McKee was born inPeterlee,County Durham, the daughter of a coal miner,and grew up there and in nearbyEasingtonandSunderland. Her first experience of acting occurred in her final year at primary school where her teacher finished the school week off with improvisations.Seeing a poster in a shoeshop window for a new youth drama group, McKee and her friends decided to attend, initially not seriously but later becoming enthusiastic.It led to McKee's first professional appearance, working onTyne Teeschildren's series,Quest of Eagles.From the age of 15, McKee spent three summers in London with theNational Youth Theatre.After completing her A-Levels atEast Durham College, she decided, with her parents' blessing, to apply to drama schools rather than art colleges. However, she was rejected byBristol Old Vic Theatre School,London Academy of Music and Dramatic Artand theCentral School of Speech and Drama.McKee has been married to Kez Cary since 1989; they live inEast Sussex,England. She has been avegetariansince 1982.In 2002, McKee was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from theUniversity of Sunderland, receiving the honour alongside footballerNiall Quinn.
