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E
verybody in the studio upbringing was different. She put acted with him’. Watching him do
is blown away by Karen. her education first, concentrating his fight scenes, he’s still got it.
With her porcelain doll-like on her love of music and acting. He’s sharp. I wouldn’t want to be
features, cinnamon complexion At 17, she won a scholarship on the other side of his punches.’
and smile, it’s easy to see why Bill to the Berklee College of Music in But what of Karen’s music?
Cosby hand-picked Ms David to Boston to study jazz and gospel. ‘Its exotic pop,’ she says as she
star alongside him in a TV advert A few years later, she moved to attempts to defy her sound. ‘I
when she was just 6-years-old. London to study at The Guildford wanted to go back to my roots,
‘I remember him making me School of acting. ‘When I to my mum and dad’s heritage to
laugh so much my cheeks were graduated, I was going to move to create an exotic fusion so I went
sore,’ says the performer. Born New York but I got a lot of offers back to India to record.’ Teaming
in Shillong, at the foot of the from agents and a lot of great work Asian flavours with contempo-
Himalayas and raised in Toronto, so I decided to make a home here.’ rary pop, Karen recently gained
Canada even at six Karen (who is recognition for her music when
now 23) knew that she wanted to Big screen goddess she was nominated for Best Asian
be an entertainer. It wasn’t luck During the 8 years she has lived in Female Artist and Best Newcomer
or pushy parents that landed her London the Asian star has bagged at the UK Asian Music Awards. Her
the TV gig – she explains how roles in TV shows Desi DNA, Top forthcoming album Me Versus Me
she made the call to the casting Buzzer, Holby City and The Colour will be released later this year.
director herself. ‘Every Sunday of Magic. She has also appeared in
religiously my father would sit at the movies Batman Begins, Flight Exploring her homeland
the breakfast table and read us of Fury and most recently The Although she may be creating
the current events. He wanted my Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior, music in India she is also eager
sister and I to have these Mensa where she plays the lead. Before to explore the country of her birth
brains. It was so lame and boring you jump to conclusions and start while she’s there. ‘India is such
that one day I got distracted and I to imagine steamy love scenes with a beautiful but mysterious place.
saw the casting call.’ Karen and The Rock she explains I think that there is so much to
‘I tore out the paper and snuck that it’s the prequel, so he isn’t discover there. It’s very humbling
into my parent’s room and I picked even in it. ‘The movie explains how going there and its kind of
up the phone. I happened to get and why The Rock’s character bittersweet because it’s the place
the casting director on the phone Mathias became a Scorpion King,’ where I was born, but I grew up
and I remember saying: ‘Hi, my she explains. ‘You also see the in Canada so I don’t know much
name’s Karen David. I’m six-years relationship he has with his about it. I feel just as much as a
old and I want to be in the Bill childhood friend Layla, which I foreigner as anybody else.’
Cosby commercial.’ play. There’s lots of adventure, Her music and acting skill has
The casting director went on to comedy, sword fighting and stunts. given her the opportunity to work
ask for her parents and a scared It’s a good family movie.’ alongside Bollywood royalty
Karen put down the phone as she The film was shot on location Aishwarya Rai and Naveen
told her: ‘I’m not allowed to speak in Cape Town, South Africa and Andrews when she was cast in
to strangers’. Luckily she was able if you watch the E4 series One a supporting role in hard-hitting
movie Provoked, which is about
the lives of abused women.
Karen David
From Bollywood to Hollywood,
Karen has been blessed with
stunning and unique looks that
allow her to act in both worlds.
Beautiful? Absolutely.
Talented? No doubt.
“There are no set rules to make it in
Charismatic? Indeed.
Yes, she has all the attributes
the acting game. You just have to to become a worldwide star, so
be yourself and have undying faith”
remember where you saw first.
She’s already gone to Hollywood,
she now just needs to work herself
to call back to speak with them. Tree Hill you may recognised her up to the A List, but the question
‘They freaked out that I spoke to handsome male lead Michael is, is she ready for the challenge?
a stranger, but they were also Copon. ‘He’s a really funny guy. We ‘There are no set rules to make
surprised and taken back that I had some good times,’ she says. it in the acting game,’ she says.
was serious about acting. So they Even The Rock managed to come ‘You just have to be yourself and
took me to the casting. I got the down to the set. ‘I think he was out have undying faith. Sometimes I
commercial, and that in turn there filming another movie, so he think my dreams are a curse but
started everything off.’ popped his head in a few times.’ I’m grateful to God for blessing me
Karen would have loved to be The former wrestler isn’t the with a family that are supportive
a famous child actress, but her only Hollywood fighter that she’s especially when the pay cheques
parents insisted that she just be a had the opportunity to work with. don’t come in.’ It seems whatever
kid and not delve too much into the She’s also acted alongside Steven the results Karen is definitely ready
showbiz world full-time just yet. Segal. ‘He’s a legend isn’t he?’ she to play for the big time.
While you have teenagers in states, as she giggles her Canadian
the entertainment industry today accent becomes stronger. ‘I get The Scorpion King: Rise Of A
like Souljah (who at 17 said he’s MySpace messages ‘till this day Warrior is released on 19th August
not going back to school), Karen’s saying ‘My God I can’t believe you
www.karendavid.com
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