Karen O'Leary
Karen O'Leary is a New Zealand early childhood educator, comedian and television and film actress. She plays Officer O'Leary in Wellington Paranormal.Biography
O'Leary grew up in Miramar, Wellington and attended Wellington High School and Victoria University. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education and is an early childhood teacher in Wellington. 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. O'Leary played Officer O'Leary in the film and continues the same role in the spin-off television series Wellington Paranormal.
In 2018, O'Leary appeared in the comedy film The Breaker Upperers.
In 2020, O'Leary presented educational activities on Home Learning TV, a dedicated New Zealand television channel for children learning at home due to early childhood centre closures during the national lockdown to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
