Universal appeal
Maybe Karen Gillan gets around so efficiently because she’s mastered the complexities of Doctor Who’s Tardis time machine.
Wish-fulfillment hyperbole aside, the former Doctor Who sidekick does seem to be everywhere these days.
Last month, Gillan attended Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif., to promote the upcoming blockbusters Avengers 3 and 4 and the just-released Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on DVD and digital formats.
Soon, she will be in Toronto for Fan Expo Canada from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 where the former model will reunite with Matt Smith, who played Doctor Who to her Amy Pond.
Before and after all of those obligations, the 29-year-old has been reprising her role of Nebula for Avengers: Infinity War and the untitled fourth Avengers picture shooting back to back in Atlanta until the end of the year.
Despite the busy schedule, the Scottish-born actress is her usual affable self as she sits down to discuss her eventful comings and goings backstage at D23.
“All of this is amazing,” she says. “I keep looking around and wonder, ‘Like, what am I doing here?’ It’s always a pinch-me scenario.”
The dream continues with Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, opening in theatres to great anticipation next May. The Marvel film features the assembling of the Guardians and Avengers troupes in their quest to battle Thanos (Josh Brolin), the evil demi-god and father to adopted daughters Nebula (Gillan) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana).
As usual, Gillan must adhere to a non-disclosure agreement that comes with any Marvel job, but she does offer a speculative tease on what may or may not be revealed in Avengers 3.
“I would really like to see Nebula deal with her Thanos daddy issues, which I think we might see in the new Avengers movie,” Gillan says. “I hope we explore that more and take it to a new level.”
Her character’s revenge motive is clear and perhaps justified, Gillan says. “Nebula suffered years of abuse, so she harbours a lot of resentment and emotional anger toward Thanos. I don’t know yet what role she has in taking him down. But if she does, I hope it’s cathartic for her.”
One practical aspect of her portrayal that hasn’t changed for the Avengers films is her daily fourhour ritual of getting made over into Nebula. “I listen to heavy metal music while these big, badass heavily tattooed men do this beautiful makeup job,” she says. “The preparation seems to make sense for her.”
Besides, Gillan can always count on her acting partner Saldana to ease the stress. After three movies together, they’ve bonded like dedicated siblings.
“We are both obsessed with our characters because we are so invested in them,” Gillan says. “When we first walked onto the Avengers set, we were so protective of what we built so far. Like, we know who these girls are.”
Saldana and Gillan have suggested, semi-seriously, that a Gamora-and-Nebula space adventure might make a worthy Marvel spinoff.
“They go on a space road trip together, bickering all the time, and then they have to kill a big space monster,” Gillan says. “That’s all I’ve got so far.”
Marvel fanatics would be up for it. Certainly, the Gamora and Nebula personas are fan favourites at conventions throughout the U. S. and Canada.
Still, Gillan can’t deny her Amy Pond continues to rule fame-wise, despite the fact the Doctor Who series ended for her in 2013. “That’s cool because I love Doctor Who, and it was my first break and I am still so grateful for that.”
Indeed, she embraces her popular status in the fantasy world.
“I just ordered all of the merchandise of me from Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy on Amazon,” Gillan says. “I am going to have them in my office.”
At Christmas, she can add the likeness of her character from the remake Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which also stars Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart.
So the make-believe emoting continues. “I can’t think of any negatives that come with that, to be honest,” Gillan says of being associated with those kinds of roles.
“And I do have some control over what I choose to play beyond these things that I get offered.”