Karen Gillan Surprises Fans by Revealing Sunderland Ties
Hollywood star Karen Gillan delighted fans this week by revealing her Sunderland connections on social media.
The Scottish actress, known for her roles in Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy, is reportedly worth an impressive $8 million (£6.1 million), according to Spanish publication Marca. Born in Inverness, Gillan took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge her Mackem roots, much to the excitement of Sunderland locals.
Reacting to a Sunderland Echo report about the Crown Works Studios development, she wrote:
“Well, this is exciting news for a half Mackem like me!”
Although her connection to Sunderland AFC remains unclear, fans were thrilled by the revelation. Many supporters expressed their joy online, with one saying, “I always knew there was some Mackem in you!”
Gillan, who was spotted at a Celtic game in 2012, has gained worldwide recognition for her film and TV work, and her newfound Mackem heritage has only strengthened her bond with British audiences.
Norwich City’s Promotion Hopes and Hoff Thorup’s Future
In the Championship, Norwich City currently sits 10th, six points off the play-off spots with just 10 games remaining. Despite suffering only one defeat in their last eight league matches, four draws in that period have hindered their push for a top-six finish.
With promotion looking uncertain, the club may soon shift focus to next season, aiming to strengthen the squad and back manager Hoff Thorup in the summer transfer window. FLW’s Canaries pundit, Zeke Downes, believes Thorup’s future at Carrow Road hinges on securing Premier League football.
“He’ll definitely be here next season, but if we don’t go up after that, I think he’ll look to move on.”
Thorup himself has taken a realistic approach to Norwich’s promotion bid. Speaking after a 1-0 loss to Preston North End, he acknowledged the tough competition in the Championship:
“When we are at our best, we can push for the play-offs. But if we don’t make it, it’s probably not a failure for us this season.”
Despite recent struggles, Norwich has managed one win and three draws in their last four matches, keeping their play-off hopes alive. Key fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, and West Brom will be crucial in determining their fate.
Thorup remains grounded about his own ambitions, but with Norwich’s Premier League experience and strong infrastructure, few clubs are better positioned to match his managerial goals. Whether he leads them back to the top flight remains to be seen, but if the club strengthens in the summer and retains key players like Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz, their promotion push next season could be much stronger.
