Actress Kelly Macdonald has shared details of her past as a militant socialist, including participating in political demonstrations and singing anti-poll tax songs.
Macdonald, who gained fame for her role in the 1996 film "Trainspotting," told Big Issue magazine that she was part of the Young Socialists. Her mother, Patricia Kelly, was a mature student and involved in politics, which led to Macdonald attending numerous political gatherings during her youth.
"I was in the Young Socialists," Macdonald stated. "My mum was a mature student and got involved with politics when I was young so we went to lots of militant demonstrations."
She recalled attending a significant political gathering in Liverpool in the early 1990s, where participants slept on the floor of a sports hall. Among the chants heard were "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out," a slogan directed at then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
"I still know all my anti-poll tax songs," Macdonald added. "There was a big political gathering in Liverpool and we all slept on the floor in a sports hall. It was all 'Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out.' I wouldn’t say I’m overly political now but that doesn’t leave you."
Macdonald played the character Diane Coulston in "Trainspotting," a role that contributed to the global stardom of Ewan McGregor. Her acting career has since been marked by numerous accolades in film and television.