In 1997, Natascha McElhone appeared in the film The Devil's Own, where she played the role of Megan Doherty. This film starred Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford and was one of several high-profile projects that helped establish McElhone as a prominent actress in the late 1990s.

Around that time, she was also gaining recognition for her performances in other major films. She had already starred in Surviving Picasso opposite Anthony Hopkins and would go on to appear in Ronin with Robert De Niro and The Truman Show with Jim Carrey shortly after, further solidifying her reputation in both dramatic and action roles.