It was both comforting and terrifying to go in to audition for 'The Girl in the Cafe,' as I'd worked with everyone in the room on 'State Of Play.'

In 2012 Kelly Macdonald provided the voice of Merida the heroine of the Disney/Pixar movie Brave. In 2010 Kelly Macdonald played her first comedy role in the British independent romantic comedy film The Decoy Bride opposite David Tennant. Other films where Kelly Macdonald had supporting roles include Choke (2008) as Paige Marshall the film adapted by Clark Gregg from the 2001 Chuck Palahniuk novel; In the Electric Mist (2009) (based on James Lee Burke's In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993) as Kelly Drummond alongside Tommy Lee Jones and John Goodman; and Skellig (2009) as Louise.

On television Kelly Macdonald is known for her roles in Boardwalk Empire The Girl in the Café and State of Play.