Michelle De Long is credited with sending a tape of the young actor to a manager in Los Angeles.

[2] In her teens, McFarland had a role in a Federal Aviation Administration training video, and made regular trips to audition in Los Angeles.

[3][2] Her first major role came in the form of an independent film, An American Crime, starring Elliot Page[a] and Catherine Keener.

[4] She has appeared in isolated episodes on various TV series, including Gilmore Girls, ER, Criminal Minds, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She was a main character of the crime drama series Lie to Me on Fox, portraying Emily Lightman for all three seasons from 2009 to 2011.