Karen O'Leary

Karen O'Leary
Notable works and roles	Wellington Paranormal
Website	https://olearious.co.nz/

Karen O'Leary is a New Zealand early childhood teacher, comedian and actress. She played Officer O'Leary in Wellington Paranormal, which ran for four seasons from 2018–2022.[1][2]

Early life

O'Leary grew up in Miramar, Wellington and attended Wellington High School and Victoria University.[1][2] She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education and is an early childhood teacher in Wellington.[3] She got involved in acting when casting director Tina Cleary, the parent of one of the children at the centre, encouraged her to audition for a part in the 2014 film What We Do in the Shadows.[4]

Career

O'Leary played Officer O'Leary in the film What We Do in the Shadows and continued the same role in the spin-off television series Wellington Paranormal.

In 2018, O'Leary appeared in the comedy film The Breaker Upperers.[5]

In 2020, O'Leary presented educational activities on Home Learning TV, a dedicated New Zealand television channel for children learning at home due to school closures during the national lockdown to control the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

In 2023, O'Leary appeared on the panel show Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee. She appeared in series 4 of Taskmaster NZ.

Personal life

O'Leary lives in Wellington with her son Melvyn and her partner, Eilish Wilson.[7]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	The Water Cooler	Karen	3 episodes
2018	Educators	Police Officer	Episode 1.8
2018–2022	Wellington Paranormal	Officer O'Leary	Main role
2020–2023	The Eggplant	Principal Kathleen Morris	13 episodes
2023	Bouncers	Marty; Barbs	5 episodes
2023	Far North	Justine	2 episodes
2024	Time Bandits	Stomachface	7 episodes

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	What We Do in the Shadows	Policewoman
2016	Pot Luck	Donna
2018	The Breaker Upperers	Police Officer
2021	Two Idiots and a Tin Whistle	Guest Judge
2021	Millie Lies Low	Campus Security
2021	Finding the Lighthouse	Charlie	Short
2022	Nude Tuesday	Chen
2023	Red, White and Brass	Lorraine

References

1. "The most interesting woman on NZ TV: Wellington Paranormal's Karen O'Leary". The Spinoff. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
2. Jacobson, Julie. "At Home With Wellington Paranormal's Karen O'Leary and Her Wild Wellington Family". Now To Love. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
3. "Karen O'Leary". wgtn.ac.nz. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
4. "National portrait: Karen O'Leary – Paranormal but very normal". Stuff. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
5. "Wellington Paranormal's reluctant star". Stuff. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
6. "Home Learning TV". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
7. "Wilosophy" (Podcast). 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.^[permanent dead link‍]