Kelly Macdonald(born 23 February 1976)[1]is a Scottish actress. Known for her performances on film and television, she has received various accolades including aBAFTA Award,aPrimetime Emmy Award,and fourScreen Actors Guild Awards.
Kelly Macdonald | |
---|---|
Born | Glasgow,Scotland | 23 February 1976
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Macdonald made her film debut inDanny Boyle'sTrainspotting(1996). Her notable film roles include in the acclaimed filmsElizabeth(1998),Gosford Park(2001),Intermission(2003), andNanny McPhee(2005). She received a nomination for theBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Rolefor her role in theCoen brothersfilmNo Country for Old Men(2007). She also appeared inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2(2011),Anna Karenina(2012),T2 Trainspotting(2017), andOperation Mincemeat(2021). She voicedPrincess Meridain theDisney Pixaranimated filmBrave(2012).
Also known for her television roles she received thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Moviefor her performance in theBBC OnefilmThe Girl in the Cafe(2005). From 2010 to 2014 she starred asMargaret Thompsonin theHBOseriesBoardwalk Empirefor which she received nominations for aPrimetime Emmy Awardand twoGolden Globe Awards.Macdonald is also known for her roles in theBlack Mirrorepisode "Hated in the Nation"(2016), and the limited seriesGiri/Haji(2019). In 2021, MacDonald joined the cast ofLine of Duty.
Early life and education
editMacdonald was born inGlasgow,Scotland, and grew up inNeilston.Her parents divorced when she was young. She was brought up, with her brother David, by her mother, who was a garment industry sales executive.[citation needed]She attendedEastwood High Schoolfrom 1989 to 1993.[2]
Career
editMacdonald's career began while she was working as a barmaid in Glasgow.[3]She saw a leaflet advertising an open casting session forTrainspottingand decided to audition, winning the part of Diane,[4]the underage seductress toEwan McGregor's Renton. Other roles include Mary O'Neary inTwo Family House,[5]and an actress playingPeter PaninFinding Neverland.[6]She had major roles inRobert Altman's Britishperiod pieceGosford Park,[7]where she played anaristocrat's maid, and inIntermission(2003), as Deirdre.[8]
On radio, she portrayed Mary in the 1999 BBC radio dramaLifehouse,based onPete Townshend's abandoned rock opera, some of the songs for which were released onThe Who's albumWho's Next.[9]On television, her highest profile roles have been in twoBBCdramas, thePaul AbbottserialState of Play(2003),[10]and the one-offRichard CurtispieceThe Girl in the Café(2005).[11]Both of these were directed byDavid Yates,and both also starredBill Nighy.For her performance inThe Girl in the Café,she was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Filmin 2006,[12]and won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.[13]
Macdonald had a supporting role in theCoen brothers'Academy Award-winning filmNo Country for Old Men(2007), for which she was nominated for aBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[14]It was reported that she had to fight her agent to be considered for the role, but Macdonald later denied the story.[15]
Other films where she had supporting roles includeChoke(2008), adapted byClark Greggfrom the 2001Chuck Palahniuknovel,as Paige Marshall;In the Electric Mist(2009) (based onJames Lee Burke'sIn the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead(1993), as Kelly Drummond, alongsideTommy Lee JonesandJohn Goodman;andSkellig(2009), as Louise.[16]She played the lead inThe Merry Gentleman(2008).[17]
In 2011, she played the "Grey Lady" (revealed to be Helena Ravenclaw) inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,the final instalment of theHarry Potterfilm franchise. She replacedNina Young,who originally played the role. In 2012, she provided the voice of Merida, the heroine of theDisney/PixarfilmBrave,and played Dolly inAnna Karenina.She starred in the romantic comedy filmThe Decoy Bride,which was released in 2012.[18]
From 2010 until its ending in 2014, she starred in theHBOcrime dramaBoardwalk EmpireasMargaret Thompson,the wife ofProhibition-era Atlantic City crime BossNucky Thompson(Steve Buscemi). She appeared in all five seasons of the series. In 2011, she and the rest of the show's cast were awarded theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.In 2016, she starred inRicky Gervais'Special Correspondentsas Claire Maddox,[19]andSwallows and Amazonsas Mrs. Walker.[20]In 2016, she played the lead role in "Hated in the Nation",an episode of theanthology seriesBlack Mirrorfor which she received critical acclaim. On 3 November 2016 Macdonald was featured in the trailer forDanny Boyle'sT2 Trainspottingconfirming she would reprise her role as Diane from the original film, which she did. In 2017, she co-starred oppositeBenedict Cumberbatchin theBBCfilmThe Child in Time.Macdonald played the guest lead in the sixth series of the BBC's police dramaLine of Duty.[21]
Personal life
editIn August 2003, Macdonald married musicianDougie Payne,bassist of the bandTravis.They have two sons. They moved back to their hometown ofGlasgowin 2014, after living inLondonandNew York City.[22][23]They separated in 2017.[24]
