Karen O'Leary
A natural performer, Karen made her acting debut in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s cult-classic feature What We Do in the Shadows. Her head-turning performance as Officer O’Leary led to comedy spin-off series Wellington Paranormal, currently broadcast in over 100 countries around the world.
In 2019 Karen was nominated as Best Actress by the NZTV Awards for playing Officer O’Leary in Wellington Paranormal and, showing how diverse her skill set is, last year won Best Entertainment Reporter at the NZTV Awards for her role in Paddy Gower Has Issues.
Karen is as charismatic as she is hilarious, and maintains a regular media presence; hosting podcasts Full Disclosure and Wellington Paranormal, The Podcast; appearing in feature films Nude Tuesday and The Moon is Upside Down; taking a lead role in award winning online series The Eggplant; and continuing to be an in-demand guest on comedy panel shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee and Taskmaster.
Hair Colour
Dark Blonde
Location
Wellington | Pōneke
Age Range
35 - 50
Ethnicity
New Zealand European
Height
164cm
Eye Colour
Green
Showreel
Full CV
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Feature Film
2022 - Nude Tuesday - Chen - Director - Armagan Ballantyne - Producer - Emma Slade
2021 - The Moon is Upside Down - Registrar - Director - Loren Taylor - Producers - Philippa Campbell & Georgina Conder
2021 - Two Idiots and a Tin Whistle - Guest Judge - Directors - Jason Ellis and Eli Hill - The Tin Whistle Collective
2021 - Dox - Patricia - Director - Georgina Conder - Miss Piki’s Band Ltd
2020 - Millie Lies Low - Guard - Director - Michelle Savill - Producer - Desray Armstrong
2014 - What We Do in The Shadows - Officer O'Leary - Directors - Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement - Unison Films
Television
2018 - 2022 - Wellington Paranormal: Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 - Officer O'Leary - Directors - Jemaine Clement, Jackie Van Beek, Tim Van Dammen - New Zealand Documentary Board
2018 - Educators - Police Officer - Director - Jesse Griffin - South Pacific Pictures
2016 - Pot Luck (tele feature) - Donna - Director - Ness Simons
Television Appearances
2025 - Paddy Gower Has Issues: season 2 - Community Reporter - Three New Zealand
2023 - Paddy Gower Has Issues - Community Reporter - Discovery NZ
2023 - 7 Days - Panelist - Discovery NZ
2022 - Have You Been Paying Attention (NZ) - Panelist - TVNZ
2022 - Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee - Contestant - Kevin & Co
2022 - The Poo Files - Director - Alex Dron - Rude Girl Productions
2020 - Karen's House - Presenter - Play for Learning - Director - Nancy Bell - Ministry of Education
Web-series
2021 - The Eggplant: The Special Report Special - Principal Kathleen Morris (lead) - Director - Sam Stichbury - Motion Sickness
2020 - The Eggplant - Principal Kathleen Morris (lead) - Director - Sam Stitchbury - Motion Sickness
2020 - On the Rag - Contributor - The Spinoff
2018 - The Watercooler - Karen - Director - James Ashcroft
Podcast
2023 - 2025 - Wellington Paranormal | The Podcast - Co-Host
2024 - Full Disclosure With Karen O’Leary: season 2 - Host
2022 - Full Disclosure With Karen O’Leary: season 1 - Host
Ambassador
2023 - Are you ready to Wellington? Women's Football World Cup - WellingtonNZ
2023 - FIFA Women's World Cup - Unity Launch - WellingtonNZ
2022 - FIFA Women's World Cup - Volunteer Launch - WellingtonNZ -
2018 - Jacque Drew American Accent Intensive
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2024 - Winner - Best Presenter: Entertainment - Paddy Gower Has Issues - NZTV Awards
2023 - Winner - Best Presenter: Entertainment - Paddy Gower Has Issues - NZTV Awards
2019 - Nomination - Best Actress - Wellington Paranormal - NZTV Awards -
MC
Comedy
Presenter
Comic & Improvisation
Teacher
Cricket
MC / Speaker
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MC / Speaking clients include:
2025 - Wellington Pride Parade
2025 - The Cancer Society
2024 - Whanau Manaaki
2024 - Kind Hearts
2023 - The Post Launch
2022 - NZSO Spooky Symphony
2022 - Orchestra Morchestra - Orchestra Wellington
2022 - SBN Conference
2022 - Eat Drink Play Gala Dinner
2021 - NZTE Walking Tour
2021 - Lincoln University, Blue & Gold Awards
2021 - Govtech Demo Day, Creative HQ
2021 - NZ Institute of Patent Attorneys Conference
2021 - Real Steel Christmas Party
2020 - Kapiti International Women’s Day Lunch
Content Creator
Instagram followers:
9,621
Facebook followers:
