Unveiling the Workout Secrets That Keep Karen Gillan in Star Shape

Karen Gillan has starred in some iconic TV shows and movies. She first made waves as Amy Pond on the hit series, Doctor Who. She then joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nebula, and has appeared in the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Gillan’s other roles include the TV series, Selfie, and the films Gunpowder Milkshake, Outcast, and the Jumanji films. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 7 ways Karen Gillan stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Weight Trains

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Gillan shared some of her workout secrets in this YouTube video. In it, she is seen weight training. The Mayo Clinic states that weight training has a lot of benefits. “Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories. Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes.”

2. She Stair Climbs

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In her YouTube video, Gillan and her trainer are seen stair climbing. Ace Fitness states that stair workouts have a lot of benefits. “Stair climbing also heavily recruits muscles of your posterior chain — the glutes and calves — as well as hip flexors and muscles in the ankle, which are required to raise your foot up onto each stair. So the workout will help strengthen all those muscles.”

3. She Does Martial Arts

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Gillan stars in a lot of action movies. While training for Gunpowder Milkshake, she learned a lot of martial arts. “We did three weeks of really intense training where they had me boxing everyday, rolling across mats, learning choreography, etc., because our director didn’t want stunt doubles for the first fight sequence,” Gillan told Glamour. “So it’s us in there doing it. It can be really demanding, but really, I kind of loved it.”

4. She’s Confronting Her Anxiety

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Gillan is open about her struggles with anxiety. She talked about how she is handling it, and how her coping has changed to Women’s Health. Gillan said that she is confronting her anxiety right now. “It’s been easier to ignore my body than it has been to confront the situation. I’ve repressed the feeling instead of taking it seriously and listening to my body. And I’m just now turning that around.”

5. She Eats Better

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In an interview with The Guardian, Gillan revealed that starring in action movies has helped her eat healthier. “That sort of changed my life because I’d never worked out before. I’d never eaten healthily in my life. I didn’t know how to do it. I would happily eat McDonald’s, chocolate, crisps, Tesco sandwiches. It wasn’t healthy at all. I can’t believe the way I used to go on.”

6. She Takes Care Of Her Hair

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Gillan shared her hair care secrets in an interview with Glamour. “I recently switched to Aesop shampoo and conditioner, and I love it. I’ve always loved their soaps, specifically their exfoliating hand soap. This is a random story, but I was staying at a castle in Scotland and they had all Aesop products, so I was like, I’ll just wash my hair with this, and it was the best my hair has felt, so I bought it.”

7. She Protects Her Skin From The Sun

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Gillan makes sure to protect her skin from the sun. She shared her favorite products with Glamour. “Clinique mineral sunscreen for the face and then Neutrogena’s sport face, because it doesn’t make me break out at all. I’ve been indulging in UPF protective hats as of late. I look like an insane person when I’m walking my dog, but whatever. I have it in navy and in pink."