Telly fans have been absolutely hooked on Stefan Moffat’s latest ITV hit, Douglas Is Cancelled, featuring the talents of Hugh Bonneville and Karen Gillan.

The show is a four-part comedy drama centring on Douglas Bellowes, a much-loved news anchor played by Hugh, who lands in hot water after his sexist joke at a wedding goes viral, sparking a cancel culture furore. Karen Gillan dazzles as Madeline, the ambitious younger co-host to Douglas, who, while appearing supportive on-screen, is clearly plotting her own rise to fame behind the scenes.

Not only is she a whizz with social media, but Madeline, portrayed by the Scottish stunner, is also determined to climb the career ladder by any means. Karen has long been a fixture on our screens, and now we’re revealing the secrets behind her stunning transformation, which all came down to one major lifestyle shift, reports OK!

The actress has previously opened up about battling anxiety when she neglects self-care, particularly when she’s not staying active or watching her diet. In a candid chat with the Mirror some time back, Karen shared how during the lockdown, she couldn’t muster the motivation to exercise, confessing, “I felt like a slug”.

She reflected: “I’m usually very driven. I didn’t realise how much better I felt mentally [with exercise] until I stopped. I didn’t feel as on top of the world as I normally do if I’m regularly working out and eating well.” In a candid chat with The Guardian, Karen Gillan opened up about how her action-packed roles, such as in Jumanji, have revolutionised her diet and fitness regime, leading to significant changes in her physique.

“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.”

The actress also credits weight training, stair climbs, and martial arts for keeping her in top shape. For her role in Gunpowder Milkshake, she even took up daily boxing sessions as the director was keen on minimising the use of stunt doubles for certain fight sequences.

Best known for portraying Amy Pond, the feisty companion to the 11th Doctor Who, played by Matt Smith, Karen has become a familiar face on our screens since her debut in the iconic BBC series in 2010. Her impressive portfolio includes appearances in The Bubble, Sleeping Dogs, X, Oculus, Late Bloomers, and a standout performance as Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.