Biography

Karen Hassan is a Northern Irish-born actress whose work spans high-profile television and feature film in the UK, Ireland, and the US.

Most recently, she appeared in Blue Lights (BBC) as Andrea Bunting, and in The Rainmaker (USA Network), the television adaptation of John Grisham’s novel, playing Amber Strum. She also features in Season 2 of The Saints, narrated by Martin Scorsese, portraying Saint Patrick’s mother, now streaming.

Karen starred in the lead role of Alison in the feature film Wait For Me, directed by Keith Farrell and currently streaming on Amazon Prime - a gripping drama about a sex worker’s struggle to reconnect with her estranged daughter.

On television, she is a series regular in Season 3 of Hope Street (BBC / BritBox) as formidable detective constable Jo Lipton. She also starred as the lead character Aidie in the supernatural feature Cellar Door, directed by Vicko Nikci, produced in association with the Irish Film Board. The film won Best First Feature at the Galway Film Fleadh 2018 and tells the story of a young woman trapped within the Irish Magdalene Laundries.

Additional credits include Finding Joy (RTÉ) opposite Amy Huberman; Doing Money (BBC), directed by Lynsey Miller, as part of the BBC’s anti-slavery campaign; and Soft Border Patrol (BBC / The Comedy Unit), in which she played unwitting boss Lisa McCoy, satirising post-Brexit border politics.

Karen appeared across all three seasons of The Fall as Annie Brawley, alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. Other notable television roles include series regular Therese in Season 4 of Vikings (History Channel), Rose Freeman in Suspects (Channel 4), and Emily in The Royals (Lionsgate).

From 2010-2012, she was a series regular on Hollyoaks (Channel 4) as Lynsey Nolan, earning multiple nominations including Best Actress and Best Storyline.

Karen holds a First-Class BA degree from Queen’s University Belfast.
- IMDb mini biography by: Karen Hassan

Northern Irish born actress Karen Hassan recently starred as lead role 'Alison' in the feature film 'Wait For Me', directed by Keith Farrell, currently streaming on Amazon Prime. A gripping story of a sex worker struggling to reconnect with her lost daughter. She is also currently appearing on Season 3 of BBC/ Britbox television series 'Hope Street' as the new formidable detective constable 'Jo Lipton'. Karen also stars as lead character 'Aidie' in supernatural Feature Film 'Cellar Door', directed by Vicko Nikci in association with The Irish Film Board which picked up an award at The Galway Film Fleadh 2018 for Best First Feature Film. A young woman in the grips of the Irish Magdalene Laundries, who struggles to keep in touch with reality. She has also appeared in RTE comedy 'Finding Joy' playing 'Sarah' alongside Amy Huberman and as 'DC Rachel Miskelly' in a BBC flagship film 'Doing Money' as part of the BBC anti-slavery campaign, directed by Lynsey Miller. She has collaborated with The Comedy Unit and The BBC playing unwitting boss 'Lisa McCoy' in their comedy television series 'Soft Boarder Patrol', exposing the hilarious consequences of the boarder change between the UK and the EU post Brexit. Karen also appeared in award winning TV series, 'The Fall' (all three seasons) playing 'Annie Brawley' alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. In 2015 she appeared as the devious 'Therese' (series regular) in Season Four of 'Vikings' (The History Channel), 'Rose Freeman' in series two of 'Suspects' (Channel 4) and 'Emily' in series two of 'The Royals' (Lionsgate). After two years (2010 - 2012) as series regular 'Lynsey Nolan' in multi award winning TV Series 'Hollyoaks' (Channel 4) Karen received several nominations for her role, including best actress and best story line. She studied at Queen's University obtaining a first class BA degree in Theatre Studies.
- IMDb mini biography by: Karen Hassan