Dr Who star signs up for new film

Published on Monday 1 August 2011 14:51

DOCTOR Who actress Karen Gillan has signed up to play an author with writer's block in a new Scottish film.

The Inverness-born performer will star as a novelist struggling to finish her next book in the movie Not Another Happy Ending.

The comedy is being directed by John McKay, who has worked on the BBC series Robin Hood and Life On Mars, and also stars upcoming Edinburgh actor Emun Elliott, 27.

Gillan's character is a beautiful but eccentric writer of miserable yet best-selling fiction who's blocked on her latest novel since she became successful and happy.

In a bid to break her block, her publisher, played by Elliott, sets about trying to make her life more miserable, only to realise he is in love with her.

Sweet Sixteen star Martin Compston will also star in the film, which has been written by David Solomons and is being produced by Claire Mundell and Wendy Griffin of Glasgow-based Synchronicity Films.

Shooting on the film is set to begin at the end of the year and continue into 2012.

The director Mr McKay said: "We have two of the newest, hottest, sexiest pair of lead actors out of Scotland. Just right for the kind of quirky, romantic indie movie Not Another Happy Ending is set to be."

Gillan is moving into films after shooting to fame as Amy Pond, the assistant to Matt Smith's incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running BBC series.

Last week it was confirmed that the 23-year-old had signed up for her third series.

She said: "I am going to come back, yes. There is a lot of pressure being the Doctor's companion."