Karen has garnered widespread recognition for her captivating performance as ax-wielding Elena Reyes in the AMC hit television show Fear the Walking Dead, a character who made a heart-wrenching decision in the gripping cold open. Her powerful work and controversial character in the episode Do Not Disturb (2016) took the media by storm, earning her international recognition.
Bethzabe made her acting debut in Garcia Lorca's play 'The House of Bernanda the Alba' at the East LA Repertory Theater in Los Angeles, where she received rave reviews in Backstage in 2007. The audience also recognizes her for her roles in the popular CBS show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000),directed by Martha Coolidge, and as Eufemia Garcia in the hit ABC Family/Freeform series, Switched at Birth (2011).
In feature films, Karen recently wrapped the movie Justine (2019),directed by Stephanie Turner, in which she also served as an Associate Producer. In the film Listen (2017) from Dir. Erahm Christopher, Bethzabe plays the powerful role of Rosa, marking the first Hollywood film to be released to an entire school district in the E.U.
Bethzabe has appeared in numerous indie films, including producing and starring in the film Death and Cremation (2010) alongside Oscar nominee Brad Dourif.
Born and raised in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Karen holds a Business Degree and previously worked as a government official in Guadajalara, Jalisco, Mexico. She currently resides in Los Angeles and regularly visits her family in Mexico and Norway.
