At A Glance

Karen was born in Ventura, California. At the age of 12, she moved to Libya due to her father being in the Foreign service and shortly thereafter moved to Ethiopia, France, Australia and the Philippines before moving in 1969 back to California. Karen attended The American College in Paris, UC Santa Barbara and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts where she majored in Theatre Arts. Karen has numerous television credits which include guest starring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Murder She Wrote, Wings, Murphy Brown, Mr. Belvedere, Growing Pains, It's A Living, and Knots Landing. She has also co-starred in Woman with a Past and Locked Up. She has appeared in the feature films Chained Heat, Faith, and Psycho III.

Karen's stage credits have included a supporting role on Broadway in Zoot Suit as well as the Los Angeles productions of Mrs. California, Bus Stop, and Sister Mary Ignatius at The L.A. Stage Theatre. When Karen is not acting, she is the Director of Conservatories at The Southcoast Repertory. She also teaches classical theater at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Although Karen plays the wheelchair-bound Doris Collins on Y&R, she is not physically handicapped in real life.

Karen has two children, a daughter, Katja and a son, Roman Elliott.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

The Young and the Restless Doris Collins 1994 to Present Woman with a Past Female driver 1992 Locked Up: A Mother's Rage Cookie 1991 For a complete listing of Ms. Hensel's television appearances, click here.

Acting Portfolio: FILM

Caged Fear Scary Mary 1992 Pyscho III Sister Catherine

1986

Acting Portfolio: THEATER

Karen has had a supporting role on Broadway in Zoot Suit as well as the Los Angeles productions of Mrs. California , Bus Stop , and Sister Mary Ignatius at The L.A. Stage Theatre.

Vital Statistics

PLACE OF BIRTH: Ventura, California

DATE OF BIRTH: November 1

HEIGHT: 5'5"

HAIR: Brown

EYES: Hazel