
21-year-old Gillan, who has previously appeared in Doctor Who in the episode Fires of Pompeii, will star alongside new Time Lord, Matt Smith, when the show returns to BBC One in spring 2010.
With filming due to begin this summer, Gillan beat off dozens of hopefuls to land one of television's most coveted roles.
"I'm absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion," she says. "The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it.
"Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him - I just can't wait to get started!"
Karen, who grew up in Inverness, studied acting at Edinburgh's Telford College before going on to London's Italia Conti academy. Her previous credits include regular appearances on Channel 4's late night sketch show The Kevin Bishop Show and roles in dramas such as Rebus and Harley Street and will soon be seen in the forthcoming film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt. This isn't her first film role: she also had a small part in the film Hippie Hippie Shake about Richard Neville, the man behind the magazine Oz and played a girl conspiring with killers in the Socttish-made horror film The Newtown Killers, directed by former Skids' frontman turned film director Richard Jobson.
Karen has also had some personal experience of the modelling world, appearing at London Fashion Week in 2007 for designer Allegra Hicks' autumn/winter catwalk show.
"We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up," says Lead writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat of Karen's casting. She's funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."
Executive Producer and Head of Drama BBC Wales, Piers Wenger, said: "We knew Karen was perfect for the role the moment we saw her. She brought an energy and excitement to the part that was just fantastic. And when she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special. It is a partnership that is ready to take on the universe!"
• The new series of Doctor Who comes to BBC One, Spring 2010.
Web Links
• 2008 Highland News interview with Karen Gillan about her role in Fires of Pompeii