The role of Sammy in Packed to the Rafters left McNamee keen to lose the "good girl" image the role created. In the series production breaks she decided to take on different roles. She starred in the horror film The Loved Ones; which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009. In mid-2010 she made the short film 50-50.
McNamee went on to secure a role in the 2012 film The Vow. She filmed the project in Toronto alongside Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. She described working on the film as a "surreal experience". In 2013, she returned to Packed to the Rafters for the final season as a special guest star.
From 2014 to 2015, McNamee starred in the USA Network TV series Sirens. She played the role of Theresa Kelly, a Chicago police officer, and was a main character in the show.
