Kelly MacDonald Stars in Brave, the New Animated Pixar Movie 2012

Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald has landed the lead role in Pixar's new animated movie, Brave, playing anti-heroine Princess Merida.

Set in Medieval Scotland, Brave is Pixar Animated Studio's 13th full length feature film.

Due to be released June 22, 2012, the voice overs actors also include Robbie Coltrane, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd and Julie Walters.

Kelly MacDonald is best known for her parts in Trainspotting and HBO TV Series, Boardwalk Empire, but she has a huge list of cinematic and TV acting parts to her credit.

Born in Glasgow in 1976, Kelly MacDonald, now married to musician Dougie Payne, has appeared in:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• No Country for Old Men
• Gosford Park
• Intermission
• Nanny McPhee

Her TV roles apart from Boardwalk Empire include:

• The Girl in the Cafe
• State of Play

As well as the above, Kelly Macdonald has an impressive list of bit parts in movies and TV programs through the years.

Now that she has landed the part of Pirincess Merida in 'Brave', Kelly MacDonald is a name to remember.

Princess Merida is wild haired redhead with a temper to match. She's also defiant and brave, and is determined to go out into the forests against her parents' wishes.

Her parents are King Fergus (played by Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor, (played by Emma Thompson).

A skilled archer, Princess Merida is more than a match for the forest creatures and monsters she faces.

But she also defies the ancient traditions of the land, which are held sacred by the overlords, Lord McGuffin (Kevin McKidd), Lord MacIntosh (Craig Ferguson) and Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane) and inadvertently puts them in danger.

Desperate for a solution, she approaches an old witch (Julie Walters) for help, but the spell cast by the witch puts everyone in even greater peril.

In a race against time, brave Princess Merida takes on her greatest adversary ever to save the Kingdom.

Despite its seemingly darker content, Brave promises to deliver the fun and laughter all Pixar movies have brought us so far.

Suitable for family viewing, Brave's writer, Brenda Chapman, has brought a storyline that has been heavily influenced by both Hans Christian Anderson and Grimm's Fairy Tales combined with strong family values.

While Pixar Animated Studies are producing the movie, it will be released by Walt Disney Pictures.

Princess Merida is Pixar's fist ever leading lady, a role that at first appeared daunting to Kelly MacDonald id quoted as saying

"'I kind of didn’t realise until quite recently that I was the first female [lead] – like way after I’d started my voice recordings and everything,' she said. 'I’m delighted but it’s kind of scary.I’m proud of being Scottish and to be involved in a film that’s going to shout from the rooftops that Scotland is an awesome place and has brilliant stories and cool characters - it does mean a lot actually,' while adding 'To be in a Pixar film anyway is amazing."

This is Kelly MacDonald's first animated role.

While due for release in the US on June 22, it is not expected to be released in the UK until August 17, 2012.