Scottish Actress Karen Gillan on Hedonism, Home, and Her Highland Roots

EMBARGO: Tuesday 2/24

Karen Gillan may have faced aliens, superheroes, mercenaries, and stampeding jungle animals on screen, but nothing quite prepares you for coming face-to-face with yourself on a whisky bottle. The “Jumanji” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” star was approached by Compass Box to play The Muse for Hedonism 2026, the female figure at its heart. “I never imagined I’d see myself on a bottle of whisky,” says the Scottish-born Gillan. “But I’ve really enjoyed whisky for a long time, so this just felt right.”

Hedonism was the first whisky to feature a woman on the label when it debuted in 2000, and it has done so ever since. The female image came to be known as The Muse, emphasizing wisdom, power, and grace. But this is the first time the Hedonism label has featured a real person rather than a stylized image. It’s fitting that Gillan was chosen for this year’s release, as she’s built a career playing strong, capable, and emotionally complex female characters, from Ruby Roundhouse, aka Killer of Men, in the “Jumanji” franchise and Nebula in the “MCU,” to Amy Pond in “Dr. Who” and Madeline Crow in “Douglas is Cancelled” on Britbox. She has acted in some of the most successful box-office hits of all time, including the aforementioned "Jumanji," “Avengers,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

The artwork for this year’s Compass Box Hedonism label was done by Australian artist Emma Hack, continuing the tradition of commissioning a different female artist for the annual release. Hack, best known for her work in Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” music video, specializes in body art, photography, and fine art installations. Gillan sat for more than two hours while Hack transformed her into The Muse, using gilding, paint, props, and photography to create a layered, immersive portrait. The process has been captured in a short film planned for release on March 1st.

Scottish Connection

Gillan was born in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, where whisky is part of the heritage. “I have memories of growing up in Scotland and my granddad's bottle of Famous Grouse on the side cabinet,” she recalls. “It’s a huge part of our culture, particularly if you’re from Inverness. I grew up visiting whisky distilleries constantly as a child. I didn't realise they let you in, but they definitely did!” She would go with her father, and jokes about trying to nip a sample at the end of a tour. “When I was old enough to drink, my friend and I would sneak down to this abandoned street called Old Nairn Road in Inverness with a bottle of whisky. We would chat and share stories and whisky, and it was some of the most magical times of my life.” Now Gillan is a Hollywood star with a dedicated scotch bar in the living room of her Los Angeles home.

Gillan has also worked on her own short films and features that have included horror and dark themes. She wrote, acted, and directed “The Party’s Just Beginning,” a coming-of-age independent movie, that led to further offers to direct. “People were really making an effort to see if they could hire a woman in that leadership position," she says. "When you're juggling acting and directing, it's hard to take those on." This year, Gillan will return as Ruby Roundhouse in the third instalment of the modern Jumanji franchise, and will also take on the role of Heather, Connor MacLeod’s original love, in the reboot of Russell Mulcahy’s 1986 movie “Highlander” alongside Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, and Dave Bautista. Her list of box-office hits provides some leverage in Hollywood to help secure backing for her own projects. Gillan took a year off after the birth of her daughter and has nearly finished writing her next screenplay, which she hopes will be filmed back home in Scotland.

When asked to choose which co-star she would present with a bottle of Compass Box Hedonism 2026, she replies readily. “I'm going to give it to all three of my Jumanji co-stars: Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, and Jack Black. They’re some of the hardest workers I've ever met in my life, and maybe they just need a little moment to stop and have some good whisky.”

How Does It Taste?

93 points – Compass Box Hedonism 2026

ABV: 46%
SRP: $165
Availability: Global release of 13,218 bottles

Red apple peels, white pepper, cherry drops, clove, perfumed florals, nougat, clotted cream, and profiteroles rise from the glass, threaded with a firm line of spice. The palate opens rich and creamy, with butterscotch and fruit candies, unfolding into lush orchard fruits, caramel, hazelnut meringues, and gentle peppery warmth. Marmalade and apple build depth through the mid-palate, before a spritz of orange peel delivers a full, satisfying finish.