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Karen Gillan stars in the new Stephen King adaptation Life of Chuck
When Scottish actress Karen Gillan attended the Hollywood premiere of her latest movie Life of Chuck in June, it was her first red carpet event since the birth of daughter at the end of last year.
The Inverness-born actress told the BBC that when she returns to a film set later this year, baby Clementine will definitely be coming too.
“I just feel completely different,” the 37-year-old former Doctor Who star said.
“My whole perspective has shifted. I just feel like my main purpose in life is to protect this baby at all costs – and then also do acting on the side.”
Gillan, who is married to comedian Nick Kocher, says she isn’t really sure how it would work having a baby on set during long hours of filming.
But she added: “I am going to have to figure it out because I refuse to be parted with her.”
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Gillan’s latest movie – Life of Chuck – was filmed before she gave birth in December.
It is based on the 2020 novella King of Horror by Stephen King and stars Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor, alongside Gillan and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.
The plot follows the life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz but starts from his death, which coincides with the end of the universe, and works back to his childhood.
‘Life-affirming’
Gillan, who has starred in box office hits such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji, says it is not what most people would expect from a Stephen King project.
“I thought it would be some horror epic and it is just not that at all – it’s quite the opposite,” she said.
“I’d describe it as a life-affirming film and an exploration of life and how to truly live in the way that you want to.”
She added: “It really makes you examine how you are spending your own time which is something I definitely dove into when I was preparing for it.”
Gillan’s character Felicia is a nurse who knows the universe is coming to an end.
“I asked myself ‘what would that actually feel like?’,” she said.
“I came to the conclusion that so many things that we get so fixated on in life – things like accolades and money – all that would fade away and at the end of the day it is about being with people you love and who love you back – that is what life is truly all about.”
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Gillan was pregnant with her daughter Clementine when the film premiered in Toronto
Since the birth of her daughter, Gillan, who lives in Los Angeles, says she wants to work in her home country more often.
“I am more likely to take a job if it films in Scotland,” she said.
“I’m always looking for reasons to come to Scotland.”
She says her daughter will soon be travelling to Inverness for the first time.
“I think my next job is going to be in Scotland so she will be seeing it soon,” Gillan added.
“I can take her to Eden Court Theatre – and I want to take her to the pantomime in Inverness – that’s my biggest dream.”
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Tom Hiddleston and Karen Gillan with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill at the Los Angeles premiere of the film
So what’s next for Gillan?
She says she would like to direct a horror movie or maybe a one-woman theatre show.
“That’s something I haven’t done out of fear – a live production of some sort,” she said.
“I have got to face the fear. It’s time. Every single year I go to the Fringe, I come out saying I am going to do a show next year and it never comes to fruition.
“But maybe next year. I could hang around with one of these experimental clowns and they might let me be in their show.”
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Karen made her name in Doctor Who with Matt Smith
And what would it take for her to return to Doctor Who and the role of Amy Pond where she made her name?
“It would take Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill to be with me and that’s about it,” she said.
“I’d do it if they were there. I had the best time of my life on that TV show.
“I can’t believe I was 21 years old and got to run about with two of my best mates – it was such a good time.”