Karen Hassan(I)
- Actress
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.
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.
