Biografi
Karen is best recognized for her recurring role as Ingrid Rowley in the acclaimed series BOMB GIRLS.
She was born in Manchester, England. Until she was six and a half, she frequently visited her father's family in Glasgow. Karen is the eldest daughter of Mary Gilfillan, a registered nurse, and Norman Waddell, a Scottish mechanical engineer. The family later relocated to the Eastern Townships of Quebec, settling in the university town of Lennoxville. Karen credits her early passion for theatre to many evenings spent watching skilled casts and her mother perform in enchanting Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Bishop's University.
While studying Environmental Sciences in Montreal, Karen impulsively auditioned for the college's main stage play and secured the lead role in Dark of the Moon. This experience profoundly impacted her, leading her to leave the sciences and enroll in a three-year conservatory drama program at The DOME in Montreal. She subsequently earned a scholarship to attend master classes at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta.
For over two decades, Karen has been active in Toronto's film and television industry, appearing in various films, TV series, commercials, narration projects, and performing on professional stages across Canada. Her notable TV roles include Margaret in JOHN A. - THE BIRTH OF A NATION, CRACKED, and recurring parts in ANIMORPHS, GOOSEBUMPS, and Disney's FLASH FORWARD.
Karen is married to Canadian actor John Ralston, and they have two teenage sons. Their youngest, Stuart Ralston, is also a professional actor.
In addition to her acting career, Karen is a trained and qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher, certified by the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School.
