Karen David
Encyclopedia
Karen Shenaz David is an India
n-born American
actress and singer-songwriter who is best known for portraying Francesca Kirby (née Montoya) in the BBC
series Waterloo Road
.
, Meghalaya
, India
to a Khasi-Chinese mother from a matriarchal
Himalayan
family and an Indian father of Jewish ancestry(Chennai). She was raised Catholic. She was raised in Toronto
, Canada
before moving to England
to study at the Guildford School of Acting
.
At 17, she won a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston to study jazz and gospel, where she discovered her flair for songwriting. A few years later, she moved to London to study at The Guildford School of Acting and, the moment she announced, "I Have a Dream", Benny Andersson snapped her up in a shot to join the original cast of the hit musical, "Mamma Mia!". Film director, Shekhar Kapur, brought his friend, the legend of Indian music, A R Rahman, who was developing" Bombay Dreams" at the time, down to see the show. He was impressed by Karen and asked her to assist him and Don Black, in the development of the material for Bombay Dreams. Her reward was to be invited to perform some of the songs on stage on his highly acclaimed sell-out US and Canada tour. This was the start of a friendship that has led to Karen writing and recording with A R Rahman at his Panchathan Record Inn studios in Chennai, India.
Her acting career has maintained her profile as she took the time to develop her sound, with onscreen appearances in "Batman Begins" and Johnny Vaughn's cult favourite, "Top Buzzer" on MTV UK & Europe and Channel 5. Most recent credits have included lead roles in Tamasha Theatre Company's stage production of "Strictly Dandia", Steven Seagal's latest action flick, "Flight of Fury", and Kevin Macdonald's short film, "Eureka", for Shell Oil. She's becoming a regular face in the UK's mainstream and Asian Media with features in leading publications such as Asian Woman, Asiana, Brit-Asian, and Anokhi, where she graced the cover of their 5th Anniversary edition
and worked with Indian composer A. R. Rahman
in developing material for Bombay Dreams
. She collaborated with Rahman on the main theme song for the film Provoked
. Also a supporting role in the hard-hitting, movie, Provoked
., alongside the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson and Robbie Coltrane has brought her into contact with major players in the Bollywood film industry and the soundtrack for the movie found her back in A R Rahman's Chennai studio to write and record with him the powerful, "Alive", the theme song that captures the essence of the infamous story of the abused woman, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who refused to let the world crush her.
Karen has also appeared in several feature films including Flight of Fury
and The Colour of Magic
,where she was filming alongside Sir David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry and Jeremy Irons, in the SKY TV movie adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel. She plays the warrior princess, Liessa the Dragonlady. And also appeared as the female lead in The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior in Cape Town, South Africa, where she plays the fiesty, and beautiful Layla. Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction, Highlander), she co-stars opposite Michael Copon (One Tree Hill), Randy Couture, and Simon Quarterman.
Karen was cast in BBC
's Waterloo Road
as a Spanish teacher named Francesca Montoya. She has played this role since the start of Series 6 in 2010. This role culminated in her being arrested for having a relationship with a student (Jonah Kirby) at the end of the sixth series in April 2011 and even getting married to before being arrested. She revealed she will not appear in series 7. David also stars in the CBBC
series Pixelface, about a video game character a lot like Lara Croft
, fighting lions and dragons.
She released her first single "It's Me (You're Talking To)" in 2003, which was a top 10 airplay
hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She has finished working on her highly anticipated debut album, "Me vs. Me", with acclaimed producers such as A.R. Rahman, Johnny Douglas, and the Bombay Dub Orchestra. Prior to releasing her solo work, she was the lead vocalist on Dutch Dance musician/producer DJ Jurgen
's 2000 eurodance
single "Higher & Higher."
Karen released the song "Superheroes" on June 6, 2011 as the lead single from her debut album, "The Girl in the Pink Glasses".
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer-songwriter who is best known for portraying Francesca Kirby (née Montoya) in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Waterloo Road
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
.
Early life
Karen was born in ShillongShillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to a Khasi-Chinese mother from a matriarchal
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
Himalayan
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
family and an Indian father of Jewish ancestry(Chennai). She was raised Catholic. She was raised in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
before moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study at the Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting is a drama school located in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an affiliate of the University of Surrey and is an accredited member of the National Council for Drama Training and The Conference of Drama Schools.-Overview:...
.
At 17, she won a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston to study jazz and gospel, where she discovered her flair for songwriting. A few years later, she moved to London to study at The Guildford School of Acting and, the moment she announced, "I Have a Dream", Benny Andersson snapped her up in a shot to join the original cast of the hit musical, "Mamma Mia!". Film director, Shekhar Kapur, brought his friend, the legend of Indian music, A R Rahman, who was developing" Bombay Dreams" at the time, down to see the show. He was impressed by Karen and asked her to assist him and Don Black, in the development of the material for Bombay Dreams. Her reward was to be invited to perform some of the songs on stage on his highly acclaimed sell-out US and Canada tour. This was the start of a friendship that has led to Karen writing and recording with A R Rahman at his Panchathan Record Inn studios in Chennai, India.