Filmography
editFilm
editTelevision
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Flowers of the Forest | Amy Ogilvie | Television film |
2003 | Brush with Fate | Aletta Pieters | Television film |
State of Play | Della Smith | 6 episodes | |
2005 | Alias | Kiera MacLaine/Meghan Keene | Episode: "Ice" |
The Girl in the Café | Gina | Television film | |
2009 | Skellig | Louise/Mum | Television film |
2010–2014 | Boardwalk Empire | Margaret Thompson | 45 episodes |
2016 | Black Mirror | DCI Karin Parke | Episode: "Hated in the Nation" |
2017 | The Child in Time | Julie | Television film |
2019 | The Victim | Anna Dean | Television miniseries |
Giri/Haji | DC Sarah Weitzmann | Main role | |
Urban Myths | Princess Margaret | Episode: "Mick and Margaret" | |
2020 | Truth Seekers | Jojo74 | 2 episodes |
2021 | Line of Duty | DCI Joanne Davidson | Main role, Series 6 |
2022 | Ten Percent | Herself | Episode #1.1 |
TBA | Department Q | Dr Rachel Irving | Filming[26] |
Video games
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Brave | Merida | Voice |
Awards and nominations
editHonours
editEastwood High School, where she was a pupil, has a drama studio and theatre named in her honour.[2]
References
edit- ^"Birthdays: Feb. 23".The Houston Chronicle.The Associated Press.23 February 2016.
Actress Kelly Macdonald is 40.
- ^abNicoll, Vivienne (28 November 2013)."Star Kelly stages a comeback at school".Evening Times.Archivedfrom the original on 11 March 2018.Retrieved11 March2018.
- ^Cadwallader, Carole (5 April 2009)."Cinema's best-kept secret".The Guardian.London, UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2017.Retrieved12 December2016.
- ^"Trainspotting".DVDMG.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2010.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Two Family House".Spirituality and Practice.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2010.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Finding Neverland".Yahoo Movies.Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2012.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Gosford Park".TV Guide.Archived fromthe originalon 17 October 2013.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Intermission".About.Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2005.Retrieved28 August2010.
- ^Credits from the cassette release from the BBC Radio Collection
- ^"State of Play".BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 20 August 2010.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Girl in the Café".Qwipster.Archivedfrom the original on 12 June 2010.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"2006 Golden Globe".About.Archived fromthe originalon 13 January 2011.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Scots star wins Emmy for TV role".BBC News.28 August 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2015.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"2008 baftas".British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Archived fromthe originalon 22 September 2010.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"Kelly Macdonald: 'Never mind hangovers on the Trainspotting set, people were still drunk'".The Guardian.24 September 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2017.Retrieved25 September2017.
- ^Wilson, Benji (11 April 2009)."Kelly MacDonald's 'comeback' with Skellig".The Times.London, UK. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2011.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^"the merry gentleman".Cinematical.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2008.Retrieved26 August2010.
- ^Macnab, Geoffrey (14 May 2010)."Tennant, MacDonald, Eve walk down the aisle with" Decoy Bride "".ScreenDaily.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2012.Retrieved30 April2011.
- ^Sneider, Jeff (30 May 2015)."'Boardwalk Empire's' Kelly Macdonald Joins Ricky Gervais' Netflix Movie 'Special Correspondents' (Exclusive) ".TheWrap.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2020.Retrieved17 April2020.
- ^Barraclough, Leo (29 June 2015)."'Sherlock's' Moriarty, Andrew Scott, Joins Cast of 'Swallows and Amazons' (EXCLUSIVE) ".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Line of Duty: Who is Kelly Macdonald playing?".Radio Times.Archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2020.Retrieved5 June2020.
- ^"Actress Kelly Macdonald to pocket £500,000 from sale of plush New York apartment".Independent.co.uk.8 September 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 20 August 2017.Retrieved2 September2017.
- ^"My London: Kelly Macdonald".Evening Standard.12 April 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2017.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^"Actress Kelly Macdonald, Travis Bassist Douglas Payne Have Separated".Billboard.Retrieved19 September2017.
- ^"Full record for 'DANCING, SOME DAYS' (7290)".movingimage.nls.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 1 December 2021.Retrieved15 December2021.
- ^O'Rourke, Ryan (6 February 2024)."Matthew Goode Leads Netflix's Gritty New Crime Drama 'Department Q'".Collider.Retrieved6 February2024.