In early June 2011, McNeill was performing in a local play, "The Hallelujah Girls," when she received an email offering her a three-episode audition for the second season of The Walking Dead. She auditioned for the part of Patricia. Three weeks later, the day before a family trip to New York City, McNeill learned that the role was between either her or a second Actress. The next day, McNeill learned she had gotten the part shortly after her plane landed in New York. McNeill's original three episode role expanded to include the second season. She filmed episodes of The Walking Dead every two weeks from July to November 2011. Filming for season two wrapped in November 2011. In December 2011, McNeill began filming Hornet's Nest, a 2012 TNT television film based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Cornwell, starring Virginia Madsen, Sherry Stringfield, Michael Boatman, Robbie Amell, and Quentin Kerr.