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Despite some highly commendable stage work and early film appearances – notably her role as Maureen, the tragic cabaret dancer in “Mrs Henderson presents” – it’s fair to say that the ITV drama “Above Suspicion” (2009-12) was the production which propelled Kelly Reilly into the big league; if not universal name awareness then at least visual recognition in public.

In the series, she played D.C. Anna Travis, a rookie detective determined to prove herself in the male-dominated police department by solving a trail of gruesome murders left by an unknown serial killer. In contrast to the Jane Tennison character portrayed by Helen Mirren in the “Prime Suspect” series, Travis feigned indifference at fighting her ground, conveying instead an insouciance about her work which belied her professional dedication. All these high heels and tight skirts might have drawn admiring glances from her hackneyed male colleagues in the force, but she remained, throughout the series, somewhat detached from it all.

Numerous television and film roles have followed, notably her appearance as Mary Watson in the two “Sherlock Holmes” movies, “Flight” opposite Denzel Washington in addition to the leading female role in the sweeping Paramount Network Western-style U.S. series “Yellowstone” (2018). In it, Reilly plays Beth Dutton, daughter to John Dutton (Kevin Costner.) Reilly’s and Costner’s characters are constantly at war with several outside parties who want to gain control of the Duttons’ family land.

Sandwiched in between these projects, she made her Broadway debut opposite Clive Owen and Eve Best in Harold Pinter’s play “Old Times” at the American Airlines Theatre.