Her acting career has maintained her profile as she took the time to develop her sound, with onscreen appearances in "Batman Begins" and Johnny Vaughn's cult favourite, "Top Buzzer" on MTV UK & Europe and Channel 5. Most recent credits have included lead roles in Tamasha Theatre Company's stage production of "Strictly Dandia", Steven Seagal's latest action flick, "Flight of Fury", and Kevin Macdonald's short film, "Eureka", for Shell Oil. She's becoming a regular face in the UK's mainstream and Asian Media with features in leading publications such as Asian Woman, Asiana, Brit-Asian, and Anokhi, where she graced the cover of their 5th Anniversary edition
Career
Karen subsequently appeared in the original cast of Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
and worked with Indian composer A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
in developing material for Bombay Dreams
Bombay Dreams
Bombay Dreams is a Bollywood-themed musical, with music by A. R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black and the book by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan,and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The London production opened in 2002 and ran for two years...
. She collaborated with Rahman on the main theme song for the film Provoked
Provoked (film)
Provoked is a 2007 UK based English language film, directed by Jag Mundhra. It stars Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Nandita Das and Steve McFadden. The film is loosely based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia who killed her abusive husband.Cinematography...
. Also a supporting role in the hard-hitting, movie, Provoked
Provoked (film)
Provoked is a 2007 UK based English language film, directed by Jag Mundhra. It stars Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Nandita Das and Steve McFadden. The film is loosely based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia who killed her abusive husband.Cinematography...
., alongside the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson and Robbie Coltrane has brought her into contact with major players in the Bollywood film industry and the soundtrack for the movie found her back in A R Rahman's Chennai studio to write and record with him the powerful, "Alive", the theme song that captures the essence of the infamous story of the abused woman, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who refused to let the world crush her.
Karen has also appeared in several feature films including Flight of Fury
Flight of Fury
Flight of Fury is a 2007 American direct-to-DVD action film directed by Michael Keusch and starring Steven Seagal and Angus MacInnes. It was filmed in Romania and released on DVD in the United States on February 20, 2007.-Plot:...
and The Colour of Magic
The Colour of Magic (TV film)
The Colour of Magic is a two-part television adaptation of the bestselling novels The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett. The fantasy film was produced for Sky One by The Mob, a small British studio, starring David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry and Christopher Lee as the...
,where she was filming alongside Sir David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry and Jeremy Irons, in the SKY TV movie adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel. She plays the warrior princess, Liessa the Dragonlady. And also appeared as the female lead in The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior in Cape Town, South Africa, where she plays the fiesty, and beautiful Layla. Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction, Highlander), she co-stars opposite Michael Copon (One Tree Hill), Randy Couture, and Simon Quarterman.
Karen was cast in BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Waterloo Road
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
as a Spanish teacher named Francesca Montoya. She has played this role since the start of Series 6 in 2010. This role culminated in her being arrested for having a relationship with a student (Jonah Kirby) at the end of the sixth series in April 2011 and even getting married to before being arrested. She revealed she will not appear in series 7. David also stars in the CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
series Pixelface, about a video game character a lot like Lara Croft
Lara Croft
Lara Croft is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Square Enix video game series Tomb Raider. She is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic British archaeologist-adventurer who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and ruins around the world...
, fighting lions and dragons.
She released her first single "It's Me (You're Talking To)" in 2003, which was a top 10 airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She has finished working on her highly anticipated debut album, "Me vs. Me", with acclaimed producers such as A.R. Rahman, Johnny Douglas, and the Bombay Dub Orchestra. Prior to releasing her solo work, she was the lead vocalist on Dutch Dance musician/producer DJ Jurgen
DJ Jurgen
DJ Jurgen is a DJ, remixer, producer, and artist from the Netherlands.He is best known for producing Alice DeeJay's international dance hit, "Better off Alone" in 1999; and for his 2000 Eurodance hit "Higher & Higher", featuring English vocalist, Karen David.Jurgen still DJs, but he is usually...
's 2000 eurodance
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
single "Higher & Higher."
Karen released the song "Superheroes" on June 6, 2011 as the lead single from her debut album, "The Girl in the Pink Glasses".
Television series
- Waterloo RoadWaterloo Road (TV series)Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
(2010) – Francesca Kirby (née Montoya) - Strike Back: Project DawnStrike Back: Project DawnStrike Back: Project Dawn, as it is known in the United Kingdom is a ten-part British-American action television serial, and is the second series of Strike Back. However the only cast member to return from the original series was Richard Armitage in the first episode...
(2011) – barmaid