Karen Hassan (born 31 July 1981) is a Northern Irish actress from Belfast.[1] From 2010 until 2013, she played Lynsey Nolan in the main series of Hollyoaks.[2] Her other work includes the series Hollyoaks Later, The Fall, and Vikings, as well as the film Hunger. She also appeared in American TV Series FBI: International in 2022. Hassan's most recent role features her playing the leading lady, Alison, in the 2023 British independent film Wait For Me.[3]

Karen Hassan
Hassan in 2009 at the National Television Awards
Born (1981-07-31) 31 July 1981 (age 43)
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present

Career

edit

The character of Lynsey was created as the former girlfriend of Kris Fisher (Gerard McCarthy) and was intended to feature only in Hollyoaks Later, a spin-off from the Hollyoaks series. In June 2010, it was announced that three new characters; Brendan Brady (Emmett J. Scanlan), Bart McQueen (Jonny Clarke) and Lynsey were to join Hollyoaks in August.[4]

Of the castings, Hollyoaks series producer Paul Marquess said: "This is a really exciting time for Hollyoaks and Brendan, Lynsey and Bart bring more fun, drama and sexiness to the show."[4] Hassan moved from Belfast to Liverpool, where Hollyoaks is filmed, for the role.[5] In an interview with the official Hollyoaks website, Hassan said that she was "dead chuffed" after being told that Lynsey would be appearing in Hollyoaks.[5] Hassan's character was found murdered in a Hollyoaks episode which was broadcast on 29 June 2012. Karen also played DC Jo Lipton in the Northern Irish TV series Hope Street in 2023.

Filmography

edit
 
Hassan at the 2019 German Castle Con

Movies

edit
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Checkout Checkout Girl Short film
2008 Master of Reality Elizabeth Darwin Short film
2008 Miss Conception Young Nun Short film
2008 Hunger Gerry's Girlfriend Feature film
2008 Last Man Hanging Pearl Gamble TV movie
2009 Fifty Dead Men Walking Cassie Feature film
2009 Scapegoat Patricia Curran TV movie
2010 Erwin Prostitute Short film
2011 Trust Me Karen Short film
2014 Loss Kate Short film
2015 The Caravan Becky Feature film
2023 Wait for Me Alison Feature film

Television

edit
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2008, 2010 Hollyoaks Later Lynsey Nolan 10 episodes
2010–2011 Sketchy with Diarmuid Corr Various roles 9 episodes
2010–2013 Hollyoaks Lynsey Nolan 11 August 2010 – 19 July 2013
2012, 2018 Casualty Nicole Clancy / Abigail Laurence 3 episodes
2013–2014 The Fall Annie Brawley Series regular
2015–2016 Vikings Therese 12 episodes
2016 The Royals Maid Guest star
2017 Valentine's again Amy TV movie
2018 Soft Border Patrol Lisa Main cast
2019 Is This Sexual Harassment? Catherine Timms TV documentary
2022 FBI: International Lauren Walsh 1 episode
2022 Suspicion Nicola 1 episode
2023–2024 Hope Street DC Jo Lipton Series regular

References

edit
  1. ^ A Northern Irish invasion as soap screens series of specials: Karen Hassan
  2. ^ Green, Kris (25 June 2010). "'Hollyoaks' confirms more new cast: Karen Hassan". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  3. ^ "Karen Hassan". waitforme-film.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b Green, Kris (25 June 2010). "'Hollyoaks' confirms more new cast". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with Karen Hassan (Lynsey Nolan)". E4. Channel 4 Television Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
edit