One of Kelly Macdonald’s best-known roles is a far cry from her DC Universe debut as Sheriff Kerry Kane on “Lanterns” — she played a central character on HBO’s historical drama “Boardwalk Empire.” Set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, the series follows Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson — a corrupt local politician seeking to benefit from the illegal bootlegging business while winning the public’s favor.
A member of the main cast in her first major TV endeavor, Macdonald played an Irish immigrant named Margaret Thompson (née Schroeder), who meets and later falls in love with Nucky after he has her abusive husband killed, unbeknownst to her. The two eventually marry, but their happy romance doesn’t last all five seasons of “Boardwalk Empire,” which aired from 2010 to 2014. Nucky’s criminal activities don’t go unnoticed by Margaret, and the two find themselves drifting apart as their stories develop against the historical backdrop of the show.
Regarded among the most impressive acting performances in “Boardwalk Empire,” Macdonald’s portrayal of Margaret secured an Emmy nomination in 2011. Moreover, critics showered the series with praise throughout its entire run on HBO as it recorded a whopping 20 Emmy wins.
Kelly Macdonald had a fascinating character arc on Boardwalk Empire
Embarking on your first-ever main-cast TV role on a show executive produced by Martin Scorsese is quite the feat, and Kelly Macdonald got to play a character that endlessly intrigued audiences. Margaret’s arc sees her engage in charity work as Nucky’s wife and later reckon with his wrongdoing before moving away and attaining financial freedom at an investment firm in the wake of their falling out.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2012, Macdonald commented on Margaret’s complexity as a woman trying to make ends meet in the United States during the 1920s. “She’s just got this streak of goodness in her, and she wants to help where she can,” the Scottish actress said, “and sometimes though, it’s helping her more than it’s helping others, so there is that side to her as well. She can be quite … devious and unpleasant in order to get what she wants.”
Macdonald’s return to HBO on DC’s new Green Lantern TV series should delight those who enjoyed “Boardwalk Empire.” Meanwhile, anyone who hasn’t seen the captivating period crime drama needs to stream all five seasons to see Macdonald evolve her character from a lowly widow to a capable businesswoman.