Karen Bryson is a British actress and film director best known for her role as Avril Powell in the comedy drama series Shameless. Since her television debut in 1996, she has appeared in several BAFTA-award winning series, including Buried (2003), Canterbury Tales (2003), The Bill and Holby City. She has also appeared in Black Narcissus (2020) and The Split (2022). She had an uncredited role as Elinore Stone in the 2021 American superhero film Zack Snyder's Justice League. Bryson made her directorial debut in 2022 with the short film Monochromatic. As a theatre actress, she has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions including The Winter's Tale and The Comedy of Errors. She has voiced various characters in several video games, including Baldur's Gate 3 and 007 First Light.
She was honoured with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2017 for her contributions in the field of drama, which was awarded to her by Prince Charles. She is an ambassador for the charity Solace Women's Aid.
Biography Her family moved from Barbados to England after her father joined the British Army. Bryson practised dancing in her youth. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Filmography +Film performancesYearTitleRoleNotes1998Middleton's ChangelingAsylum inmate2000Maybe BabyActor playing doctor2001Zulu 9WomanShort film2014Family ReunionKarenShort film2015The CarrierMaria Adams2016Time Is ForeverDr. WhiteShort film2017Just CharlieClaire Robson2017Zack Snyder's Justice LeagueElinore StoneUncredited2018The Intent 2: The Come UpSergeant Walker2019RealBola
+Television performancesYearTitleRoleNotes1996FrontiersEpisode: "Casual Bank Robbers"1997The Longest MemoryCookTelevision film1999The Winter's TaleMaidTelevision film1999The BillTaniaEpisode: "Just Looking"2001Holby CityPolice officerEpisode: "Men Are From Mars"2002Lenny BlueGirlfriend2003BuriedCleo Kingly2 episodes2003Canterbury TalesOonaghEpisode: "The Knight's Tale"2003Between the SheetsCatherine Walton6 episodes2004The BillAsha Richards3 episodes2004–2005BodiesHazel MelroseSupporting role2005DoctorsJackie GrantEpisode: "Fifty-Fifty"2006Holby CityHelen LoganEpisode: "Honesty"2006New Street LawDr. McFarlane1 episode2007Waking the DeadDr. Claudia VincentEpisode: "Mask of Sanity: Part 1"2007Waterloo RoadFrancine1 episode2007Coming Down the MountainLondon teacherTelevision film2007TornDebbie Weaver2 episodes2007SoldAngela Tudor1 episode2007Lead BalloonAllyEpisode: "Rita"2007DoctorsAna AchebeEpisode: "Red, White & Blue"2008Changing Climates, Changing TimesIdri's motherTelevision film2008The ChildrenPC Yearsley2 episodes2008ApparitionsZoe Dayton1 episode2008ShamelessDoctorEpisode: "The Countdown"2008Silent WitnessDI Helen Okoroafor2 episodes200910 Minute TalesSecond midwifeEpisode: "Ding Dong"2011–2013ShamelessAvril PowellRecurring role2013CasualtyKaren BainesEpisode: "A History of Violence"2015Ordinary LiesSallyEpisode: "Kathy's Story"2015DoctorsKarina SeagroveEpisode: "Corked"2015CuffsCustody Sgt. Melanie PykeSupporting role2016Happy ValleyDr. Carol Fowler1 episode2017The Child in TimeMrs. MattersonTelevision film2017Red LightSusanTelevision miniseries2018SafeHelen CrowthorneSupporting role2018The BlockMarionTelevision film2019MotherFatherSonKali Elgood4 episodes2020VeraLouise WilmottEpisode: "The Escape Turn"2020BulletproofVanessa Daniels3 episodes2020White WallGinaSupporting role2020Black NarcissusSister Philippa2 episodes2021Death in ParadiseGardenia Dujon1 episode2021Silent WitnessDr. Emily Braithwaite2 episodes2022The TeacherAva1 episode2022The SplitLeonora Hale6 episodes2024The Madame Blanc MysteriesLuciaEpisode: "Fashion"2025The RainmakerDot BlackSupporting role2026PatienceJane WallaceEpisode: "Hostage" "‡" denotes a subsequent appearance in the same series as a different character
+Video game performancesYearTitleRole2018World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth2021Last StopTamara Adeleke2023Baldur's Gate 3Various characters2026007 First Light2026The Quiet ThingsPamela Hughes
Awards and nominations +YearAward ceremonyCategoryNominated workResult2013Movie Video & Screen AwardsBest Comedy PerformanceShameless Best Actress Screen Nation AwardsBest Actress in TV 2023City of Angels Film FestivalMost Innovative FilmMonochromatic 225 Film Club Audience Award Best Film 2024 Kino London Short Film Festival Best First Time Filmmaker
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