Karen Gillan is doing a comedy series for ABC this fall. In “Selfie,” she plays a woman who is popular on social media but she doesn’t have a lot of real friends. In other words, her online skills don’t really apply to real life. After a panel with the Television Critics Association, Gillan spoke with reporters and took questions about “Doctor Who” and the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
CraveOnline: You’re great the comedy, but sci-fi has been really good to you with “Doctor Who” and now Guardians?
Karen Gillan: Oh, sci-fi’s been the best to me. I want to continue working in genre stuff because I think it has amazing female roles, and we get to do a range of emotions, comedy and drama.
Is Guardians the first time you’ve played someone who doesn’t even look like you?
Yeah, I think that’s been the biggest transformation for me so far. I’ve shaved my hair off, and I’m blue. So that’s new.
What do you think of the new Doctor?
I’m so excited. I’m very excited, and I was actually there when Peter Capaldi walked onto the set for the first time with the costume on. And it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. And it’s in safe hands.
What was your reaction to your finale on “Doctor Who?” It seemed very sweet and perfect.
Yeah, they gave me the exit that I wanted. I mean it was dramatic and emotional and all of the things I hoped it would be. And they gave Arthur who played my husband on the show a really good exit and a heroic moment which made me really happy.
You were on set when Peter came out in costume. Do you visit the set often?
I was back filming. I appeared in Matt Smith’s final episode, in the “Regeneration” episode. Literally, it was like one in and one out. Matt Smith left the studio and Peter Capaldi, the new doctor walked in. And I was there for both of them, and it was like whoa. That really is that fast of a changeover. Wow.
You had long hair in the “Selfie” pilot but now your hair is short. Will Eliza have short hair after the pilot?
I have my own hair that I shaved off that Marvel made into a wig for me, so I’m going to be wearing that.
They actually made your hair into a Karen Gillan wig?
Yes, they shaved my hair off for the role, and then they made an amazing wig out of it. They took it strand by strand and put it into a wig.
Was that your decision to do shave your head because you could have done CGI?
Oh, no. That was a rule that was in place before I even auditioned for the role. So I knew I had to if I got it.
And you said okay?
I said absolutely. Because I didn’t think I was going to get it. No. I wanted to do it although because to transform for a part is the reason that I’m acting.
Are fans of yours from past projects easily transferable to this? Are you hoping they follow you, or are you hoping to show a different side of you?
Q: What are you looking forward to audiences seeing in your Guardians role which is such a villain? Would you look forward to continuing your relationship with Marvel in the future?
Karen Gillan: Oh, absolutely. I had such a good time working with Marvel. They’re the best company to work for, really amazing. I loved the role. I won’t say anything too much because it will be a spoiler about what happens to her in the film, but I had the best time playing that role. I really did.
Have you noticed a difference between the short hair and long hair and people’s reactions to you?
Yeah, I felt more intimidating when I was playing the villain role in Guardians because of the hair change. So that was really good for me. It did half of the work for me.
What is it like having that intense fan base for something like “Doctor Who?” Are they on you all the time?
It’s amazing. I don’t find it too much of a pressure or anything like that. I feel like I have a legion of loyal fans that all follow me from project to project. That’s what it feels like.
So you don’t have to disguise yourself when you go out?
It depends. It’s happening more and more in America. It didn’t happen at all like a year ago, and now it’s starting to really happen. And so that’s a transitional period for me where I’m starting to get used to that.
When you put on the wardrobe for “Selfie,” does this help you get into that mindset of playing her?
Yes, when I’m not wearing the clothes, I find it very difficult to do her voice which is very interesting. There’s a scene in the pilot where she has a make-under, and she doesn’t wear the clothes anymore. And they wanted me to slip back into the old style of the character, and I found it very difficult.
I love the polka dot stockings. What were your favorites?
Oh, those were good, yeah. I really liked the little black dress at the beginning. I think that the Louboutin heels are a signature for her.
Do you have friends or acquaintances of friends or anything like this?
They have small aspects of the character. It’s a mixture of probably everyone I know, including myself. I just kind of took it to the extreme.
When an actress takes on an American accent, they usually take that Midwestern sort of flat accent.
Like general American. Yeah, that’s what I call it.
You’re sort of Valley girlish. Was that a little harder or easier?
It’s a voice I used to do as a joke when I first came here. It was supposed to be my bad American accent. And then I was like, this kind of works because it’s a really affected way of talking that girls are starting to do. It’s a very modern way of talking, and I just think it’s kind of really harsh and abrasive. But it should be.
Is it easier to do that?
I wouldn’t say easier. It’s actually probably easier. I’ve studied general American, so that’s easier.
How many takes did you do of the airplane scene and how long did it take to clean up?
I think we might have done one take of the vomit over the dress. I think we only had one.
One of the main things about this character is just how clueless he is and self absorbed she is. And yet the audience still has to kind of like her and be cheering for her. How do you walk that line? You want to be irritating comedically but not irritating, irritating.
Yeah, I mean, that’s where Emily [Kapnek] comes in. She’s the smart one behind it all who will rein me in because I want to go full irritating with it. I want to make this the most annoying character in the world! Because I just think that’s funny, personally, but she reined me in and through the writing, she was given redeeming qualities.
How would you react to someone like that?
I would probably laugh at her. Maybe not directly at her, but I’m pretty open to people. I don’t really dislike anyone. I don’t. Everyone’s like, “You’re weird.”
Do you take selfies?
I’m a terrible selfie taker, in real life.
But do you do it?
I sometimes do it, but I just look startled every time because I don’t know what to do with my features.
Even though you’re pressing the shutter?
Yeah, it’s like a full startle.
