[6] In 2005 she completed a BA degree in Social Policy & Political Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London in 2005.

Before securing her first acting roles, McKee worked in various occupations, including as a waitress, a recruitment consultant and in Human resources.

[7][8] After being chosen from over 35,000 applicants, McKee began portraying Louise, who was introduced by series producer David Hanson in 2005.

[11] Several months after her final on-screen appearance, tabloid newspapers began to speculate that McKee would reprise the role to coincide with the exit of Jamie Lomas's character, Warren.

"[12] Following McKee's decision to leave the show, she said: "I have enjoyed my time at Hollyoaks immensely and I'm going to really miss everyone at Lime Pictures.

"[13] Hollyoaks series producer Bryan Kirkwood commented on her departure, stating: "As well as being the nation's sexiest soap star for two years running, Roxanne has worked incredibly hard to prove herself as a talented actress.

"[18] Post-Hollyoaks, McKee said "that when you come out of a soap opera people see you in a different light and since Hollyoaks I have consciously tried to pick roles that are challenging and different".

Cruz, who is good friends with McKee, personally asked her to appear in the video as his love interest.

I've known Roxanne for some time... We needed an actress who wouldn't feel awkward doing the mock love scenes so I just rang her and she agreed to do it.

[22] In July 2009, McKee became the face of Clothes Show Live, stating: "I've always watched it on TV and wanted to go, so I'm very flattered to be part of such a huge event".

She played Lou Foster, a closeted television presenter from Northern Ireland who falls in love with Tess (Fiona Button).

Regarding her performance, McKee stated that she wanted to make Lou more rounded and less one-dimensional: "She has her reasons for being the way she is and hopefully the audience can see that".

[19] In 2010, George R. R. Martin announced that McKee had been cast as Doreah in Game of Thrones, the HBO fantasy drama series based on his best-selling novels.

[35][36][37] She played Blanche de Vesci, a Crusader's daughter, in the historical war film Ironclad: Battle for Blood,[38] and Queen Alcmene in The Legend of Hercules, both released in 2014.

[42] In 2020 McKee played Amanda Eastman in Picture Perfect Royal Christmas[43] and Eve in season 2 of the CW sci-fi show Pandora.