calling on others to reject a person or company.

This can happen when the target violates social norms – for example by making sexist comments – but it can also happen when people have expressed opinions about politics, business and even pop culture.

Karen – with 7.9 million followers on Instagram and 1.3 million on X – has never worried about it.

“To be honest, it’s not one of my big fears.

“I don’t go on social media thinking, ‘God, am I going to get canceled?’

“But I think when we did that, it definitely occurred to me.”

And she revealed that it’s those close to her who worry the most.

She says: “One day, a friend of mine took me aside and told me that sometimes I just worry about the number of followers on social media.

“I said ‘What? Why?’ She was like it’s just a lot of people are watching what you’re doing.

“It got me thinking. Should I be worried? But other than that, I haven’t thought too much about it.”

She added: “I’ve always tried to be authentic on social media and I’m going to continue that but I think it’s good to be careful about what you say.”

Douglas is Canceled takes place on a breakfast television news program.

Karen said little research was needed, but a few well-known faces could have inspired Madeline.

“Luckily, I’ve been on so many of these TV shows that I feel like my research had already been done,” she said.

“I didn’t base it on anyone, but I watched Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview to see how she (Emily Maitlis) asked those kinds of questions.

“And one of my favorites is Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain. I watch that every morning to try and cure my homesickness, and so maybe there’s a bit of her in there. “

Karen rose to fame as Doctor Who companion Amy Pond over seven years ago and has become a major Hollywood actor, appearing as Nebula in the Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and as Ruby Roundhouse in the films Jumanji reworked.

Douglas Is Canceled turned into a sort of Doctor Who reunion.

“Writer Steven Moffat was showrunner while I was on Doctor Who. Alex Kingston played my daughter – the time traveler – and Hugh Bonneville was a pirate king in one of the episodes,” he said. -she declared.

Karen is now based in Los Angeles with her comedian husband Nick Kocher – but returning to her family in Inverness is important to reset and escape the prying eyes of the world’s media.

“Coming home feels like a step away from everything, it’s like a reset and it’s a way of reconnecting with everything that’s so far removed from anything I usually do,” she said. told BBC Scotland News.

“All my friends are still in Inverness, so that’s a big part of coming home.

There’s a part of me that just wants to have a little cottage in the Highlands and do that for the rest of my life.

“But I married an American so I think that ruined my plan.”