Karena Evans

Biography

Karena Evans is a Canadian director, actress, and producer from Toronto, Ontario. Born on December 17, 1995, she began her career in the music-video industry and quickly established herself as a distinctive visual storyteller.

Evans gained international attention in 2018 for directing several of Drake's major music videos, including God's Plan, Nice for What, I'm Upset, and In My Feelings. Her work on God's Plan earned her the MuchMusic Video Award for Best Director, while she became the first woman to receive the Prism Prize's Lipsett Award.

She subsequently moved into television directing, working on series such as P-Valley, Gossip Girl, Y: The Last Man, Snowfall, and Dead Ringers. Her television work has demonstrated her ability to handle character-driven drama, crime, and genre storytelling.

In 2024, Evans directed two episodes of the Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, including episodes 3 and 5. Her work was part of the show's ensemble of directors, which also included Donald Glover, Hiro Murai, Amy Seimetz, and Christian Sprenger.

As an actress, Evans appeared in films including Every Day (2018) and Firecrackers (2018), as well as the television series Mary Kills People. She has continued to work across music videos, television, commercials, and film, building a career that combines acting with directing.

Through her visually expressive style and work across music and television, Karena Evans has become one of Canada's notable contemporary directors, particularly recognized for her contributions to music videos and modern television storytelling.