Kelly moved away from home at the age of 17. She lived with a friend in a flat in Glasgow and took a college course in modern studies before dropping off. She dreamed of entering a drama school but feared about not fitting in because of her shyness.

It is fair to say that Macdonald came into the public's consciousness with a bang. She was working as a barmaid when she landed the role in Trainspotting (1996). Kelly was getting ready to apply to a drama school when she saw a leaflet advertising an open casting session for the film and her friends encouraged her to audition. "So I thought, 'I'll go along into this and see what an audition is like.' I wasn't sort of going for the part. I wasn't going along thinking I would ever sort of be in film." To much of Ms. Macdonald's suprise, she was indeed liked and eventually cast in the role of Diane, the underage seductress to Ewan McGregor's Renton. Trainspotting was a huge international hit and the public loved Kelly's portrayal of the acid-tongued school girl. The performance gained her a BAFTA Scotland Award nomination and left an ever-lasting impression on countless of critics and fans.

Though Trainspotting brought Kelly to the spotlight and sky-rocketed her co-stars into international fame, Kelly was soon broke and went back to her obscurity of being a barmaid in Glasgow.

Ms. Macdonald was next to take on the role of Stella in Stella Does Tricks, a story about a teenage prostitute trying to change her life. Kelly's performance has been described "powerhouse" and "compelling" by the British film critics - it is fair to say that her performance as Stella still remains as one of the finest of her career so far.

After the success of her two films, Kelly abandoned plans for drama school and moved to London. She nabbed a leading role in the period drama Cousin Bette (1997) and a small part in the historical epic Elizabeth (1998).

Kelly delivered a memorable performance as Kathleen Robertson's best friend, the blue haired lesbian named Mike, in Gregg Araki's Splendor (1999). She also appeared in Entropy opposite Stephen Dorff, The Loss of Sexual Innocence with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Hugh Hudson's My Life So Far and the London production of short stories, Tube Tales, all the same year and she was named as one of European films 'Shooting Stars' by European Film Promotion.

Macdonald starred in Raymond De Felitta's Two Family House (2000) as Mary O'Neary. The performance earned her a Independent Spirit Award nomination as Best Female Lead. House! saw Kelly as Linda, a young woman trying to save her local bingo house. She also stole hearts as the quirky Laura in Some Voices. Laura is carrying a child with her aggressive ex. boyfriend while falling for a mentally unstable man, played by the upcoming Bond, Daniel Craig.

In 2000, Kelly met Dougie Payne, the bassist for the Scottish band Travis. Apparently she was hung-over from partying but Dougie still found Kelly very beautiful. They later bumped into one another in London. Kelly has just finished an audition and Dougie was buying a rug. They went for a drink. "We hit off straight away. I just knew." Within two months they were living together.

Kelly was next seen as Maggie Smith's maid in the magnificent Robert Altman film, Gosford Park (2001). "I got to gawp openly at people like Smith. Normally you're thinking too hard about what you're meant to be doing to take it all in, but that was my character's job in the film," Kelly said. The cast of Gosford Park won several acting ensemble awards, including a Screen Actors Guild and a BFCA Award. Kelly herself was also nominated for an Empire Award. Ms. Macdonald was also seen in Strictly Sinatra, a mediocre film saved by another wonderful performance from Kelly.

In 2003, she had a small part in Brush with Fate before filming the six episode BBC series State of Play, in which Kelly plays Della Smith, a journalist trying to solve a crime involving oil and politics. The series was very well taken by both the public and critics alike and Kelly's performance was especially memorable. She was next seen opposite Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy in Intermission. Kelly plays Deirdre, a beautiful young Dublin woman who is rejected by her boyfriend, John (Murphy). What she does not know is that John still loves her and has only dumped her as a somewhat bizarre test for their love.

Ms. Macdonald was next seen as Peter Pan in 2004's Finding Neverland, directed by Marc Foster. Although the part was a supporting role, Kelly was indeed wonderful and held her own opposite Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. She also had a cameo part as a reporter in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and appeared in one episode of Alias.

Kelly next starred opposite her State of Play co-star Bill Nighy in the charming The Girl in the Café, a quirky love story with a political backdrop. Kelly portrayed a mysterious young woman who finds love in Nighy's shy politician in Iceland during the G8 summit. The charming performance earned Kelly a Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy win.

Kelly Macdonald was seen in several films in late 2005, including Michael Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story, All the Invisible Children, the family picture Nanny McPhee, opposite Emma Thompson and Colin Firth and Lassie with Samantha Morton and Peter O'Toole. She is currently filming No Country for Old Men for the Coen brothers.

In August 2003, Kelly Macdonald married Dougie Payne at Castle Lachlan in Argyllshire, Scotland. She says that the day still remains the best of her life. Today, they live together in London.

With her quiet grace, natural beauty and eye for extraordinary roles, Ms. Macdonald is a unique actress with a number of subtle and delicate performances on her belt. She has worked with some of the world's most acclaimed directors and actors and has been nominated for prestigious awards. Once thing is for certain: Kelly Macdonald is here to stay and we are here to watch for many more years to come!