McNamee secured a role in the Australian soap opera Home and Away playing the role of Lisa Duffy and later went on to star as Sammy Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters. In 2009, McNamee was a contestant on the ninth series of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with dancer Stefano Olivieri and they were eliminated before the final. The role of Sammy left McNamee keen to lose the "good girl" image the role created. In the series production breaks she decided to take on different roles. McNamee starred in the horror film The Loved Ones; which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009.