Trainspotting Star Kelly Macdonald Reveals Her Young Socialist Roots

The actress reveals she attended political demonstrations in the early 90s and still knows anti-poll tax songs from the era. She first hit the limelight playing a conservative Edinburgh schoolgirl with a wild streak in the 1996 movie Trainspotting. Now Kelly Macdonald has revealed she was part of the Young Socialists and went to political demonstrations with her mother, Patricia Kelly. The 50-year-old actress, from Glasgow, attended a big political gathering in Liverpool in the early 90s and still knows anti-poll tax songs from the era. She recalls chanting 'Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out' – about getting rid of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – along with other demonstrators. Talking to Big Issue magazine, she said: 'I was in the Young Socialists. My mum was a mature student and got involved with politics when I was young so we went to lots of militant demonstrations. 'I still know all my anti-poll tax songs. There was a big political gathering in Liverpool and we all slept on the floor in a sports hall. Kelly Macdonald got her big acting break in Trainspotting Macdonald has revealed she was part of the Young Socialists and went to political demonstrations before her big break '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 starred as schoolgirl Diane Coulston in the 1996 Danny Boyle hit film Trainspotting, which catapulted Ewan McGregor to global stardom. She has also had a hugely successful career in film and television, and has won a string of accolades during her career.