Karen Hassan

Karen Hassan (born 31 July 1981) is a Northern Irish actress from Belfast. From 2010 until 2013, she played Lynsey Nolan in the main series of Hollyoaks. 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.

Career

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.

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." 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. 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

Movies + Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Checkout Checkout Girl Short film 2008Master of Reality Elizabeth Darwin Short film 2008 Miss Conception Young NunShort film 2008 Hunger Gerry's GirlfriendFeature film 2008 Last Man Hanging Pearl Gamble TV movie 2009 Fifty Dead Men Walking CassieFeature 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 BeckyFeature film 2023 Wait for Me AlisonFeature film

Television + 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 SuspicionNicola 1 episode 2023–2024 Hope Street DC Jo Lipton Series regular