Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald was born and raised in Glasgow. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised by her mother, a sales executive in the garment industry. She has one brother, David. As a hobby, she acted in an amateur theatrical club, which she enjoyed a great deal. Macdonald was working as a barmaid, when she saw a leaflet for an open casting call for a film. She went along and was cast as Diane in
Trainspotting (1996). For this breakout role, she was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland Award and began a highly successful acting career.
Other notable film projects include
Stella Does Tricks (1996),
Elizabeth (1998),
Gosford Park (2001) and
No Country for Old Men (2007). She won an Emmy for her role as Gina in
The Girl in the Café (2005) and appeared as Helena Ravenclaw in the wildly popular
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011). In 2010, she won the role of Margaret Schroeder in
Boardwalk Empire (2010).
Macdonald is married to
Travis bassist
Dougie Payne, and they have a son, Freddie.
Lanterns(2026)as Sheriff Kerry
Dept. Q(2025)as Rachel Irving
Skeleton Crew(2024)as Pokkit
The Radleys(2024)as Helen Radley
The Making of 'No Country for Old Men'(2008)
Boardwalk Empire(2010)
Trainspotting(1996)
Royal Carols: Together at Christmas(2024)as Self - Narrator
Made in Hollywood(2005)as Self
Somebody Feed Phil(2018)as Self
The One Show(2006)as Self - Guest
Portrait Artist of the Year(2013)as Self - Sitter
Icons of Football(2023)as Diane
Movie Connections(2007)as Diane
Corazón de...(1997)as Self
Gosford Park: Deleted Scenes(2002)as Mary Maceachran
